Plastic play food is a highly fascinating and engaging concept that is popular among children and adults alike. We are all familiar with these toys, which mimic realistic food items and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. But have you ever wondered where these plastic food displays originated from?
Well, it may come as a surprise to many, but Japan is actually the birthplace of lifelike plastic food models. Invented in 1917, it wasn't until 1926 that a Japanese restaurant owner decided to display these plastic food models in a glass casing to lure more customers. This ingenious marketing tactics soon became a massive hit, and other restaurant owners quickly followed suit.
Today, fake food display making is an extremely lucrative business in Japan, where these plastic food models are used by luxury restaurants and cafes to attract customers. The process of creating these models is intricate and time-consuming, involving modern materials and techniques that make the food look almost lifelike.
The top producer of these plastic food models in Japan is a company called Iwasaki Ryuzo, which was set up in 1932. They receive requests from restaurants for specific menu items and are provided with detailed photos of the dish. The silicone mold is then made, and liquid plastic is poured into it and heated to harden into a replica of the dish. It's the finishing touches that make all the difference, and these are done with oil-based paints, regular brushes, airbrushes, knives, and carving tools.
The demand for high-quality plastic food models is enormous in Japan, and producers can command incredibly high prices. Luxury restaurants can pay up to one million yen to have an entire menu executed to perfection. In fact, plastic food displays are so realistic that they often beguile customers into thinking they're the real deal.
In conclusion, plastic food displays are an innovative and creative marketing tool. They not only attract customers but also provide a cost-effective solution for restaurants to showcase their dishes. The intricacies involved in their production make them an art form, and Japan is undoubtedly the leader in this field. With cutting-edge technology and expert craftsmanship, Japan's top plastic food manufacturer Iwasaki Ryuzo continues to produce detailed and fascinating plastic food models, luring customers to restaurants in droves.