20110818 BEGIN Japanology - Plastic Food Samples

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/tv/japanology/archives.html

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Aug. 18, Thu. 0:30 - 1:00 (UTC) etc.

"Plastic Food Samples"

In Japan, scrumptious looking dishes like marbled beef, spaghetti, and fluffy omelets often sit in restaurant windows tilted at gravity defying angles. Why don't they spill? Because the dishes aren't real! They are ultra-realistic plastic models.

Skilled artisans constantly strive to make plastic food look realistic and delicious. Recently, the striking visual impact of plastic food has made the models popular souvenirs with foreign tourists. They've also found applications in stationery, interior design, and nutritional education initiatives.

On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, we trace the history and explore the mystery of plastic food samples, a uniquely Japanese creation.