Japanese Novelty: Food Sample Art a.k.a Fake Food

A sight that many people see upon their first encounter with Japan is the various food and drink menu samples such as the ones seen in the picture and video above that are normally displayed outside of the restaurants in showroom cases.

Unlike in the States and many other places in the world for that matter, the samples are a big help for not only foreigners but Japanese alike when determining where to stop by to satisfy one's appetite or quench one's thirst.  

With scalable models just as appetizing as the real thing, the plastic food/drink samples are truly works of art.  In addition, they are a great way to judge whether the restaurant/bar is worthy of your presence and cash as dust gathering and/or color faded samples are a good indication of the atmosphere and level of service on the inside.  

As Osaka is known as the food capital of Japan, it is fitting that there are several major food/drink sample manufacturers right here in town. One of those is Iwasaki, who has been in the sample manufacturing business for almost 80 years dating back to 1932.  Another is Morino Sample, which even offers 120 minute sample creation workshops to interested parties up to 50 people per day on the weekends.  

For those of you not ready to create your own menu item, you can always pay a visit to the Food Sample Art Gallery R&M conveniently located a few minutes away from the Takashimaya department store in the Namba district of Osaka.    

As a popular souvenir among visitors, if you are planning a trip to the "land of the rising sun" anytime soon, be sure to pick up a part of Japanese culture with a plastic food/drink sample of your choice.