Nyotaimori (女体盛り, 'serve (foods) on the female body'), often referred to as "body sushi",[1] is the Japanese practice of servingsashimi orsushi from the naked body of a woman.[2] The less common male variant is callednantaimori (男体盛り).[3][4]
The origin ofnyotaimori can be traced back to thefood play ofwakamezake (わかめ酒) performed inyūkaku during theEdo period, wheresake would be poured into aprostitute's pubic region for drinking. Fuelled by Japan's economic growth in the 1960s, this practice was further evolved by the hot spring bathing (onsen) industry in theIshikawa Prefecture where the erotic nature ofnyotaimori was used as an advertising tactic by the hot spring resorts to attract male customers who were on company trips to the region. Thenyotaimori practice dwindled as family and private trips to the onsen destinations became increasingly popular in the 1980s and it was subsequently adopted by catering and sex establishments as an exotic attraction.[5][6]
Due to the lack of primary sources, the misconceptions ofnyotaimori's origin persisted when the practice became internationally known through popular culture.[7][8]
In traditionalnyotaimori, the model is generally expected to lie still at all times and usually not talk with guests until the event is concluded even after all food is removed. The sushi is placed on sanitized leaves on the model's body to prevent skin-to-fish contact and on sufficiently flat areas of the body which the sushi will not roll off. In the Japanese style the model's body is fully naked except for traditional footwear and head dress. The Western style sometimes adds a genital covering such as aG-string[7] andplastic wrap is sometimes used to prevent the sushi from touching the model's skin. Diners are required to usechopsticks.[9]Nyotaimori is sometimes considered anart form.[10][11]
Champagne andsake are usually served in naked sushi restaurants.[2] Guests must be respectful and observe the strictest decorum. Talking with the models is highly discouraged. Inappropriate gestures or comments are not tolerated.[7][12][better source needed]
In modern Japan,nyotaimori is stigmatised and usually only found in seedysex clubs.[2] Outside Japan, it has appeared atpop-up restaurant events in Britain[2] and at certain restaurants and caterers in North America,[7] the most popular and widely publicised example being in 2003 at the Bonzai pub and bistro in Seattle.[9][10] The practice has attracted controversy[7] and protests[2] among conservatives, feminists, and human rights activists.[9] It has been criticized as being decadent, humiliating, degrading, cruel, antiquated, objectifying, andsexist.[13][10][14] Several countries have banned it.[1] For example, in 2005, China outlawednyotaimori on naked bodies due to public health concerns and moral issues.[15]
Nyotaimori was featured in the 1993 filmRising Sun[10] and the 2012 filmSushi Girl.
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