Feast Your Eyes on Japan's Fake Food
5 days ago
- #food replicas
- #culinary art
- #Japanese culture
- Japanese people appreciate the visual appeal of food, even when it's not meant to be eaten, as seen in the popularity of shokuhin sampuru (food replicas).
- Shokuhin sampuru is a $90 million industry and a beloved part of Japanese pop culture, with exhibitions like 'Looks Delicious!' drawing large crowds.
- The first food replicas appeared in Japan in the 1920s and 1930s, coinciding with urbanization and the rise of eating out.
- Early replicas were made of wax and helped customers know what to expect, reducing embarrassment and encouraging experimentation.
- The Iwasaki Group, founded in 1932, dominates the shokuhin sampuru industry, producing about 70% of Japan's food replicas.
- Food replicas are especially helpful for non-Japanese speakers and even Japanese people unfamiliar with regional dishes.
- Creating shokuhin sampuru is a highly skilled, analog process, with artisans specializing in different cuisines and techniques.
- Kappabashi Street in Tokyo is a hub for shokuhin sampuru, with shops selling everything from fake fruit parfaits to realistic sushi magnets.
- The craft continues to evolve, with modern trends influencing new designs and even surrealistic food-replica art.
- Visitors can try making their own replicas at workshops like Sample Village Iwasaki in Gujō Hachiman, the birthplace of the craft.