Takizō Iwasaki

(September 12, 1895 - 1965) was a Japanese businessman who is credited with the invention of "shokuhin sampuru", the plastic models of menu items commonly displayed in restaurant street-front windows in Japan.

Life Iwasaki was born in Gujo Hachiman Japan on September 12, 1895. He is said to have been inspired to create his first shokuhin sampuru after seeing drops of candle wax forming on the tatami mat floor of his apartment. After many months of trial and error, Iwasaki was able to produce a fake omelette, complete with simulated tomato sauce, that his wife thought was real on first glance. The town of Gujo Hachiman is now known as the food replica capital of the Japan.