Sushi. Soy sauce. A splash of wasabi. Now lay it all out on a man’s bare chest—and dinner suddenly becomes something else entirely. In his provocative piece for Pride.com, writer Eric Voong (a favorite writer of ours!) dives into the world of Nantaimori—a bold dining ritual where sushi is served on the naked male body. Part cultural curiosity, part sensual art form, and maybe even a quiet celebration of the human form itself, this piece had us raising an eyebrow… and then nodding along.


What could be better than a homecooked meal?

Salmon sashimi with a side of wasabi and soy sauce. Oh, and spread it on top of this naked man’s chest, please.

That’s how I’d imagine myself ordering sushi if I were a hedonist. One thing I love about Japan is that it doesn’t try to hide its kinks. You’ll see 40 year old men dressed in French maid clothing walking in Harajuku, and if they stumble on their boss, it’s not a big deal. Interestingly, I found that there are no vulgar words for genitals in Japan! That, in my view, indicates a healthier relationship with nudism than other parts of the world.

Nantaimori is the practice of serving sushi or sashimi on the naked body of a man. Models remain completely still and composed throughout the duration of the event. We think that Nantaimori is more than being naked — it combines the artistry of food presentation with the sensuality of the male body.

Even more intriguing, is that the practice evolved from a kinkier origin: the food play of wakamezake. In wakamezake, the sake (Japanese rice wine) is run through the pubic region and collected in a glass before consumption. We don’t know about you, but we’d swirl any pubes to the sides first. Imagine the posh wine tasters in France articulating the taste of “wakamezake” sake. We wonder what they’d say! Maybe “firm, robust flavor… citrusy, complex, but delicate”?

Fun fact: “Wakame” means seaweed, and “zake” is a changed pronunciation of sake. When sake is poured into someone’s crotch, it is thought that the pubic hair floating through the sake is said to resemble seaweed in the ocean.

There are two theories that spun the origin of Nantaimori. Back in the Edo period of Japan (1608 until 1868), the samurai celebrated their victories in geisha houses hosting Nyotaimori. Note the first three letters… NYO not NAN. These first three letters denote sushi spread out on a naked woman. Replacing it with “nan” simply changes the gender. Some have suggested that this practice began with powerful Japanese crime families, known as the yakuza, as a display of opulence.

In western culture, Nantaimori has evolved into an alternative dining experience. From bachelor to bachelorette parties, to private events, and corporate dinners, Nantaimori is growing as a hedonistic party novelty.

We’re curious—would you say yes to sashimi served skin-side up? Does Nantaimori strike you as performance art, objectification, or something else entirely? Let us know in the comments—we want to hear what you think.

PS…. did you know Everything To Sea now offers Your Private Journey in Japan? One guy travels with two Everything To Sea staff – you three can create your own nantaimori scene!