S/ Watanabe Miki, Watami Chairman and CEO: In today's declining Japan, if there is a business category or brand that can open more than 3,000 stores, Subway is the only one. 

Watami, a major tavern chain, announced October 25 that it has acquired 100 percent of the shares of U.S. sandwich chain Subway's Japanese subsidiary and obtained the rights to operate Subway stores in Japan. 
Watami operates Japanese style pub and yakiniku or grilled meat chains but analyzes that future expansion will be difficult and aims to attract health-conscious young people and other customers through Subway.  
Subway currently has 178 stores in Japan, but the company plans to open more stores in commercial facilities and on university campuses, with a target of 3,000 stores.