How Fake Food Became A $90 Million Industry In Japan

Fake food samples, or sampuru, can be seen in most restaurant windows in Japan. The hyper-realistic plastic foods help with language barriers and advertising, but they're also a prominent and historical staple in Japanese culture.

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How Fake Food Became A $90 Million Industry In Japan

[tubevantedi]

What's great about this 'fake food' is that when you order the meal, it looks exactly like the display. Not like Mcdonalds burger commercial vs sad reality :/

[ayami]

As a food photographer, I find this intriguing. It's so much more convenient, and the food doesn't spill, melt or go bad under the harsh studio lights. It would actually be really practical to use them instead of the real deal.

[evaristegalois]

Here's why the fake food industry got so big:

Lvl 1: *Real food*
Lvl 100: *Fake food*

*_That's how food works_*

[perc.aaryan]

**tastes**
Mmm just needs a little
more salt

[rons]

I don't like the ring of a word "fake food".
It should be called plastic food replica instead. Fake food doesn't describe those appropriately.

[alize]

Sending this to my family on FB so they’ll stop sharing those videos of the fake food being made with captions like “THIS IS YOUR RICE! THE GOVERNMENT LIES!”

[mijkwgeblwxz]

*Mcdonalds wants to know your location*

[jacklabue]

Next up *How fast food became a 90 billion industry in America*

[Megadextrious]

Oh wow! When the guy was handling the fake burger it like brought back a memory from so long ago. I remember being in preschool and playing with plastic food toys! I distinctly remember trying to gather up every single piece one day and there was a lot of missing pieces. I actually started making my own fake food out of clay when I was in 2nd/3rd grade, and to this day I still find enjoyment in making miniature food out of clay. This is so awesome, I wish I could get a job like that here in the US

[tangogamma]

This isn't just "fake food" Its literally art! These are artisans!

[kmusic]

I get hungry every time I look at these fake food..

[WealthbuilderzTV]

How is this even a industry? I see the point from advertising stand point but I’m not sure why it’s a industry 🤔

[ariannasilva]

I feel as though this works very well in japan as well because the food will look like what they are advertising. You couldn't do this in the U.S. because so much food advertising is fake and unrealistic

[alfreddozier]

It's also for restaurants because then actually show you how the food will look if you get it in Japan.

[Peleski]

I always found these fascinating. It's so great that we can learn about it in English via youtube. In all honesty, I think restaurants have moved on to electronic displays. I was at a Kyoto restaurant where everything was ordered by tablet on the table. It's more convenient than having to go outside and point.

[evanhuff]

$90, 000, 000 a year for a business industry. Let's say you have over 200 companies in Japan that do this. That's less than 500, 000$ each company takes home each year, not accounting for their expenses this is really nothing.

[paulharland]

Seems like a fantastic application for 3D printing.

[pineapple]

Ive always been interested in these cool fake food thingies, I feel like if I was rich I would have a large collection.

[Crosshill]

i just wanted to say that i watched a 30 minute long episode on just this topic from the japanology channel and im still not quite sure what to do with this information other than weird flexing that i've 25 minutes on all of ya'll

[yogurLAPIZ]

Good way of making a sample of cakes to out on exposition on the bakery, no ingredients thrown away. :)