No country does cute food better than Japan, and the latest trend in adorable edibles is fall hot pots stuffed with cute characters that look way too good to eat!
These designer dishes are referred to as deco-nabe in Japanese, a portmanteau of ‘decoration’ and ‘nabemono‘. Nabe is a Japanese hotpot popular in cold weather and great for sharing with friends. And if your friends are coming round then you probably want to impress them a little bit, so why not turn your meal into a work of art? Basing it on the season is always a great place to start if you’re looking for inspiration.
▼ Halloween deco-nabe
▼ Christmas deco-nabe
Japanese users have been posting their incredible creations to Twitter, and many of them feature some familiar faces. Since there’s been a backlash against chara-bento, maybe now’s the time for deco-nabe and chara-nabe to shine. Everything in these dishes is completely edible, and most of the main characters are made from grated daikon radish which sticks together and can be molded into any desired shape. If I could turn out something half as good as these, I think I’d resent my friends for digging in and ruining it all!
▼ Totoro
おはようございます！
— ZIP! 【公式】 (@ZIP_TV) October 20, 2014
この後のハテナビは、寒くなってくると恋しい鍋料理！今年の鍋のトレンドは何と「デコ鍋」！子供がよろこぶ「デコ鍋」の作り方とは？ pic.twitter.com/aaexIY5P3Z
▼ LINE characters
大根おろしアートまたつくってみた！ブラウン＆コニー(*´∇｀*) pic.twitter.com/YqRdZenCh4
— Cocomame_76 (@h63a8c) January 30, 2014
▼ Funasshi
https://twitter.com/mrmatsunosuke/status/426590303441539073
▼ Disney Sea mascot Duffy
噂の大根おろしアート。ダッフィー鍋作ってみた。 pic.twitter.com/Ly8bBTsyem
— おはへー (@OHAHEY) January 26, 2014
▼ Doraemon
きみまろっくさんのマネ。大根おろしでドラえもん鍋できたーヽ(=´▽`=)ノ♪ pic.twitter.com/NQLZy6NiRs
— ヨネえもん (@yoneemon) January 23, 2014
▼ Incredibly realistic froggy
https://twitter.com/yoshigarden/status/424894806754488320
▼ BIGBANG logo plus bears
今夜は巷で流行りの大根おろしアートでミルフィーユ鍋だねーー♡ pic.twitter.com/UifyN1CxC5
— choime (@puritycoco) January 19, 2014
Which of the above deco-nabe is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
Purple Witch Hot Pot is the newest Japanese Twitter craze and it looks deliciously poisonous
When first-try character bentos go wrong 【Photos】
Kyaraben roundup! We take a look back at 2014’s best packed lunches 【Pics】
Japanese artist shows amazing way to color illustrations: Let the fall leaves do it for you【Pics】
Heavy snowfall comes early to Japan, creates beautiful images of snow-covered autumn leaves【Pics】
Studio Ghibli adds new Jiji’s baby plush toy to its anime merchandise range in Japan
Beautiful off-the-beaten-path spot near samurai castle in rural Japan looks like a Monet painting
Tokyo sweets store has a “350% Pudding Soft Serve”, and people are going wild for it
Japanese figure skating star Yuzuru Hanyu and Winne-the-Pooh announce crossover merch line [Pics]
Wagyu ramen for foreign tourists appears in Kabukicho, with a very high price tag
Shinto shrine in downtown Tokyo announces cosplay ban
This awesome Japanese arcade chain has crane game coaches to help you win prizes
Studio Ghibli releases new Kiki’s Delivery Service Jiji music box for anime fans
McDonald’s Japan’s new Chiikawa Happy Meal figures are here![Photos]
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
End of a manga era as Weekly Shonen Jump’s circulation drops under one million
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
This beautiful rural Japan river is a great alternative to touristy summer retreats [Photos]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The 10 most beautiful places to see the autumn leaves in Japan, as chosen by travelers
Crafty and creative Twitter user shares how-to videos for dazzling autumn leaf origami
Eraser stamp of Tokyo Disneyland is almost as amazing as the theme park
Capybara characters ride on each other’s heads and walk home through Japanese shopping mall
Google’s Go-playing AI has been turned into a beautiful, moe-ified anime character
Kyoto temple bans photography at famous autumn foliage viewing spots
Awesome lunch boxes full of Disney’s Tsum Tsum characters are almost too cute to eat!【Photos】
Magical train ride through Japan’s autumn leaves is like travelling to a different world【Video】
Adorable Japanese kids’ homemade Splatoon costumes are ink-redible【Pics】
Australian mother reflects on “lunchbox shame” she felt from her son’s Tokyo preschool teacher
Epic food fail sees adorable Rilakkuma character bread turn into a terrifying monstrosity
Fail News: Popular Japanese mascot falls during ice-skating routine, can’t get up【Video】
Understated costumes celebrated at “Jimi Halloween” event in Tokyo 【Photos】
Japan is doing what people do best with fallen leaves: playing with them【Photos】