But due to a shortage of imported U.S. beef, the Tokyo-based Yoshinoya D&C Co. can only offer its trademark gyudon beef bowl -- a serving of hot rice topped with slices of American beef -- for one day on Sept. 18, according to the general manager of a Tokyo outlet who refused to be named, saying he was unauthorized to speak to the media ahead of an official company announcement.

Yoshinoya, which has 1,010 outlets across Japan, will serve about a million servings that day, but the limited amount of imports means it could be weeks before the restaurant chain can put the beef bowl back on its regular menu.

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 9, 2006
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