The number of Japan’s vegan restaurants has increased from 400 to approximately 1,000 over the past two years, according to Frembassy, a Tokyo-based website startup that allows people to search for restaurants that accommodate specific dietary requirements. With the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics scheduled for this summer (which may be postponed due to COVID-19), a movement began in the country last year that involves local regions and political figures educating its restaurants on animal-free cuisine. Last November, the Japanese government began promoting services for vegetarians and vegans in preparation for foreign visitors ahead of the Olympic Games, including creating food guidelines to help restaurants increase their meatless menu options and certification marks to identify which items are vegetarian and vegan.

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