SoraNews24 —Japan News—

Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.

TOP

» Japan
» Cheki meshi: The deliciously delusional way Japanese idol fans eat with their favorite singers

Featured

Weird
Studio Ghibli
Jobs

Cheki meshi: The deliciously delusional way Japanese idol fans eat with their favorite singers

Casey Baseel Apr 17, 2018
Tweet

Japanese idol singers usually have a no-romance clause in their contracts, so fans hoping for a dinner date have to get creative.

With idol music in the middle of an unprecedented golden age in Japan, the stereotype of idol fans as dreary loners is becoming outdated. Between meet-and-greets, mini concerts, and online message boards, it’s easier than ever for idol fans to connect with one another and get a quorum of friends together to go out for a bite to eat, perhaps while discussing which member of their favorite multi-vocalist group deserves to be front and center in its next music video or album cover.

However, deep down inside, the person fans would really like to be sharing a meal with is their personal favorite idol. That’s something they’re not likely to have an opportunity to do, though, since idol singers are commonly barred from dating by their talent agencies. However, there is a way to make the dream of dining with an idol sort of come true, and it’s called cheki meshi.

やっとまともな飯にありつけた…

さん天の野菜鶏天丼 #チェキ飯でいただきます！#究極少女カラット pic.twitter.com/5ukERmwAO4

— 💎じゃっぷ🐳🐕🌙🩵 (@jyapp417) April 15, 2018

Cheki is the Japanese word for a polaroid photograph, and meshi means “chow” or “food.” So for a cheki meshi-style meal, all you need is a plate of food and a snapshot of an idol. Place the photo next to your food, and it’s like the two of you are eating together.

#チェキ飯
寒い中、居てからの、ラーメン幸せすぎる(੭*´ ꒫`)੭✰w#パラレルドリーム pic.twitter.com/HJVai5xWtm

— Akki。 (@akiakitter00) April 8, 2018

While any photograph will suffice, there are a number of high-level cheki meshi techniques. One of the most common is making sure to pair the photograph with a specific food the idol has expressed a fondness for a desire to try, such as regional specialties while on a concert tour.

今日のサクヤコノハナのライブ楽しかった❗️＼(^o^)／

天気も雨やんでて移動も助かった😀

唯一不幸だったのは、俺の右手を落とした事。(。´Д⊂)

おーれーのっ！！推し棒！！👈#チェキ飯 #サクヤコノハナ pic.twitter.com/qer42dwrph

— ちーず(ﾉ ´ω`)ﾉ=͟͟͞͞🧀PPMF🐲 (@pGwb4wYa4iFJDjT) April 15, 2018

Another strategy is to decorate your meal with a photo in which you yourself are posing with the idol, which adds the special seasoning of a sweet memory to the food’s existing flavor.

きょうもひろみんはかわいかったですまる

ひろみんの可愛いとこ
①顔
②ちゅいんて
③お尻(今日の衣装のお尻すち)#チェキ飯 pic.twitter.com/MUeCxQfP60

— まぐまぐでゅー@ひろみんみんみんななかよしみんみんドリーム (@magumagu_11) April 11, 2018

歌うま美人のPINOCOちゃんとラーメンポーズ！

今日のピノコ列は爆裂してたわね…

連れてった会社の後輩もピノコに夢中になりました！😍#PINOCO #日高屋 #チェキ飯 pic.twitter.com/OAVh3D9Bka

— ktm_photo (@katomuuuuu) April 15, 2018

汚いことはしませんw #チェキ飯 pic.twitter.com/OGiPbbgR2d

— 飲茶(やむちゃ) (@yamuchaan) April 15, 2018

Traditional Japanese teishoku set meals are especially well-suited for cheki meshi, since their myriad plates and bowls provide plentiful propping possibilities. But in today’s world of globalized cuisine, there’s nothing wrong with a cheki meshi burger.

今日のチェキ飯
はる、ひな、りんごの美人三姉妹
封神演義風に言うとビーナス、クイーン、マドンナだな#チェキ飯 pic.twitter.com/by3blrEn3r

— ドラ (@kotonohagabu) April 14, 2018

While the above polaroids appear to be laminated, many brave souls use unprotected photos for their cheki meshi, even when placing the photos directly onto the food itself.

▼ Maybe the photo being autographed is supposed to indirectly impart the aura of the food being made by the idol’s own hands?

ご飯屋さんを探して、西小倉から歩いて間もなく辿り着いた商業施設…

フードエリアをさまよって選んだのはポムの樹でした←

先日のタグに最初にイイネしてくれた金沢萌未さんでトンカツオムライスを #チェキ飯でいただきます🙏🙏🍴 pic.twitter.com/maHMxLhdso

— 💎じゃっぷ🐳🐕🌙🩵 (@jyapp417) April 8, 2018

メガ牛丼と迷ったけど、三豊麺きた♪#チェキ飯 #まひろひろ pic.twitter.com/u1myz3EYKX

— まぐまぐでゅー@ひろみんみんみんななかよしみんみんドリーム (@magumagu_11) April 8, 2018

In the era of social media, it’s a matter of course for fans to tweet photos of their cheki meshi meals, but stepping back one layer further reveals some extra-surreal scenes.

https://twitter.com/oraorataro_/status/983697877217128449

But apparently it doesn’t matter if other people are staring as long as your idol’s eyes are on you.

Sources: Hachima Kiko, Jusha Yoshiko no Geino Blog

He doesn’t have any checki meshi pictures to share, but you can follow Casey on Twitter anyway.