# Two-Dimensional Japanese Restaurants The New Waku Waku Restaurant Opens Up in Manchester By Amy Duong | Published 2023-08-29 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waku-waku References: [hypebeast](https://hypebeast.com/uk/2023/8/manchester-first-2d-restaurant-waku-waku)  Waku Waku is a new Japanese restaurant that opened in UK's Manchester on Portland Street. It is designed with a 2-dimensional theme and a monochromatic cartoon look. The interior has been painted white from the ceiling down to the floor, even including the furniture and bathroom as well. It is then detailed with black pen to create a cartoon-like aesthetic to create a space that looks like it is ripped from a sketchbook. It was created by the owner of the restaurant Chris Lui who has personally created the drawings within the span of four months. He speaks about the project to Manchester Evening News stating “My wife loves 2D cafes that are popular in countries like Japan, Korea, and Taiwan and she said we should bring the concept to the UK as she thought people here would like it. The concept is very unique and we only use black and white lines to create the restaurant look.” Image Credit: Waku Waku, [hypebeast](https://hypebeast.com/uk/2023/8/manchester-first-2d-restaurant-waku-waku) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.0/10 - Popularity: 79% | Activity: 84% | Freshness: 17% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Two-dimensional Theme:** The rise of two-dimensional themes in restaurants presents an opportunity for unique dining experiences with a cartoon-like aesthetic. - **Monochromatic Design:** The use of monochromatic design in restaurant interiors offers a visually striking and immersive atmosphere. - **Cultural Influence:** The popularity of Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese 2D cafes indicates a growing trend of cultural influences in restaurant concepts. ### Who This Affects Most - **Hospitality:** The hospitality industry can incorporate two-dimensional themes and monochromatic design to differentiate their establishments and attract a niche market. - **Interior Design:** The rise of 2D restaurants presents opportunities for interior designers to create unique and visually appealing spaces that cater to specific themes. - **Tourism:** The advent of two-dimensional restaurants can attract tourists who are looking for innovative dining experiences that showcase cultural influences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Japan-Inspired Hybrid Bakeries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/milan-bakery.md) - [Ominous Interior Sushi Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/origami-restaurant.md) - [Space Tourism-Inspired Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ichi-station.md) - [Lantern-Dangling Steakhouse Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aragawa.md) - [Paired-Back Chinese Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pairedback-chinese-restaurant.md) - [Regionally Inspired Restaurant Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kioku.md) - [Minimally Designed Revamped Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/etch-restaurant.md) - [Minimal Interior Sushi Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sushibox-restaurant.md) - [Warm African-Inspired Dining Rooms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sketch-restaurant1.md)