Plastic Food, Japan

By
kimonobox
Published: July 30, 2009Posted in: Cultural Box, Just JapanTags: ,

I love the way that in Japan, if you don’t know the name of the food you want to eat, you can point to it in the window because there is a replica of the dish in plastic.

Sushi Display in the Window

Sushi Display in the Window

Did you know that Japan first started working with models for food in 1917?

Back then, imitation food was made in the same way that fashion models or wax plants were made. Wax was melted an then poured into molds made out of a kind of seaweed jelly substance – known as kanten.

Nowadays the molds are made of silicon and the substance used to make the models is liquid plastic. Yum! I am hungry for some sushi already.

Small piece of video clip from youtube that takes a tour of a plastic food company – interesting – the cups of fruit look good. There are even pictures of plastic beer!

@dosankodebbie helped me find more information online about plastic food Many thanks for this – look like a really interesting day out.

Great find on plastic food Japan

Great find on plastic food Japan

Another twitter buddy @tokyoreporter found this link which provides a great insight into Japanese food models – many thanks.

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About the Author

I have lived and worked in Japan for the past twenty five years off and on. I have seen many changes and enjoyed the various paradoxes and anomalies of everyday Japanese living.