Paris - Sign of the Times

Here it is: a Japanese brasserie/tabac (although it calls itself a bistro). Many Japanese people live in Paris, and not just as representatives of Japanese corporations and banks. The neighborhood near the Opéra is full of Japanese restaurants, noodle shops (notably Kunitoraya, previously discussed in this blog) and food stores that cater to them. The Ventadour, pictured here, is different, being a traditional licensed tabac (which have concessions for tobacco and lottery tickets) attached to a corner brasserie but now serving Japanese food.

Paris has always been a magnet for people from around the world, and the Japanese appear to be there to stay.

Bobby Jay