Australians' taste for Asian cuisine has inspired an established restaurant franchise in Japan to explore the Australian market as part of its international expansion.

Kazokutei has been a franchise for 30 of its 62 years in business, has more than 200 outlets across Japan, and will open in Singapore in April and China in August.

The restaurant chain offers a choice of Japanese cuisine, focused around soba noodles and its speciality udon noodles. It recently introduced sushi, and will include both sushi and tempura dishes on its Singapore franchise menu.

Part of its policy is to combine Japanese cuisine and flavours with local preferences to suit the market.

Kazokutei exhibited at the recent Sydney Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo, with Yoichi Uchyama, director and general manager of the overseas business division, and Xiao Xiao Cheng, assistant manager, overseas business division, gauging local interest.

"Having made the first appearance at this exhibition, Kazokutei had good feedback from the visitors. The exhibition gave us an excellent platform to introduce our business," Cheng told Franchising magazine.

For more information visit www.kazokutei.co.jp