Japanese restaurant operator AP heads to Hawaii

Japanese restaurant operator AP Co is heading to Hawaii, planning to open its first outlets in January.

AP owns more than 200 restaurants in Japan, Singapore and California and plans to take its  Tsukada Nojo and Sushi Maru brands to Waikiki, in the heart of Honolulu’s tourist area.

The two eateries are an izakaya-style concept, serving small dishes and liquor, and a sushi restaurant, respectively.

AP entered the restaurant business to create an outlet for produce from its farms and fisheries.

“They are pursuing the same concept here by working with local farmers now in preparation for their opening next year,” a real estate source told Pacific Business News in an interview.

The company is listed on the Tokyo stock exchange.