Himalayan Caravan, a Nepalese-Indian restaurant in Tokyo, has been a staple on its quiet street for two decades. Owner Sanjay Sahani, a Nepalese immigrant, has seen a steady crowd of office workers and pensioners flock to his ¥850 ($5) curry-and-naan set lunch.
Japan's Indian restaurants, however, are facing an uncertain future due to a tightened visa policy. The government has raised the minimum capital requirement for the 'business management' visa from ¥5m ($31,500) to ¥30m ($188,000), making it difficult for many curry houses to meet the new threshold.
The staffing rule, which requires applicants to employ at least one full-time Japanese worker or permanent resident, has also been a challenge. 'Even Japanese firms cannot find Japanese workers. How are we supposed to?' says Anju Khatri, another Nepalese restaurant owner.
The loss of immigrant-run restaurants would not only be economic but also cultural. Immigrant cooks are part of what gives Tokyo its culinary range, and their disappearance would leave salarymen without some of their favourite lunch options.
