A city government in Japan has unveiled a bizarre yet impressively realistic pair of fully wearable boots modelled after Taiwan’s beloved dish, braised pork rice.
The creation has sparked a lively discussion on social media and left netizens in Taiwan both amused and in disbelief.
Lu rou fan, or braised pork rice, is one of Taiwan’s most iconic dishes. It features tender pork simmered in a sweet and savoury soy sauce.
The dish is served over white rice with vegetables and a boiled egg and is loved by locals and tourists alike.
Recently, a quirky and eye-catching pair of shoes mimicking the appearance of this fragrant dish was introduced as a premium gift option under Japan’s Hometown Tax system.
This unique fiscal system, enacted into law in 2008, allows taxpayers living in urban areas of Japan to redirect a portion of their income and residential taxes to rural regions in exchange for tax credits on both income and residence taxes.
The programme was designed to reduce fiscal disparities between urban and rural areas by redirecting tax revenues into local economies, particularly those facing depopulation and a declining working-age population.
The viral “Braised Pork Rice Boots” were launched by the government of Tokorozawa City, a city near Tokyo, in central Japan, in collaboration with a local food modelling company, Fake Food Hatanak.
They are available as a return gift for donations of 118,000 yen (US$760).
Crafted using common Japanese food model technology, the boots recreate the iconic Taiwanese dish.
They are complete with lifelike details, from individual grains of white rice and thick slices of braised pork in a rich, savoury sauce to green vegetables and a soft-boiled egg.
Even the distinctly aromatic star anise is meticulously replicated.
The precision of the craftsmanship makes the final product look strikingly like a freshly cooked dish and the eye-catching boots are structurally sturdy and fully wearable.
Each pair is entirely custom-made based on the wearer’s foot size. The available sizes range from 22.5cm to 28cm.
As every pair is handmade, customers should expect a production and delivery time of around two months.
The launch has sparked widespread discussion among netizens in Taiwan.
One online observer said: “They are so realistic. I thought it was AI-generated.”
Another person asked: “What kind of mysterious fashion is this? Would anyone actually wear them outside?”
While a third said: “Now I finally understand how Italians feel when they see pineapple on pizza.” -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
