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» Do NOT eat this delicious looking bento and other Japanese food…because they’re not food!【Pics】

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Do NOT eat this delicious looking bento and other Japanese food…because they’re not food!【Pics】

Casey Baseel Jan 27, 2021
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Japanese artist makes a delicious feast for the eyes out of non-edible material.

No other foodie culture values presentation as much as Japan does. It doesn’t matter if it’s a five-course meal at a fancy hotel or just something quick you whipped up for breakfast at home, if you want people to be impressed with your culinary skills, the food you make has to be as pleasing to the eyes as it is to the palate.

And at first glance, Japanese Twitter user @meganenooo seems to have truly taken to heart the philosophy that food should look as good as it tastes. These snapshots, for example, show a Pizza Margherita, plate of mixed tempura, fried egg with a golden, gooey yolk, and a bento boxed lunch with grilled salmon and a fried shrimp that all appear perfectly cooked and arranged.

#画像4枚上げて200rt目指す

和紙でフェイクフードを作っている、
おじいちゃんの作品です。 pic.twitter.com/5mXSVELHn9

— メガネのおじいちゃん (@meganenooo) January 21, 2021

But the truth is that as mouthwatering as these meals look, you wouldn’t want to eat them, because each and every item is actually made out of paper!

All of these edible-looking (but not actually edible) works of art were made by @meganenooo’s father, who’s in his mid-70s and took up “fake food” papercraft as a hobby a few years ago when he found himself with some extra free time on his hands.

Even more impressive is that @meganenooo’s dad is self-taught. These aren’t standard origami exercises or pre-sorted kits he’s using. Instead, he selects the materials himself, primarily using the pliable Japanese craft paper called washi, and figures out how to fold, cut, and arrange it on his own.

▼ @meganenooo’s dad doesn’t add any color, instead picking out papers that already have the hues he’ll need.

These are far from his only projects, and in the roughly four years since @meganenooo started his hobby he’s made more than 200 paper “meals.”

▼ His most popular creation from last year was this batch of takoyaki octopus dumplings, with their faux batter spilling out from the grill’s indentions.

#1枚で本物に見えたらRT

今年1番反響のあった「紙」作品です pic.twitter.com/zPErQFgl6w

— メガネのおじいちゃん (@meganenooo) December 14, 2020

▼ Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, with a slice cut out and lying on the hera (spatula) locals use to eat it

「お好み焼き」
ふっくらと焼けました。
そしてこの断面‼︎#和紙 #食品サンプル #フェイクフード #ハンドメイド pic.twitter.com/dNROvDubvx

— メガネのおじいちゃん (@meganenooo) September 5, 2020

▼ A bowl of soba noodles, Japan’s traditional New Year’s Eve dinner

「年越しそば」
今年一年ありがとうございました。
皆さま良いお年を〜😊/#和紙 #食品サンプル #フェイクフード #ハンドメイド pic.twitter.com/xJ5NPOr7RZ

— メガネのおじいちゃん (@meganenooo) December 31, 2020

And just like with real food, it’s important to save room for dessert, as @meganenooo’s dad shows himself capable of recreating both traditional Japanese and Western-style sweets.

▼ Uji kintoki (matcha green tea shaved ice with sweet red beans)

「宇治金時」
暑い夏にはやっぱりこれ！#和紙 #食品サンプル #フェイクフード #フェイクスイーツ #ハンドメイド pic.twitter.com/lFMyZwCdWn

— メガネのおじいちゃん (@meganenooo) August 6, 2020

▼ A “Christmas cake,” the fashionable strawberry cake Japan enjoys on Christmas Eve

「クリスマスケーキ」
苺と生クリームのデコレーションケーキ♫#和紙 #食品サンプル #フェイクフード #ハンドメイド pic.twitter.com/iIlpBT8RtD

— メガネのおじいちゃん (@meganenooo) December 19, 2020

▼ Zenzai (a dessert soup made with sweet red beans and mochi)

「ぜんざい」
いただきまーす。#和紙 #食品サンプル #フェイクフード #ハンドメイド pic.twitter.com/mMzf2LsEhL

— メガネのおじいちゃん (@meganenooo) January 16, 2021

And if you’re in need of a beverage, there’s this cup of milk tea with a convincing splash as the cream is added.

「ミルクティー」
ミルクを注ぐ瞬間再現！#和紙 #食品サンプル #フェイクフード #ハンドメイド pic.twitter.com/y5RrAlOeAk

— メガネのおじいちゃん (@meganenooo) December 15, 2020

Most of the photos shared by @meganenooo are of the finished forms, leaving a lot of mystery as to just how his dad makes such amazing art. Occasionally, though, a behind-the-scenes snapshot or video gives a peek at the process.

全体はこんな感じ。
たこ焼き器も紙です。
(右半分は穴なし) pic.twitter.com/afgstp3L6X

— メガネのおじいちゃん (@meganenooo) September 3, 2020

「オムライス」制作動画#和紙 #食品サンプル #フェイクフード #ハンドメイド pic.twitter.com/TuOEDG9DQh

— メガネのおじいちゃん (@meganenooo) April 30, 2020

#RTで私を有名にしてください

70歳を過ぎてから暇つぶしで始めた
おじいちゃんの工作です。#和紙 #フェイクフード pic.twitter.com/Ct64lwdQiO

— メガネのおじいちゃん (@meganenooo) February 4, 2020

As amazing as this papercraft is, though, it was actually son @meganenooo’s idea to share it online. “It’d be a waste for no one to see these except the immediate family” he says, and we’re definitely happy to have a seat at the table for this feast for the eyes.

Sources: Twitter/@meganenooo via IT Media, FNN Prime Online
Images: Twitter/@meganenooo
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