From small, independent "izakaya" and pop-up ramen bars to high-end Japanese fusion restaurants and takeaway sushi chains, Japanese food can increasingly be found all over London.

While it is not yet as popular in Britain as in the United States or Asia — particularly outside London — Japanese food producers and the government appear to be turning to Europe for new markets as Japan's population shrinks.

UNESCO's recognition of "washoku" (traditional Japanese cuisine) as an intangible cultural heritage in December could help spread its popularity, said British Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal.