Singapore, Jan. 20 -- Depending on when you visit, the kitchen assistants at Mirai Shokudo - a socially innovative eatery in the heart of Tokyo whose name means "future cafeteria" in Japanese - may be high school students, the unemployed, or even foreign tourists.
The 12-seater restaurant, built on the idea of an inclusive community, allows customers to help out in exchange for a meal, which they may also donate to the needy.
Located in Tokyo's Jimbocho district, which is well known for second-hand bookshops, Mirai Shokudo is part of a nascent trend of eateries in Japan prioritising the greater social or environmental good over immediate business profit.
Their novel business models are also often profitable.
Mirai Shokudo owner Seka...