Total sales of the hotel, restaurant and institutional (HRI) food service industry totaled JP¥25,517 billion (US$239.1 billion) in 2020, a decrease of 26 percent from 2019 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The industry experienced the biggest annual decline in sales since 1994, when industry statistics were first recorded by the Japan Foodservice association. Despite the overall declines, American style fast food chains experienced stable sales, and with easing States of Emergencies (SOEs), increased vaccination rates, and public outings resuming, there’s cautious optimism for sales to rebound. Japan’s market size and food and agricultural consumption needs are still robust for foreign purchases and will continue to be crucial for U.S. agricultural products that supply the Japanese HRI food service industry.