Food Samples (replica food)

Maiduru Honten

A beer replica, realistic down to the droplets and bubbles.

A step into the store will immediately take you to a world where colorful food samples such as Sushi, Sashimi, Ramen, and curry rice are displayed.
Although they certainly do not smell good, they nevertheless looks so incredibly real.
Among such samples, take a look at the replica of a jug full of beer. It has thick foam and you'll find water drops on the jug itself, too! Can't resist trying to get a sip of it?

Replica curry rice made through great craftsmanship.

All the Sushi pieces look so real.

How much time does it actually take to make these samples?
We asked Mr. Kawashima, the owner of Maiduru Corporation that runs this store, who explained to us the procedure by using curry rice as an example.

1. Research and Casting
Real curry rice served to customers at restaurants is researched to find out what it contains.
The ingredients identified through the research are all taken out and a silicon cast is made for each of them.

2. Baking and Secondary Processing
The parts with soft plastic taken out from the casts are then baked.
Detailed color adjustments are made on those that need such features as a "toasted appearance".

3. Arrangement and Processing
Real curry blocks are mixed into the soft plastic to recreate the color.
As for the rice part, it is also made to look very real by using special techniques. After all the finished parts are arranged neatly, the replica curry is completed!

Although it may sound easy, craftmanship nevertheless is essential in every step and task when making food samples.

Highly-recommended shrimp Sushi key chain!

Highly-recommended Sushi clocks!

Maiduru Honten, our subject for this visit, sells a variety of food samples for both professional use (such as the curry rice mentioned above) and for souvenirs as well as miniature samples such as key chains and magnets.

Wouldn't it be a great idea to stop by the store while visiting the neighboring Sensoji shrine and Kappabashi Dogu Shotengai during your trip to Tokyo?

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