Nyotaimori
Encyclopedia
Nyotaimori 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.
columnist Julie Bindel, the models in London were hired through an agency, and had no prior training.
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."
Worldwide reception varies. For public health reasons, China has outlawed food served on naked bodies.
Tickets for naked sushi night may cost around US$75, which may include sushi, sake and champagne. Others, such as that attended by Bindel, may cost £250.
South Africa
n entrepreneur Kenny Kunene
's birthday party on 21 October 2010 that hosted ANCYL
president Julius Malema
and featured nyotaimori was criticised by COSATU secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi
, leading to a political row. Also, the ANCWL
condemned nyotaimori at Kunene's party as “an attack on the bodily integrity and dignity of women" in South Africa.
Sashimi
Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy. It consists of very fresh raw meat, most commonly fish, sliced into thin pieces.-Origin:The word sashimi means "pierced body", i.e...
or sushi
Sushi
is a Japanese food consisting of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients . Neta and forms of sushi presentation vary, but the ingredient which all sushi have in common is shari...
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
Food play
Food play can have sexual or non-sexual connotations. It often refers to Sitophilia, a form of sexual fetishism in which participants are aroused by erotic situations involving food. The phrase is also used to refer to non-sexual play with food, such as playful and decorative food displays,...
is originally an obscure Japanese practice not common in Japanese culture but that has attracted considerable international media attention.
Procedures
In the experience of GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
columnist Julie Bindel, the models in London were hired through an agency, and had no prior training.
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."
Worldwide reception varies. For public health reasons, China has outlawed food served on naked bodies.
Tickets for naked sushi night may cost around US$75, which may include sushi, sake and champagne. Others, such as that attended by Bindel, may cost £250.
South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n entrepreneur Kenny Kunene
Kenny Kunene
-Early life:Kenny was raised by his mother and grandparents. Kunene's mother has served as an Evangelist and faith healer. While he was growing up near Odendaalsrus his grandmother, a midwife, was the family's sole breadwinner. As as an impoverished teenager living under apartheid, Kunene...
's birthday party on 21 October 2010 that hosted ANCYL
African National Congress Youth League
The African National Congress Youth League is the youth wing of the African National Congress.-Foundation:Its foundation in 1944 by Nick Gombart, Ashley Peter Mda, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo marked the rise of a new generation of leadership of South Africa's black African...
president Julius Malema
Julius Malema
Julius Sello Malema is a South African politician, and the former president of the African National Congress Youth League. Malema occupies a notably controversial position in South African public and political life; having risen to prominence with his support for African National Congress...
and featured nyotaimori was criticised by COSATU secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi
Zwelinzima Vavi
Zwelinzima Vavi is General Secretary of Congress of South African Trade Unions , and Vice-Chairperson of the Millennium Labour Council.-Early life:...
, leading to a political row. Also, the ANCWL
African National Congress Women's League
The African National Congress Women's League is the women's wing of the African National Congress . It was founded in 1931 as the Bantu Women's League, with Charlotte Maxeke as its first president. It was integrated into the ANC during the period from 1943, when women were first admitted as...
condemned nyotaimori at Kunene's party as “an attack on the bodily integrity and dignity of women" in South Africa.
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 TokyoMap of the Sounds of TokyoMap of the Sounds of Tokyo is a 2009 Spanish drama film directed by Isabel Coixet. The film competed in the main competition at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:...
features it - In Showdown in Little TokyoShowdown in Little TokyoShowdown in Little Tokyo is a 1991 action film. It features Brandon Lee in his first American film role, starring alongside Dolph Lundgren. Set in Los Angeles, California, two police officers attempt to take down a new and deadly Japanese drug gang...
, Dolph Lundgren's character comments on it - Nyotaimori was parodied in the 2009 film BrünoBrüno (film)Brüno is a 2009 British mockumentary comedy film directed by Larry Charles and starring Sacha Baron Cohen, who produced, co-wrote, and starred as the gay Austrian fashion journalist Brüno...
, where the title character serves sushi to Paula AbdulPaula AbdulPaula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
on the body of a naked MexicanMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
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 DayValentine's DaySaint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
present - In the movie Rising SunRising Sun (film)Rising Sun is a [1993 film directed by Philip Kaufman, starring Sean Connery , Wesley Snipes, Harvey Keitel, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa...
(1993), the character Eddie Sakamura eats sushi off a naked woman before being busted by Sean ConnerySean ConnerySir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
and Wesley SnipesWesley SnipesWesley Trent Snipes is an American actor, film producer, and martial artist, who has starred in numerous action films, thrillers, and dramatic feature films. Snipes is known for playing the Marvel Comics character Blade in the Blade film trilogy, among various other high profile roles...
. - In both the anime and manga Kodomo no JikanKodomo no Jikanis a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by manga author Kaworu Watashiya. The story revolves around a grade school teacher named Daisuke Aoki, whose main problem is that one of his students, Rin Kokonoe, has a crush on him. It was first serialized on May 22, 2005 in the Japanese seinen...
, 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 KanokonKanokonis a Japanese light novel series by Katsumi Nishino, with illustrations by Koin. The first novel was released on October 31, 2005, and, as of December 21, 2010, fifteen volumes have been published by Media Factory under their MF Bunko J label...
, Chizuru gets into a body-sized sushi boat naked in attempt to hit on Kouta. - In the anime Hen SemiHen Semi, also known as Abnormal Physiology Seminar, is a Japanese comedy manga series written and illustrated by TAGRO and is a remake of his earlier manga series, . Hen Semi has been serialized in Kodansha's Morning 2 manga magazine since 2006...
, Mizukoshi acts as a nyotaimori gathering where it shows various food on her body. - The strip clubStrip clubA strip club is an adult entertainment venue in which striptease or other erotic or exotic dance is regularly performed. Strip clubs typically adopt a nightclub or bar style, but can also adopt a theatre or cabaret-style....
"Cheetahs" in Times SquareTimes SquareTimes Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
, ManhattanManhattanManhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, has an exclusive Kabuki Room for nyotaimori from Tycoon Sushi Steakhouse, served on the erotic dancer of choice by advance arrangement. - In the cartoon Frisky DingoFrisky DingoFrisky Dingo is an American animated cartoon series created by Adam Reed and Matt Thompson for Adult Swim. The series revolved around the conflict between a supervillain named Killface and a superhero named Awesome X, and much of the show's humor focuses on parodying superhero and action movie...
, 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 niHigurashi no Naku Koro ni, known simply as When They Cry for the North American release of the anime adaptation, is a Japanese murder mystery dōjin soft sound novel series produced by 07th Expansion. The games are built on the NScripter game engine and are playable on Microsoft Windows PCs...
Kira has the main character fantasize about this. - In an episode of British television programme Come Dine With MeCome Dine With MeCome Dine With Me is a popular Channel 4 television programme shown in the United Kingdom, produced by Granada Television and first broadcast in January 2005. The show has either four or five amateur chefs competing against each other hosting a dinner party for the other contestants...
, a host serves a starter of sushi to his guests using Nantaimori. - Comedian Margaret ChoMargaret ChoMargaret Cho is an American comedian, fashion designer, actress, author, and recording artist. Cho is best known for her stand-up routines, through which she critiques social and political problems, especially those pertaining to race and sexuality. She has also directed and appeared in music...
poses as a nyotaimori platter in her music video Asian Adjacent from her album Cho DependentCho DependentCho Dependent is the first studio album from American actress and comedian Margaret Cho. Released on August 24, 2010 as her debut album for Clownery Records, it earned a nomination for a 2010 Grammy award for Best Comedy Album...
.