Nyotaimori

Nyotaimori (Japanese: 女体盛り, "female body presentation"), often referred to as "body sushi," is the practice of serving sashimi or sushi from the body of a woman, typically naked. Nantaimori (Japanese: 男体盛り) refers to the same practice using a male model. This subdivision of food play is originally an obscure Japanese practice not common in Japanese culture but that has attracted considerable international media attention.^[1]

Procedures

Before becoming a living sushi platter, the person (usually a woman) is trained to lie down for hours without moving. She or he must also be able to withstand the prolonged exposure to the cold food. Before service, the individual is supposed to have taken a bath using a special fragrance-free soap and then finished off with a splash of cold water to cool the body down somewhat for the sushi. In some parts of the world, in order to comply with sanitation laws, there must be a layer of plastic or other material between the sushi and the body of the woman or man.

—Jack Herbert, Nyotaimori (Body sushi), Japan for the Uninvited

In the experience of Guardian columnist Julie Bindel, the models in London were hired through an agency, and had no prior training.^[2]

Reception

Promoters, eating participants, and proponents of the practice often say that nyotaimori is a form of art.

This argument is rejected by some feminists, who argue that it objectifies the woman or the man doing the serving. Guardian columnist Julie Bindel notes that the women being used to serve the food, on at least one occasion in London, looked "as if in a morgue, ­awaiting a postmortem."^[2]

Worldwide reception varies. For public health reasons, China has outlawed food served on naked bodies.^[3]

Tickets for naked sushi night may cost around US$75,^[4] which may include sushi, sake and champagne. Others, such as that attended by Bindel, may cost £250.

South African entrepreneur Kenny Kunene's birthday party on 21 October 2010 that hosted ANCYL president Julius Malema and featured nyotaimori^[5] was criticised by COSATU secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi, leading to a political row.^[6][7] Also, the ANCWL condemned nyotaimori at Kunene's party as “an attack on the bodily integrity and dignity of women" in South Africa.^[8]

Nyotaimori in Popular Culture

The practice of nyotaimori is mentioned in passing in a number of Hollywood movies as well as in some anime and manga.

• The opening scene in the film Map of the Sounds of Tokyo features it
• In Showdown in Little Tokyo, Dolph Lundgren's character comments on it
• Nyotaimori was parodied in the 2009 film Brüno, where the title character serves sushi to Paula Abdul on the body of a naked Mexican man, causing her to leave in disgust
• In the Sex and the City movie, Samantha Jones makes sushi and covers her body with it for a Valentine's Day present
• In the movie Rising Sun (1993), the character Eddie Sakamura eats sushi off a naked woman before being busted by Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes.
• In both the anime and manga Kodomo no Jikan, teacher Daisuke Aoki-sensei is running a cooking class. One of his students, Rin Kokonoe, who has a crush on him is constantly trying to flirt with him and places food on her (clothed) body. Aoki-sensei then tells Rin that nyotaimori is not a form of cooking.
• In the anime Kanokon, Chizuru gets into a body-sized sushi boat naked in attempt to hit on Kouta.
• In the anime Hen Semi, Mizukoshi acts as a nyotaimori gathering where it shows various food on her body.
• The strip club "Cheetahs" in Times Square, Manhattan, has an exclusive Kabuki Room for nyotaimori from Tycoon Sushi Steakhouse, served on the erotic dancer of choice by advance arrangement.^[9]
• In the cartoon Frisky Dingo, the dastardly Torpedo Vegas is seen noshing from a planked woman, whilst interrogating the protagonists Killface and Xander Crews.
• The first episode of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kira has the main character fantasize about this.
• In an episode of British television programme Come Dine With Me, a host serves a starter of sushi to his guests using Nantaimori.

References

1. ^ Bull, Brett. "Nyotaimori: a Japanese tradition?" The Japan Times, December 3, 2009. Accessed 1 April 2010.
2. ^ ^{a b} Bindel, Julie. "'I am about to eat sushi off a naked woman's body'", The Guardian, Friday 12 February 2010.
3. ^ "Girl body sushi: too raw for China". People's Daily, May 23, 2005. (Xinhua.) Accessed 1 April 2010.
4. ^ "Naked Sushi Night Coming To Minneapolis". CBS13.com, February 13, 2008. Accessed 1 April 2010.{dead link}
5. ^ Malema Eats Sushi With Kenny, Zalebs
6. ^ Vavi's Sushi War Hots Up, The Sowetan, 29 October 2010
7. ^ COSATU Deputy Lashes Kunene, The Sowetan, 1 November 2010
8. ^ A chat with 'Sushi King', Tonight, 6 February 2011
9. ^ Restaurants+Bars: "Amuse Bouche", Time Out New York, May 3, 2007

External links

Nyotaimori ||| Foto/Video ||| Stopicot.net

• Behind the Scenes Body Sushi Video
• Nyotaimori video
• What is Nyotaimori?