From the “falling pizza tower” to the fish that slices and cooks itself, making plastic food sculptures is becoming an art. Japanon display this week in Tokyo.
| Font: AFP
The pieces reach the same level of detail as the noodle soups and crispy plastic snacks that have long been displayed in the windows of Japanese restaurants called “shokuhin sampuru” or simply “sample food”.
| Font: AFP
“samuru” they are common in ramen establishments, hearty noodle soup or family restaurants in this country, which began using wax models a century ago to promote its menu to a growing middle class.
| Font: AFP
“Usually we have to follow the instructions of the clients. We take their ideas into account when we make products,” he explains. AFP painter Shinichiro Hatasa, 57 years old. But “you can use your imagination.” “How it ends is up to you,” he adds.
| Font: AFP
Other creations include a breaded, four-legged fried shrimp that walks like a tiger on a mountain of cabbages, or a Tetris game made with chicken.
| Font: AFP
Also, a traditional Japanese breakfast dish consisting of fermented soybeans is called “natto” it spirals upward like a mighty tornado. The sculpture is obviously called “nattornado”.
| Font: AFP
In total, the exhibition features about 60 sculptures, some simple, while others show all the skill of artists. “They are not real, but they look so real. It’s wonderful,” says Reiko Ichimaru, one of the participants.
| Font: AFP
All models are handmade by specialists from Iwasaki Groupleading manufacturing company “samuru” which turns 90 this year.
| Font: AFP
At his factory Yokohama, near Tokyo, artisans first make molds from ingredients for meals prepared by restaurants. Then painstaking work begins to decorate the samples and give them the most realistic look, from drops of moisture on cold glass to barely noticeable bruises on the surface of the fruit.
| Font: AFP
“Fresh food is harder to make. Fresh vegetables, fresh fish. Boiled foods are simpler,” because the colors are less complex,” explains the factory director. Hiroaki Miyazawa44 years old.
| Font: AFP
Food sampling is a multi-billion dollar business in Japan, although it has also been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. coronaviruswhich reduced demand from restaurants.
| Font: AFP
Manufacturers “samuru” they hope that tourists will soon be able to return to the country to revitalize the recovery, but still use their skills in other areas.
| Font: AFP
Thus, the artisans Iwasaki They made replicas of bananas in varying degrees of maturity so that factories could use them to train new workers. They also received inquiries from IT companies who, for example, want to use Wi-Fi routers for their presentations.
| Font: AFP
“I think the number of restaurants using plastic food samples is decreasing,” says Yutaka Nishio, 52. “It’s interesting to keep it as art. It’s really fantastic.”
| Font: AFP
Source: RPP
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.