Yum Brands' Taco Bell unit has inked a new deal with Asrapport Dining to open restaurants in Japan, it announced on Thursday.
Asrapport Dining already operates 429 other restaurants in the country through its food service franchise business.
"Our main business realm is dinner time pub style restaurants. We seek to increase the competitive strength of our portfolio and grow the number of our restaurants that frequented by customers throughout the entire day," said Asrapport Dining CEO Shusaku Higaki in a release.
Yum currently has KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants in Japan, but the only Japan Taco Bells are on restricted U.S. military bases, The Wall Street Journal reported. Last year, KFC CEO Muktesh Pant told analysts and investors Japan is one of KFC's "most challenging geographies" and it is working to revive the market.
By 2023, Taco Bell aims to add another 1,300 international units, focusing growth on Europe, Asia, Latin America and India.