Waitresses in kimonos welcomed guests with wine and sake as well as sushi canapes at the grand opening of Fumi modern Japanese restaurant and bar in California Tower, Lan Kwai Fong.

There was also a performance of Japanese taiko drumming, a lucky draw and a sushi-eating contest.

Like the food, the decor combines modern and traditional Japan, an amalgam of Art Deco with bamboo styling and wooden furniture.

Fumi restaurant’s executive director John Cheng says a restaurant is not just a place where food is eaten, but a place where “stories and histories are shared”.

He says guests can expect surprises with the menus, which will be changed regularly to reflect the seasons.

Also at the grand opening was the Consul-General of Japan in Hong Kong, Kuninori Matsuda.