Major Japanese restaurant chains in the city have joined forces in an 'anti-waribashi movement' that seeks to reverse a decades-old practice of using throwaway chopsticks, because of environmental concerns.
Twelve sushi, beef bowl and Japanese noodle shop chains with a total of 140 outlets will switch to reusable chopsticks within a year.
Among them are such big chains as Yoshinoya with 35 branches; Genki Sushi, 31 branches; and Genryoku Sushi, 19 branches.
Their decision is seen as a victory by Friends of the Earth, the group that runs the 'No more disposable chopsticks' campaign. They hope other fast-food shops will follow suit and reduce the use of disposable cutlery.
Throwaway chopsticks, or waribashi, are a Japanese invention that have been commonly used in Japanese restaurants for decades. But in recent years, with a growing awareness of environmental protection, they have been linked to deforestation and a wasteful lifestyle.
Friends of the Earth estimates show that a whopping 80 billion pairs of waribashi are used globally every year, mostly by diners in China, Japan and Taiwan.