The growing interest in hyper-realistic replicas of food is beyond a culinary trend. It is changing a cultural phenomenon, and the way tourists and food lovers experience the Japanese cuisine.
These replicas are beautiful models that have been made to display menu items in the restaurant windows, and they have now become immersive attractions that mix art, innovation, and Japan’s culinary tradition, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Kakarlapudi Karthik Varma, consumer analyst at GlobalData, said: “In the local parlance, these food models are called “sampuru” (translating to sample) and are made of wax, resin, or plastic, with an attention to detail such that they often appear identical to the dishes they represent. The history traces its answer that such replicas dated back years when they served as an important tool for tourists and non-Japanese speakers to ease them into trying out the local menus. They captured a place in Japan’s tourism, introducing visitors to the skillfulness and artistry encompassed in their creation.” AFP
