culture corner: Sweet Reality

Tissue boxes, snacks, bentos (box lunches), cigarettes, beverages, toys—all are tangible proof that Japan’s pride lies in its living philosophy that presentation counts. Even bath products to “enhance a bather’s experience” range from the high-tech to the flat-out cute.

One example is the Cold Fusion Showerhead. This advanced showerhead is equipped with special temperature- sensitive LED lights that change color with blue for cool to icy and red for warm to hot. That way, owners don’t need to scald themselves when testing the water. And not only is this appliance temperature smart, it’s also powered by water pressure, thus eliminating the need for batteries.

La Patissier is another company that caters to the tub-lover’s needs. Upon first inspection, La Patissier products seem like any other fancy French bakery products, but upon closer inspection you’ll find these seemingly decadent treats aren’t made from pastry and frosting, but from bath foam and towels, giving a whole new meaning to the word “sponge cake.” From Swiss roll cakes to elegant mousse and parfaits, La Patissier’s creative packaging is the front-liner of the newest Japanese trend where people “bathe in food.” In a land where presentation makes all the difference, desserts aren’t just for eating; they’re for decorating cell phones, wearing as jewelry and on clothing, and for bathing and drying off.

Savon de Neige is another company famed for its bath-time creations. Savon de Neige’s specialty lies in its elaborate soaps made to look like simple home- baked treats like mini tarts, gingerbread men, donuts, Christmas and birthday cakes, chocolate truffles, and cupcakes.

The “Not Ice Cream Shop” is sure to catch the passerby’s attention more than any old neon sign of Baskin-Robbins. Even from the inside the place looks like any normal ice cream parlor with a vibrant assortment of frozen treats beckoning from behind the glass. Ironically enough, the delectable dairy desserts are not for eating but for bathing. The colorful menu offers a variety of original bath products: sherbet, gelato, whip, or salt sugar—all of which leave you lightly scented with the subtle and sweet aroma of milk and rose, strawberry, summer mikan (tangerine), peppermint, grape, lemon, or vanilla.

And this fake food for bathing isn’t just limited to sweets. Companies such as Bienfaits de Legumes and Bienfiats de Fruits sell towels made to look like watermelon, apples, peaches, cabbage, oranges, onions, and even, oddly enough, caulif lower. They even come in sets and are carefully packaged in produce boxes like their real counterparts. Going one step further, Bienfaits vendors are set up in a convincing imitation of a farmer’s vegetable stand.

From vegetable-inspired towels to the irresistibly adorable packaging of La Patissier’s “cakes:’ the dream of bathing in one’s favorite food has now become a sweet reality.

—Mina Furusho