A small restaurant in the city of Obihiro, Hokkaido, boasts an eye-catching sign out front that says "Eat here for free."

It's not that the restaurant pays for the meal. The other customers do.

Inspired by an Italian movement known as "suspended coffee," which offers pre-paid drinks for those in need, soba restaurant Yui offers noodles, curry rice dishes and other fare on the menu paid in advance by other customers willing to cover the cost.