
People in Japan are going crazy for this dish and the best thing about it is you can make it at home too!
In Japan, one of the great tastes of autumn is grilled sanma, (pike fish or saury), and it’s not only humans who like it — cats have a hankering for it too! While it’s usually served with a side of sudachi citrus and grated daikon radish, one clever Japanese cook decided to have a little fun with the well-known dish, moulding the grated radish into the shape of two adorable cats and placing them beside the fish to make it look as if they’re tucking in to a generous seafood feast!
https://twitter.com/orucadao/status/772724590774595584The result was so cute that it became a hot topic online, with Japanese media picking up on the story and Twitter users sharing the image, along with comments like:
“This is too cute to eat!”
“They seem so happy to be eating that fish!”
“What a fantastic idea! I can’t believe I never thought of this before!”
“They look just like real cats!”
“I’m definitely going to try this at home.”
As well as being utterly adorable, the dish is actually incredibly easy to recreate. All you need is a piece of grilled fish and a thick slice of daikon white radish. Finely grate the radish and squeeze out the excess juice, and then shape the grated radish into cats by combining three small round balls together, and adding a tail and two pointy cat ears. To complete the look, add some small drops of soy sauce to create a speckled fur pattern.
Once you’ve mastered the art of daikon radish cats, you might want to head over here for some more inspirational radish art designs. The only limit is your imagination!
Source: Net Lab
Top Image: Twitter/@orucadao

Grated white radish cat spices up traditional Japanese home cooking
Grated radish art from Japan brings the cute to your favourite dishes
Japanese people list their top ten fish, and tuna isn’t number one
Internet falls in love with cat’s first-ever encounter with carpet
Low Japanese table plus freshly grilled fish and curious kitty equals adorable video 【Video】
Four Shinto shrines to pray for love at in Japan to start the New Year
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Rakuten randomly offers 58 New Year’s osechi feasts in Japan, but did we get a star or a dud?
Tokyo fish market breaks New Year auction record as single fish sells for over 5 million yen【Vid】
Majority of Japanese mayors say foreign residents are essential but most see good and bad effects
Should you dip your cake in sake? One Japanese brewer says no, but actually yes【 Taste test】
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Studio Ghibli adds “komorebi” Totoro plush toys to its anime merchandise range in Japan
Miyazaki City tries to get “Happy,” but will record labels allow it?
The Purple Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is an extra-large waste of money
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Cup Noodle tries an authentic Jiro-style ramen, but something’s not quite right
The best Starbucks Japan Frappuccinos we want to drink again in 2026
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
That time Seiji called JASRAC to ask why he didn’t get paid royalties for his song being on TV
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
Pizza Hut Japan’s hot lucky bags are perfect for a New Year’s pizza party
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Sukiyaki, soba, oden, and other Japanese comfort foods…for your pet cat or dog?!?
Cute cat fights yearning desire to eat food on table with adorable results【Video】
Japan’s favourite sleeping cat is back and this time he’s found a new surprising place to snooze
Cute cat beats the Japanese summer heat by chilling out in a watermelon
Black cat wields spellbinding magic over Internet as it rises out of washing machine in Japan
Cute cat and its human create homemade Japanese money box with hilarious results!【Video】
Japanese cats join couple every night for beautiful meals, cute photos【Pics】
Japanese cat enjoys walks in the rain with his adorable tiny umbrella【Photos】
Japanese cat who can’t sleep unless it chats with owner melts hearts across the Internet
Yawns can be contagious for cats too, Japanese pet owner’s adorable felines prove【Photo】
Japanese artist creates cat banknote alternative: Kittens on 200 yen
Leave a Reply