Fake Food. Real Fun.
Sample fake food and beverages, or sampuru, are seen all around Japan. They are a safe way for restaurants, department stores, and snack shops to showcase their culinary offerings without the items being affected by temperature, light or age. Sample foods are also a great way for non-Japanese speakers to view and order foods which they may otherwise not be able to. The sample food industry in Japan is huge, worth over 90 million USD. As a unique part of Japanese culture, I explored this industry by making a sample myself.