Est. 1974 · Brussels

The Story of Tagawa

1974.

The world stood at the threshold of globalization.
In Europe, the very concept of Japanese cuisine was still largely unknown.

Amid the lingering economic uncertainty following the oil crisis, bringing Japan's food culture abroad was not merely difficult—it was almost unthinkable.

And yet, in that era of doubt,
a single restaurant from Akasaka, Tokyo, made a bold and ambitious decision.
To begin… in Brussels.

That restaurant was Tagawa.

Its stage was the square before the Brussels Stock Exchange—a crossroads of international finance. There, a small light from Japan was lit for the first time.

But the reality was harsh. At the time in Belgium, there was no soy sauce, no miso, and no reliable supply of fresh fish. Even the simple idea of serving authentic Japanese cuisine seemed nearly impossible.

Still, the founders refused to give up.

If it did not exist, they would create it.

They made the audacious decision to import ingredients directly from Japan—and to support this vision, they opened a specialty food store on Chaussée de Vleurgat.

This was not just a shop for a restaurant.
It was a foundation—built to establish Japanese food culture itself in Europe.

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In time, the restaurant moved to Avenue Louise, one of Brussels' most prestigious districts. There, Tagawa earned its reputation as a place for true Japanese cuisine. Its name spread quietly—but unmistakably.

Its guests were no longer just Japanese expatriates. They were diplomats, international business leaders, and global citizens.

Tagawa became more than a restaurant.
It became a cultural crossroads,
where Japan and Europe met.

Celebrations, encounters, conversations—and countless human stories unfolded within its walls. The name Tagawa became etched in memory—not just as a place to eat, but as an experience.

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From there, the business expanded. Food, restaurants, hotels, even travel services. The Tagawa Group formed a small "ecosystem" in a foreign land. The opening of Hotel Tagawa on Avenue Louise created a home away from home for visitors from Japan.

But no era lasts forever. Global economic shifts and changing values began to reshape the landscape. Restructuring. Transformation. Moments of uncertainty that questioned its very identity.

And then, in 2009, after decades of history, the restaurant and hotel quietly closed their doors.

What remained was a single food store.

Yet one thing endured—a name.
Tagawa.
A symbol of trust built over time.

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In 2011, a new Japanese owner stepped forward to carry this legacy forward. It was not a beginning from zero—but it was far from easy. What was inherited was not only tradition, but expectation—and responsibility.

Still, the journey continued.

From a fine dining destination to a presence in everyday life.
Sushi. Sashimi. Bento. Japanese groceries.

From "Japanese food for special occasions"…
to "Japanese food for everyday living."

Adapting to the times—changing its form, yet never its essence.

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And today—as "Superstore Tagawa," the name lives again, woven into daily life. More than 40 years have passed, yet the legacy of Restaurant Tagawa continues to be told.

At a time when it was said to be impossible,
there were those who built something real—
authentic Japan, in a distant land.

And that challenge…
continues to this day.