Day: May 21, 2022

Shokuhin sampuru translates to “food samples” in Japanese, and it refers to the artistry of the plastic replicas of different products and dishes often seen outside of restaurants. The craft dates back to the 1920s, or perhaps even further to food stalls of the Edo period, and food replicas were originally made from wax.

Competing companies in Japan produce the models, which are made by hand at Iwaski-Be-I, which employs 68 artisans in six factories across Japan. Where no two replicas are alike, a perfect model requires imperfection to give it authenticity. For example, a grilled fish will have asymmetrical grill marks and can sell for as much as $17,000. Less expensive items include fruits, beers, and soft drinks.

Restaurants will often send complete dishes to the factory to make molds, which are then filled with plastic before being hand-painted. Other establishments will lease out models and replace them once