Store Design Evolution from 1979 to 2026.
In 1979, Reverend Susumu Ikuta opened the first Edo Japan restaurant in a Calgary shopping centre. A Japanese Buddhist minister with a vision for sharing Japanese-inspired teppanyaki-style cuisine, he was building more than a place to eat. He was creating a new Canadian business while staying connected to the traditions and flavours that inspired it.
More than 47 years later, the single restaurant Reverend Ikuta founded has grown into a nationally recognized quick-service restaurant brand with more than 220 locations across Canada.
From One Restaurant to a Canadian Brand
Edo Japan arrived at a time when globally inspired food was not yet a mainstream dining choice in Canada. Its growth reflects a willingness to introduce something different while making it welcoming and accessible to Canadian guests.
The business has continued to evolve alongside the people and communities it serves. Menu innovation, restaurant modernization, digital ordering and loyalty programs have helped the brand respond to changing dining habits and consumer expectations, while a focus on quality, consistency and guest experience has remained constant.
“Supporting franchise partners while delivering a consistent guest experience across the country has been fundamental to our growth for more than four decades.” says Terry Foster, Vice President of Operations & Franchising at Edo Japan. “Our success is built on strong operational standards, quality food and franchise owners who are deeply invested in their local communities. Together, they’ve helped shape Edo Japan into the brand it is today.”
Today, Edo Japan serves more than 12 million meals annually. Behind that scale is a network of franchise owners who bring the brand to their own neighbourhoods, create local jobs and build relationships with the communities in which they live and work. Their stories continue the entrepreneurial spirit that helped shape Edo Japan from the beginning.
A Story That Continues Through Franchisees
Reverend Ikuta’s original vision lives on through the entrepreneurs who operate Edo Japan restaurants today. Each franchisee brings an individual perspective to the business, but the opportunity is grounded in a shared model: the independence to lead a local business, supported by established systems, training and ongoing operational guidance.
For Harjodh Singh, that balance was central to the decision to join the brand.
“What drew me to Edo Japan was the opportunity to build something of my own while being part of a brand with a strong history and clear values,” says Harjodh. “Like many entrepreneurs, I wanted to invest in my future, create opportunities for my family and build a business that could become a lasting part of my community. Edo Japan gave me the foundation to do that while still allowing me to bring my own leadership and perspective to the business.”
The franchisee experience adds a present-day chapter to the company’s founding story. What began with one entrepreneur introducing Japanese-inspired flavours to Canadian diners has become a platform through which other entrepreneurs can build businesses of their own.
“For me, franchising wasn’t just about opening a restaurant. It was about building a business that could grow over time and create opportunities for the future,” says Harjodh Singh. “Edo Japan’s long history, strong reputation and commitment to franchise partners gave me confidence that I was investing in something with lasting potential.”
That combination of local ownership and shared infrastructure has supported the company’s steady expansion while helping maintain the experience guests expect from one restaurant to the next.
The team behind the growth: Edo Japan franchise partners Davinder Sidhu, Harjodh Singh and Gurmanreet Singh (left to right).
Honouring Roots While Building for What Comes Next
Edo Japan’s story is rooted in food, but its growth is also a story of entrepreneurship, adaptation and community. From a single restaurant in Calgary, the brand has grown into a nationally recognized quick-service restaurant with more than 220 locations across Canada. Today, franchise partners continue to play a key role in that success, combining their entrepreneurial ambitions with the support of an established Canadian brand.
As tastes and communities across Canada continue to evolve, the brand is positioned to keep growing with them. With more than 45 years of operating experience and more than 220 locations across Canada, Edo Japan offers aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to build on a legacy that began with a single restaurant in Calgary. For franchise partners, it is an opportunity to operate an established business while contributing their own chapter to a story that continues to grow across the country.
At its core, Edo Japan’s success reflects the strength of a business built on quality food, operational excellence and local entrepreneurship. By empowering franchise partners to serve their communities while maintaining a consistent guest experience, the brand has created a model that continues to drive growth across the country.
