Fake Japanese Food 食品サンプル
Fake Dishes For True Gastronomy
In Japan, the fake dishes made of resin displayed in restaurant windows are a favorite sight among foreign tourists. Take a journey with us and learn about the ultra-realistic fake foods that know how to wet your appetite...
In Japan, finding a restaurant with an English menu can be quite tricky.
Fortunately, plastic replicas of the dishes served are often displayed in the window, are the perfect way to avoid any unpleasant surprises!
"Samples"
The plastic dishes at Japanese restaurants are known as sampuru (サンプル), a Japanese adaptation of the word sample.
Very realistic, these fake dishes serve to show customers the different dishes available, the size, and the prices.
Customers can place orders without having to consult the menu, reducing waiting times and generally making things easier for everyone!
From wax to plastic
Once wax, fake Japanese food is now made primarily of plastic.
These creations require skill and expertise; they are often handmade by artisans, sometimes considered as true artists.
The sampuru are unique, often custom modeled to represent a particular restaurant's dishes as closely as possible. A real work of art!
Gujo Hachiman: the heart of sampuru
It is the small town of Gujo Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture, that is the major Japanese manufacturer of fake food. The companies there make fake food for 80% of the Japanese market!
To find out how these amazing resin replica dishes are made, you should visit Sample Village Iwasaki. There you will see these culinary artisans, masters in the art of deception, hard at work, as well be able to watch the manufacturing process. However, some of it remains a closely guarded secret...
For those interested in a hands-on experience, Sample Shokuhin Kobo offers an introduction to the manufacture of fake Japanese food for only 1000 yen.
Why not make your own resin replica dish to bring back home?
