How do you stay warm in winter? In Japan, a common tradition to banish the cold is to get together and hold a nabe (hot pot) party, where everyone gets to enjoy cooking and eating together around the table. All that’s needed is a portable stove and a pot to go on top, plus the actual food, of course!
One timeless ingredient is daikon radish, which is often grated before adding to the mix of delicious nabe goodness. However, one nabe enthusiast by the name of kimimarock found an amazingly creative way to give everyone a treat for the eyes before tucking in – by making adorable animal sculptures!
It all started with this cute polar bear relaxing among the meat and veggies. With it becoming a hit on online media and even on TV, other daikon critters like otters and alpacas also showed up to join in the fun!
And for those who prefer their food a little edgy…
To share the daikon love with everyone, kimimarock even shared his recipe, complete with easy-to-understand pictures detailing every step of the way. And if that isn’t enough, this entire recipe book is dedicated to grated daikon art, with plenty of kimimarock’s original creations accompanying contributions from others!
Why not try warming yourself this winter with your own grated daikon masterpiece?
This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.