Kopī Shokuhin

Kopī shokuhin refers to foods that are created as imitations or replicas of other, often more expensive or less accessible foods. The term combines the English word “copy” (kopī コピー) with the Japanese word for food (shokuhin 食品). These foods are produced from various ingredients to mimic the appearance, taste, and texture of the original products as closely as possible.

A typical example of kopī shokuhin is imitation crab meat, also known as surimi すり身. This is made from fish paste and is intended to replicate real crab meat. Another example is kanikama カニカマ, which also refers to imitation crab meat and is often used in sushi. Another example is konnyaku こんにゃく, a substitute for meat products made from the konjac plant.

The use of kopī shokuhin can offer economic advantages, as they are often more cost-effective than the original products. They are also useful for people with certain food allergies or dietary restrictions.

Etymologically, the word “copy” originates from the Latin “copia,” which means “abundance” or “supply.” In modern usage, however, it has come to mean “imitation” or “replica.” The Japanese word shokuhin is composed of the kanji characters 食 (shoku) for “food” and 品 (hin) for “article” or “goods.”

The use of kopī shokuhin in modern cuisine is widespread and extends across many categories of foods, including meat, seafood, cheese, and even fruits.