Watami
A Japanese business group best known for izakaya and other restaurant brands, with interests that have also included farming and eldercare.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Watami is a Japanese restaurant-centered business group associated most closely with izakaya dining. Its origins trace to Miki Watanabe, who opened an izakaya in 1984 under the Tsubohachi franchise. Two years later, he established Watami Co., Ltd. The company subsequently developed its own restaurant identity and, from 1992, operated locations under the Watami name. A central concept was the “family izakaya”: a format intended to broaden the traditional pub-oriented izakaya into a setting suitable for families and a wider range of customers. Branches operated by Watanabe under the Tsubohachi arrangement were converted to the Watami brand during this period. The group expanded through a portfolio approach rather than relying on a single restaurant format. Its restaurant interests have included Japanese izakaya concepts, fried-chicken restaurants, yakiniku, Chinese cuisine, sushi, and international franchise operations. Examples associated with the group include Watami, Third Generation Torimero, Mirai-zaka, Karaage Genius, Sushi no Wa, Yakiniku Watami, Wang’s Garden, Shirokuma Store, Kamimura Farm, TGI Fridays Japan, bb.q Olive Chicken Cafe, and Subway Japan. By 2007, the group was reported to operate approximately 625 outlets across nine izakaya and restaurant brands worldwide, illustrating the scale reached during its earlier expansion period. Watami also pursued vertical integration and diversification outside conventional restaurant operations. In 2002, it established Watami Farming to supply restaurants with organic vegetables. The farming initiative was intended to secure ingredients at lower cost at a time when market prices for organic produce were placing pressure on restaurant margins. In 2004, the group entered healthcare and eldercare, and by 2007 it was reported to operate 25 nursing homes. These activities reflected an ambition to build a broader food, agriculture, and care-services group rather than a narrowly focused restaurant chain. The company’s reputation has also been shaped by labor controversies. The 2008 suicide of Mina Mori, a young employee who had joined a Watami-named restaurant chain two months earlier, led her family to seek official recognition that the death was work-related. After an initial rejection, the Kanagawa Prefectural Labor Bureau recognized work-related stress as a cause of the deterioration in her mental health. In December 2015, Watami reached an out-of-court settlement with the family for 130 million yen, and founder Miki Watanabe apologized. The case contributed to criticism of the group as a so-called “black company,” a Japanese term for an employer associated with exploitative or excessively harsh working conditions. Watami was also voted the worst company in Japan to work for in 2012 and 2013 in the referenced rankings. Watami’s international activities have changed over time. The group exited China in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to the market in 2021. At the end of 2023, it announced an agreement to acquire 80 percent stakes in Singapore-based Leader Food, Leader Food Industries, and Premium Seafood Supplies for S$9.2 million. Described as its first overseas acquisition, the transaction was intended to strengthen the group’s international supply chain. Watami therefore combines a large Japanese restaurant portfolio with selected food-production, supply-chain, and service businesses, although the available reference material does not establish the complete present-day scope of every operating unit.
History
Watami developed from Miki Watanabe’s early involvement with the Tsubohachi izakaya franchise. Watanabe opened an izakaya in 1984 and established Watami Co., Ltd. in 1986. The business later moved toward an independent brand structure. In 1992, Watanabe operated restaurants under the Watami name and converted the Tsubohachi branches under his control into Watami restaurants. The group’s distinctive proposition was the family izakaya, which sought to make izakaya dining more welcoming to families instead of treating it primarily as a pub-style evening venue. During the 1990s and 2000s, Watami expanded its restaurant portfolio and entered related businesses. Its brands covered several food-service formats, including izakaya, fried chicken, yakiniku, sushi, Chinese cuisine, and international restaurant franchises. The group also pursued supply-chain control through agriculture. Watami Farming was established in 2002 to produce organic vegetables for the restaurant business and reduce exposure to high market prices for organic ingredients. In 2004, Watami entered healthcare and eldercare; by 2007, it was reported to operate 25 nursing homes. In the same period, the restaurant network reached approximately 625 outlets across nine brands globally. Labor practices became a major part of the company’s public history. Mina Mori, a 26-year-old employee of a Watami-named restaurant chain, died by suicide in 2008 after two months of employment. Her family pursued recognition that the death was connected to work. Although the initial claim was rejected by the Yokosuka Labor Standards Office, an appeal led the Kanagawa Prefectural Labor Bureau to recognize work-related stress as a factor in the deterioration of Mori’s mental health. Watami settled with the family out of court in December 2015 for 130 million yen, and Miki Watanabe apologized. The episode intensified criticism of Watami as a “black company,” and the group received especially negative workplace evaluations in 2012 and 2013. The group’s international footprint has not been static. Watami left China in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted restaurant operations, then returned in 2021. In late 2023, it announced an agreement to purchase 80 percent of three Singapore-based food businesses—Leader Food, Leader Food Industries, and Premium Seafood Supplies—for S$9.2 million. The deal was presented as Watami’s first overseas acquisition and as a way to improve its international supply chain. Across its history, Watami has therefore combined restaurant-brand expansion with attempts at vertical integration, international franchising, agriculture, care services, and supply-chain development.
- 2023
Singapore supply-chain acquisition announced
[1]Watami announced an agreement to acquire 80 percent stakes in three Singapore-based food businesses.
- 2021
China re-entry
[1]The group returned to the Chinese market after its pandemic-era withdrawal.
- 2020
China exit
[1]Watami exited China during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2015
Settlement reached with Mori family
[1]Watami reached an out-of-court settlement with Mina Mori’s family and founder Miki Watanabe apologized.
- 2008
Employee suicide case begins
[1]The suicide of employee Mina Mori led to a prolonged dispute over whether work-related stress contributed to her death.
- 2007
Restaurant network reaches reported global scale
[1]Watami was reported to have approximately 625 outlets across nine izakaya and restaurant brands worldwide, alongside 25 nursing homes.
- 2004
Entry into healthcare and eldercare
[1]Watami established its healthcare interests, later operating nursing homes as part of its diversification.
- 2002
Watami Farming established
[1]The group created an agricultural operation to supply organic vegetables to its restaurants and manage ingredient costs.
- 1992
Watami restaurant identity introduced
[1]Restaurants operated by Watanabe began using the Watami name, and the Tsubohachi branches under his operation were converted to the Watami brand.
- 1986
Watami Co., Ltd. established
[1]Watanabe founded Watami Co., Ltd. as the corporate vehicle for the growing restaurant operation.
Products and positioning
A multi-brand Japanese food-service group built around accessible family-oriented izakaya dining, supplemented by specialist restaurant formats, international franchise brands, agriculture, and other service businesses.
Izakaya restaurant · 1992
Watami
The namesake restaurant format associated with Watami’s family-izakaya positioning. It developed from the company’s earlier Tsubohachi operations and was intended to make izakaya dining suitable for families as well as conventional after-work and social occasions.
Izakaya and chicken restaurant
Third Generation Torimero
A restaurant concept centered on izakaya meals and chicken dishes.
Yakiniku restaurant
Yakiniku Watami
A Watami restaurant brand focused on Japanese-style yakiniku, in which customers grill meat and related dishes at the table.
Fried-chicken restaurant
Karaage Genius
A specialist restaurant concept built around karaage and other fried-chicken offerings.
Sushi restaurant
Sushi no Wa
A sushi-oriented restaurant brand within Watami’s multi-format food-service portfolio.
International restaurant franchise
TGI Fridays Japan
Watami’s Japanese operation associated with the TGI Fridays restaurant brand, extending the group’s portfolio beyond domestic Japanese concepts.
International restaurant franchise
Subway Japan
The Japanese Subway restaurant operation listed among Watami’s restaurant interests and international food-service brands.
Chinese restaurant
Wang’s Garden
A Chinese-cuisine restaurant concept, including Sichuan-style offerings, within Watami’s broader restaurant portfolio.
Korean-style fried-chicken restaurant
bb.q Olive Chicken Cafe
A fried-chicken cafe concept included among Watami’s restaurant brands.
Restaurant and food concept
Kamimura Farm
A farm-linked restaurant concept listed within Watami’s portfolio and connected to the group’s interest in food sourcing and agriculture.
Controversies
2015
Settlement and apology in Mori case
Watami reached a 130 million yen out-of-court settlement with Mori’s family. Founder Miki Watanabe apologized in connection with the case.
2013
Continued criticism of labor practices
Watami again received the worst-company designation in the referenced Japanese workplace ranking, reinforcing its “black company” reputation.
2012
Negative workplace rankings
Watami was voted the worst company in Japan to work for in a referenced ranking, reflecting public criticism of its labor practices.
2008
Mina Mori employee-suicide case
Mina Mori, a 26-year-old employee of a Watami-named restaurant chain, died by suicide two months after joining the company. Her family sought official recognition that work-related stress contributed to the death. After an initial denial, the Kanagawa Prefectural Labor Bureau recognized work-related stress as a cause of the deterioration of her mental health.
Brand decisions
2023
Acquire Singapore food suppliersM&ABackground
Watami sought to strengthen its international food and restaurant supply chain.
Action taken
The group announced an agreement to acquire 80 percent stakes in Leader Food, Leader Food Industries, and Premium Seafood Supplies in Singapore.
Aftermath
The transaction was described as Watami’s first overseas acquisition and was intended to augment international supply-chain capabilities.
Announced purchase consideration. S$9.2 million (Announced at the end of 2023)
2021
Return to ChinaStrategyBackground
After a pandemic-era withdrawal, Watami resumed its presence in China.
Action taken
The group re-entered the Chinese market.
Aftermath
The available reference does not provide further operating details about the re-entry.
2020
Exit the Chinese marketStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted restaurant operations and international market activity.
Action taken
Watami withdrew from China.
Aftermath
The group returned to China in 2021.
2002
Develop in-house organic farmingStrategyBackground
Market prices for organic vegetables were affecting restaurant margins.
Action taken
Watami established Watami Farming to supply restaurants with organic vegetables at lower cost.
Aftermath
The move represented an attempt to integrate part of the group’s food-supply chain and diversify into agriculture.
1992
Adopt the family-izakaya conceptStrategyBackground
Watami sought to broaden izakaya dining beyond a pub-oriented setting and make it more accessible to families.
Action taken
The company operated restaurants under the Watami name and converted the Tsubohachi branches under its control to the new brand.
Aftermath
The family-izakaya idea became a defining element of the Watami restaurant identity and supported subsequent multi-brand expansion.
Recent events
- 2023
Watami announces first overseas acquisition[1]
M&A
Watami announced plans to acquire 80 percent stakes in Singapore-based Leader Food, Leader Food Industries, and Premium Seafood Supplies to reinforce its international supply chain.
- 2021
Watami returns to China[1]
Other
After leaving China in 2020 amid the pandemic, Watami re-entered the Chinese market.
- 2020
Watami exits China during the COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Other
The group withdrew from China during the pandemic, before returning to the market the following year.
Sources2 sources
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