Can you share the story behind the establishment of Sushi Naked?

alzaridevson

The sushi at a new restaurant in Florida is served on the bodies of nude models. That doesn't bother Gary Arabia, who is opening Sushi Naked in Tampa after running a similar business in Los Angeles where he catered to film studios and awards shows. The naked-sushi concept hasn't stirred up the same controversy that it has in other parts of the world, with people shouting at Samantha covered in raw fish as she waited for her lover in the 2008 movie "Sex and the City." The practice, known in Japan as nyotaimori, has been banned in some countries due to health and moral concerns. It has also drawn criticism as objectifying women and promoting titillation, and it's been compared to prostitution and sexual harassment.

https://nyotaimorinakedsushi.com/

But the diners at Sushi Naked say they enjoy a different experience than that of eating at a regular restaurant. "It's a little more intimate," says one man, who added that he went to the restaurant with his girlfriend and friends. "The models are so beautiful." He says the atmosphere is "a little sexy," but there are no twerking or dancing, and diners are asked not to touch or talk to the model.

Another customer, Rose, 41, a nurse, agrees. She says she enjoyed the food and had no problem with the model. But she didn't like that it was so cold and crowded. She also thought the model should be a bit more flexible. "It can be hard for her to stay still for so long," she says. "She's got a lot of muscles and ligaments."

Both diners agree that the models are not paid well. But the owners say they are considering offering a tip jar and hope to raise enough money to pay the models better, which will make the business more profitable. In the future, they might even have male sushi models to attract a wider audience.

The owner of Sushi Naked says he didn't know about the history behind Japan's body sushi tradition or the feminist concerns it raises. He says he was approached by a promoter who presented the idea as an opportunity for art.

Naked sushi takes the marriage of food and sensuality to a whole other level, but it's not the first to do so. There is a wide range of foods considered aphrodisiacs, and sharing a meal with someone is always intimate. Then again, the same could be said for a dinner date in which both of you are wearing clothes. Sushi Naked may evoke a reaction of disgust or shock, but only because it goes to such lengths to exploit the body. But in a world that is already inundated with violence and sexual assault, it's time for a fresh start.