Sir Terence Conran is to open eight to 10 restaurants in Japan over the next 10 years in a partnership with the Japanese restaurant group Hiramatsu.

Conran will be responsible for the concept development and design while the management of each site will be controlled by Hiramatsu.

Hiramatsu, which specialises in high quality French and Italian food, currently operates seven restaurants and a cafe in Japan plus a Michelin starred restaurant in Paris.

The first restaurant from the new partnership is scheduled to open in Tokyo in 2006.

Chief executive of the Conran Group, Des Gunewardena, said: “This is an important venture for us. Since opening the first Conran Shop in Japan 10 years go, we have held the ambition to open restaurants in Tokyo and other Japanese cities.

“We have chosen Hiramatsu as our partner as it is a leading high quality Japanese restaurant group with experience of European food concepts and collaborating with European chefs.” Details: www.conran-restaurants.co.uk