Kim Kardashian’s ex Kanye West, who turned 46 years old on June 8, is facing another controversy after the celebration of his birthday with a nyotaimori dinner, otherwise known as “body sushi,” which is an ancient Japanese method of serving sashimi and sushi off of perfectly still, naked women’s bodies.
The American rapper’s controversial 46th birthday bash on June 10 was attended by his rumored wife, Bianca Censori, his famous friends, Freddie Gibbs, John Monopoly, Ty Dolla Sign, and GLC, and North West, his eldest daughter with the famous Kardashian among others.
In photos and videos taken from the event, a woman was seen lying on top of a dining table with sushi all over her bare body— serving as the food platter.
@tashaaaa2.0
Kanye really had a North at a party that he was serving sushi off a nude woman 😬🥴😲 #kanyewest #birthdayparty #northwest
People on the internet have condemned the rapper for throwing a scandalous birthday party in which one of the attendees is his underage child. Some internet users labeled it as “bad parenting” and “gluttonous misogyny.”
Misogyny and objectification at its finest. 🤦🏼♂️
Kanye West covers naked woman in sushi 🍣 🍱 for his guests to eat off while attending his 46th birthday party. pic.twitter.com/FnMdsQWDjE
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) June 12, 2023
I am so tied of reading anything about any member of this family. They are rich, and ugly inside no matter how much they spend to be pretty on the out side.
— Patricia Saint Marie (@PatriciaSaintMa) June 13, 2023
This has to be one of the evil birthday that a person can make.
— XO. (@XoLocomoto) June 12, 2023
Top notch parenting skills right there. I thought this was the kind of stuff that we were trying to protect kids from? Why do we even have to suffer people like him on this planet?
— Crazy Claire (@BovineDevine) June 13, 2023
not only is the party's theme disgusting, bringing a kid to that makes it even worse
— rosa diaz (@rrysdimple) June 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/tarastrong/status/1668267277169434624?s=20
Meanwhile, some people explained this method as part of Japanese culture, and there’s nothing wrong with it.
That's called "nyotaimori", or body sushi. It's not cheap by any stretch, obviously, and it's often done more for the ambiance than for actual consumption.
And this is actually one of the more normal celebrity parties that I've seen recently.
Happy 46th birthday, Kanye.
— Nathan D Strzelczyk (@TrueNathanD) June 12, 2023
It's actual "Nyotaimori" style borrowed from Japanese culture
— Reg (@reggievashaun) June 12, 2023
Basic bitches calling this ‘misogyny’.
Wrong. It’s a traditional Japanese practice called Nyotaimori.
It’s also nothing compared to women hiring male strippers and groping them ‘for fun’.
— Peter Lloyd (@Suffragent_) June 12, 2023
Nyotaimori dinner or Body sushi can be traced back to the Edo period in Japan in which a model’s naked body serves as a food plate. The sushi is placed on leaves to prevent direct contact between the skin and the food. Models aren’t allowed to move or speak. Moreover, guests eat sushi using their chopsticks, and touching the model’s body is strictly prohibited.
As sushi soared to fame in Western countries, nyotaimori restaurants started blooming in the cities of New York and L.A. There is also a male counterpart in this practice. It is called “nantaimori”, but it’s not typical, unlike the female version.
When it comes to preparation, some models take cold showers before having the sushi arranged on top of their bodies. For food safety, the practice is done by placing banana leaves or a layer of plastic wrap between the sushi and the body.
Going back, this isn’t the first time that West has sparked controversy. In the previous year, he was criticized due to his shirt brand’s tagline, “White Lives Matter” during Paris Fashion Week and received backlash for his anti-Semitic remarks on social media.
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