Do you think these dishes are able to eat?It looks so delicious!
But...The answer is NO.
Have you ever see “fake food”?
It is a fake of meals for food sample.
You can often find them in the display cases of restaurants in Japan.
You can often find them in the display cases of restaurants in Japan.
It looks very realistic!
Before enter the shop, it is helpful to imagine what you will eat.
Surprisingly, it is handmade!
The professionals shape each it by their hands.
Why?
Because the dish is different from each other, maker has to make it similar with meal served individually.
The history of food sample is not clear but it seems to be designed from Taisyo to the early Syowa period in Japan.
First, there is a real meal for display.
But, it isn’t good for sanitation.
Next, it is made of wax (used for making Candles) instead of original.
It can keep beautiful longer, and it is appetizing.
However, because of wax food is easy to melt; new materials are developed gradually such as plastic.
I get hungry only just looking!
It is like beautiful sculpture :)
Fake food industry is the one of Japanese food culture!
When I was child, it’s a dream to bring to my room and decorate.
Fortunately, nowadays, my dream came true!!
Sample of food is not always used for sales promotion at restaurant but for toy.
It become key ring, decollation and so on. They are sold as souvenir too.
Japanese toy maker, Bandai released a making kit of sample food for kids!
It is called Konapun, and magical toy power used.
If you have interest, please see this web site!
This is introduction site of Konapun, Bandai. (Japanese)
http://girls.channel.or.jp/konapun/index.html
You can see how to make it.
http://www.edgyjapan.jp/2010/04/20100415-1.html
please enjoy this movie too!
Hello, Noriko!
ReplyDeleteI knew about the sample foods because I often saw it on TV. They said it is very popular souvenir for foreigners.
yeah, it is Japanese food culture!! I thought that I've never(?) seen sample foods made of plastic in foreign countries.
It may be because Japanese people doesn't like to eat what they don't know. If we see same samples, we may feel relief.
BTW, I've bought sample food's key ring for my friend's birthday present! I bought her favorite food, karaage;)
Have you ever heard of a food stylist? In the U.S. we don't really see fake food in restaurants, but it is used all the time in advertisements. Food stylists make fake food that looks really appetizing. Other times, they use real food and add other to it to make it look juicier, creamier,etc. The real food may taste good, but if it doesn't look good in the ad, then they have to use fake food to make it look more appealing. Did you know that in ice cream commercials the ice cream is sometimes made out of soap?
ReplyDeleteIf you are looking for an online shop that sells [Made in Japan] fake food related items in English and ships all over the world, you may want to check out Fake Food Japan: http://fakefoodjapan.com/
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Justin