Refresh, Hold the images & Swipe
食品サンプル
Food Samples in Japan
Many restaurants around the world display pictures or real food samples as samples of their dishes, However, it is rare to see such lifelike sculptures in restaurants to promote their menus. This food sample culture was born quietly in Japan and has developed independently. Food samples are becoming slightly more accepted in Asian countries, but in European countries, they are not at all widespread, The reason for this is not yet clear, but it may be due to the Japanese tendency to visually identify information, as can be seen from those pictograms, which are also of Japanese origin. Food samples are such an enigmatic existence, but if we try to unravel the history of food samples, we will find that they have been used for many years in Japan, and that they are still used today, If you look into the history of food samples, you will find that they have a solid practicality hidden behind their gorgeous and unique appearance.
History
The Forerunner of Food Samples
Food samples were born in the late Taisho and early Showa periods and were called "cuisine models" at that time. It is believed that the first time these food samples were widely recognized was when they were displayed in the temporary store of the department store Shiroki-ya Nihonbashi Honten, which opened on November 1, 1923. The model of food was placed on the shelves, and the ordering method of purchasing a meal ticket for the appropriate dish was used to streamline the ordering process, resulting in an increase in the turnover rate of the diner and a four-fold increase in sales. Since then, meal tickets and food samples have become widely used in restaurants.
Shigeharu Takeuchi is one of the leading craftsmen in the food sample industry today.
In 1972, he invented a food sample of spaghetti with a fork suspended in the air by using wire and other materials. At first, restaurants did not respond well to the idea, but it was well received by customers and contributed greatly to increased sales at restaurants that used the sample. In 1973, he established "Food Model Idea," the company he now runs, and as of 2013, he is still manufacturing food samples by himself. He also holds hands-on food sample production workshops for children.
process
食品サンプルの奥深さ
The Depth of its Process
Food samples are basically handmade. Since the appearance and size of the menu differs from restaurant to restaurant, craftsmen create them after hearing about the actual appearance of the food. Since food samples need to whet people's appetites, craftsmen create them one by one to make them look more delicious. (Sometimes we even make them look more delicious than they actually are.)
Art & Experience
食品サンプルが生むカオス
Chaos created by food samples
In recent years, food samples have entered the realm of art and miscellaneous goods. The expression varies from capturing a dynamic moment of cooking to creating a situation that could not exist in reality. It may be said that this is a new Japanese form of artistic expression that transcends the framework of menu promotion that has continued since the Taisho era.
食品サンプルづくり
Create your food samples
Kappabashi Tool-gai has long flourished as a supplier to the food and beverage industry. The Kappabashi branch, located in the center of the Kappabashi Tool Street, offers a food sample production experience.
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