Baikingu...?

[CMM]

Does anyone know how the term "Baikingu" came in to use, to refer to a smorgasboard/all-you-can-eat-type restaurant (tabehoudai)?

My own, personal theory is that "smorgasboard" was too long/difficult to 'japanize' ('sumoagasuboado'?), and some enterprising person elected to borrow another, similarly-Scandinavian sounding word as a substitute...

...but I could be wrong.

[CMM]

Oh, come on, people!

I know it's not a hoity-toity 'budo word,' but I'm genuinely curious about the origin of 'baikingu,' and I lack the resources to research it myself!

...anyone?

[Mark Tankosich]

It just so happens that I asked my (Japanese) wife this question this past weekend. Her guess was that it came from the idea that Vikings "take whatever and as much as you want."

If I get a chance, I'll try to check some references.

Best,

Mark