Human sweat-infused rice balls fashioned in the armpits of cute Japanese girls become unlikely culinary hit, at a price
- Fresh take on centuries-old snack takes Japanese culinary strangeness to new level
- Restaurants promote armpit technique, allow customers in kitchen to watch
It is one of Japan’s oldest snacks.
Filled with a delicious combination of vegetables and meat, the rice ball is usually shaped by hand and wrapped in a layer of seaweed.
Onigiri rice balls, Japan’s on-the-go fuel, were around even before the samurai took them onto the battlefield.
Today, this centuries-old snack has taken on a bizarre new form.
The snack is now being prepared by young women who use their armpits to shape the balls, a strange culinary twist that has gone viral on social media.
Before making the onigiri, all the ingredients and the body parts they come into contact with are disinfected.
The girls then exercise to produce sweat, and use their armpits instead of their palms to knead and shape the rice balls.
The finished product is then sold at high prices in some restaurants – as much as 10 times that of regular rice balls.
A diner who tried the armpit delicacy said they tasted no different.
Some restaurants openly demonstrate the process, proudly promoting their star chefs and the unique technique by allowing customers to visit the kitchen.
Intriguingly, scholars have studied the sexual significance of armpits.
A study from 2013 found that sweat from that area of the body contains a specific pheromone that can improve human emotions when smelled or licked.
A Japanese man was reportedly reluctant to eat some armpit rice balls he had in his home, so 14 of them rotted, and neighbours called the police to complain about the unbearable odour.
The strange culinary concoction has sparked a heated discussion on social media.
“These rice balls can satisfy the taboo desires of a few people, as long as they are hygienic, there is no harm,” one person said.
“It’s unacceptable. What if the chef has a hidden illness? I’d rather eat regular rice balls,” an online observer wrote on Weibo.
Japan has many other interesting dishes.
Natto is a traditional Japanese dish made from fermented soybeans and known for its distinctive smell, sticky texture and strong flavour.
Raindrop cake, unlike typical gelatin desserts, is a creation primarily consisting of water, which loses its form within 30 minutes at room temperature.
Also, rainbow cheese sandwiches became popular a few years ago at a restaurant called Le Shiner in Tokyo.
When you cut the sandwich in half, the cheese stretches out to form a rainbow.
