Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
Although not the inventor, Iwasaki Takizō was the first person to successfully commercialize the making of "shokuhin sampuru" (food replicas) in Japan. Born in Gujō Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture, Mr. Iwasaki became an apprentice for a medicine trader in Osaka at 14, but returned home after contracting tuberculosis. After his recovery, he attempted various business ventures without success. Finally, in 1932, he established his own company in Osaka to manufacture and sell food replicas, which were still a novelty at the time. Despite the challenges of the wartime period, his company thrived as the market expanded, leading to the opening of a Tokyo branch in 1952 and the building of a new factory in his hometown of Gujō Hachiman in 1955.
Today, the Iwasaki Group, consisting of three companies in Tokyo, Osaka and Gujō Hachiman, along with factories in various locations around Japan, holds approximately 70% of the food replica industry’s domestic market share.
*Video created and produced for the Looks Delicious! exhibition by JAPAN HOUSE London.
LOOKS DELICIOUS! | EXPLORING JAPAN'S FOOD REPLICA CULTURE
● Dates: Thu. September 18, 2025 – Sun. January 25, 2026
● Hours: Mon. – Fri. | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sat. – Sun. | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
● Venue: JAPAN HOUSE @ 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Level 2, LA, CA 90028
● Fee: Free
Learn more at.....
japanhousela.com/exhibitions/looks-delicious-exploring-sampuru-japanese-fake-food-replica-culture-iwasaki-mokei
Exhibition-related programs can be found at.....
japanhousela.com/happenings/events
#JapanHouseLA #JHLALooksDelicious #FoodReplica
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
● CONNECT WITH JAPAN HOUSE LOS ANGELES
JapanHouseLA.com | @JapanHouseLA
● SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER
japanhousela.com/happenings/newsletter
Although not the inventor, Iwasaki Takizō was the first person to successfully commercialize the making of "shokuhin sampuru" (food replicas) in Japan. Born in Gujō Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture, Mr. Iwasaki became an apprentice for a medicine trader in Osaka at 14, but returned home after contracting tuberculosis. After his recovery, he attempted various business ventures without success. Finally, in 1932, he established his own company in Osaka to manufacture and sell food replicas, which were still a novelty at the time. Despite the challenges of the wartime period, his company thrived as the market expanded, leading to the opening of a Tokyo branch in 1952 and the building of a new factory in his hometown of Gujō Hachiman in 1955.
Today, the Iwasaki Group, consisting of three companies in Tokyo, Osaka and Gujō Hachiman, along with factories in various locations around Japan, holds approximately 70% of the food replica industry’s domestic market share.
*Video created and produced for the Looks Delicious! exhibition by JAPAN HOUSE London.
LOOKS DELICIOUS! | EXPLORING JAPAN'S FOOD REPLICA CULTURE
● Dates: Thu. September 18, 2025 – Sun. January 25, 2026
● Hours: Mon. – Fri. | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sat. – Sun. | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
● Venue: JAPAN HOUSE @ 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Level 2, LA, CA 90028
● Fee: Free
Learn more at.....
japanhousela.com/exhibitions/looks-delicious-exploring-sampuru-japanese-fake-food-replica-culture-iwasaki-mokei
Exhibition-related programs can be found at.....
japanhousela.com/happenings/events
#JapanHouseLA #JHLALooksDelicious #FoodReplica
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
● CONNECT WITH JAPAN HOUSE LOS ANGELES
JapanHouseLA.com | @JapanHouseLA
● SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER
japanhousela.com/happenings/newsletter
