Pleasures of the Flesh: Naked Sushi ~ West Hollywood
The thing you gotta love about LA is that you should be able to find anything here. That includes, I guess, nyotaimori, which is a known by other names: hadaka sushi, naked sushi, body sushi, or — my favorite — “live nude sushi”.
Word is that this Japanese “tradition” got it’s start among the members of the Japanese organized crime families (yakuza) during the bubble economy of the 80s, when they had more money then they knew what to do with. So, they hired a clean, beautiful woman to lay down naked in front of them while they ate sushi and sashimi off her body.
You can find this in LA, at a restaurant called Hadaka Sushi on Sunset in West Hollywood. Of course, health code standards vary from country to country; in LA county, there are banana leaves placed between the sushi and the skin, so no food ever really touches bare skin. And flowers are used to cover the boobies and other strategic areas. The menu, designed by Executive Chef Eddie Brik, seems about as authentic as everything else you’ll find on Sunset in West Hollywood, with sushi rolls with time-honored traditional Japanese names like “Glory Hole,” “Motorboat” and “Pearl Necklace”. (I wish I were making this shit up.) Deep End Dining blogger Eddie Lin was nice enough to make available a video of his experience at a party there.
Nyotaimori aka Body Sushi on Vimeo
It looks like you can get “Miso-Horny Soup” for only four dollars or a dessert called “Chocolate Starfish” for seven, but you really gotta be “livin’ large” to afford the complete dog and pony show: word has it that the models and private room start at $11,000.00, and that’s before the sushi and drinks. Since my lifestyle can more accurately be described as “livin’ small-to-medium,” some sick little corner of my mind is kind of contemplating a bootleg version for a personal house-party, where I get the sushi from Trader Joe’s and the model from craigslist. But I’ve found that you never can completely trust the hygiene of those people you find on craigslist. Then again my sick little mind is not stopped so easily from coming up with down-market versions, bringing naked sushi to the masses. Stay tuned for our report on the “LA TACO: Cheap Eats” version below — the nyotaimori bentō. 
Sources:
drea wrote:
it’s only 1,000.00 not 11.
we can do it!
Posted on 03-May-07 at 5:38 pm | Permalink
frankiely wrote:
And how much are these young women paid to be used as food trays?
Posted on 06-May-07 at 8:17 pm | Permalink
Río Kvisto wrote:
frankiely, maybe you can do an undercover investigative report!
Posted on 06-May-07 at 8:54 pm | Permalink
Hadley wrote:
I heard they line up to volunteer, as it is an honor-based culture. If you really wanna do it, Rio, just get a crackhead and some Vons sushi. Be about $25 I’m guessing.
Posted on 07-May-07 at 11:51 am | Permalink
frankiely wrote:
Undercover Rio? It seems to me it’s all about no cover! You Taco male writers are so quick at coming down on the police and the establishment… but when it comes to women you behave like the establishment. You do need a proud feminist bitch like me on staff to spank your white-dominators but oh so cute butts.
Posted on 07-May-07 at 12:53 pm | Permalink
Hadley wrote:
Rio Kvisto ain’t exactly white first of all and I think there is more than a little irony in what his story ios saying, but I’ll let him defend his own story… I consider myself a feminist at times, but feel there’s nothing wrong with reporting on something that exists even if it involves exploitation or flagrant sexuality. We are all exploited in this world everyday in one way or another (ie. bosses, government) and what this young lady and her yakuza friends choose to do is their choice.
I think people should do what they want as long as no one gets hurt or does anything against their will. I do wish this young lady were writing a great novel or getting into pediatric medicine, but do not think she gives a shit.
Not all porn stars and strippers are sex slaves. Some people get off on being sex objects/symbols point blank. I think Britney Spears is a much more exploited female than Julia Bond who is in control of her sexuality and enjoys sex and has it for a living.
I feel your criticism comes from a puritanical point of view rather than a feminist one. Why shouldn’t this go on if everyone is acquiescent and no one is hurt? Objectification…well, this is a capitalist society and we’re all objectified or exploited by something in the end, perhaps this writer’s partially white, and yes very cute, butt is pointing out what too much money brings.
Posted on 07-May-07 at 1:10 pm | Permalink
dssd wrote:
she is a ugly hongkongese pig.
Posted on 14-Jul-07 at 4:39 am | Permalink
asaa wrote:
That girl has quite some hips for an Asian woman.
aaaaaaaaaand that was my sexist AND racist comment of the week
Posted on 15-Jul-07 at 4:29 am | Permalink
MARIAH wrote:
these people r hot I want more and more of these china dolls
Posted on 01-Aug-07 at 7:09 am | Permalink
Bunti wrote:
Hi
This is really existing to have a dinner with natural flavor.
One should be allowed to touch with tounge also.
Posted on 02-Aug-07 at 7:05 am | Permalink