Chain News
What US fast food chains in Japan are actually doing right now, updated a few times a week. Last updated September 5, 2026.
This is a running log of real news about American chains operating in Japan: new menu drops, collabs, store openings, closures, and the business moves behind them, pulled from Japan food-news sites and business/trade press. It's the same watch list I use to find material for @313toHND on TikTok, now public here too. None of this is original reporting; every item is a short summary linking back to the outlet that actually broke the story, so you can read the full thing there.
Tsukimi season is in full swing (early Sept 2026)
Moon-viewing ("tsukimi") menus are a September tradition at Japan's fast food chains, and this year every major US chain jumped in within days of each other:
“Starbucks Japan reveals new Tsukimi Moon-Viewing drinkware and gifts for autumn 2026”
New Tsukimi Moon-Viewing drinkware and gift items released to mark the start of autumn.
Read more on SoraNews24 →“Burger King Japan brings back its insane all-you-can-eat One Pounder Challenge”
Brought back its all-you-can-eat One Pounder Challenge for a limited run in late August.
Read more on SoraNews24 →“McDonald's Japan reveals exclusive new Tsukimi moon viewing collection for 2026”
Rolled out its annual Tsukimi burger lineup, with a second wave of items planned for September 15.
Read more on SoraNews24 →“KFC Japan unveils new Tsukimi collection that takes moon-viewing to extreme levels”
Joined the seasonal wave with its own Tsukimi moon-viewing menu items.
Read more on SoraNews24 →“New York-style tsukimi mochi burgers to appear at Wendy's Japan this fall”
Announced "New York-style" mochi burgers for its fall Tsukimi lineup.
Read more on SoraNews24 →Franchise & brand collabs
“Pokémon comes to McDonald's Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation's starters”
Part of the wider "Pokémon Summer Mac" campaign marking McDonald's Japan's 55th anniversary and Pokémon's 30th, with new Happy Meal toys covering every generation's starter Pokémon.
Read more on SoraNews24 →“Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler's Company for new stationery and goods collection”
A non-anime collab for once: Starbucks Japan partnered with Japanese stationery brand Traveler's Company on a notebook/goods collection.
Read more on SoraNews24 →Business & industry
Ownership changes and expansion strategy don't usually show up on the food-news sites, so this is where that side of the story lives, from business and trade press instead.
“Burger King offers every fast food franchisee in Japan ¥40 mil to jump ship and join them”
Standing offer (through Sept 30) of up to ¥40 million plus half the conversion cost for any rival chain's franchisee willing to switch to Burger King, part of a push from ~350 stores toward a 600-store goal by 2028 under new owner Goldman Sachs.
Read more on Japan Today →“Krispy Kreme Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results, Maintains Guidance as Significant Turnaround Progress Continues”
Q2 earnings confirmed Krispy Kreme's Japan operations (sold to Japanese private equity firm Unison Capital, deal closed March 2026) are now showing up as royalty revenue rather than direct sales, part of the chain's broader capital-light turnaround plan.
Read more on Yahoo Finance →This page is curated by hand, not on autopilot. I pull new items from Japan food-news and business press every so often and add the ones worth knowing about.
Follow 313toHND on Substack or @313toHND on TikTok for the trip notes and videos this feeds into.