South Australian law on single-use plastic packaging coming into force on 1 September will ban polyethylene containers known as shoyu-tai in Japan

The device known as shoyu-tai (or soy-sauce snapper in Japanese) was invented in 1954 by Teruo Watanabe, the founder of Osaka-based company Asahi Sogyo, according to a report from Japan’s Radio Kansai.

It was then common for glass and ceramic containers to be used but the advent of cheap industrial plastics allowed the creation of a small polyethylene container in the shape of a fish, officially named the “Lunch Charm”.

The invention quickly spread around Japan and eventually worldwide, and it is estimated that billions have been produced.

  • 6nk06@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    2·
    3 days ago

    It’s sold in every sushi box in France. I guess it’s a way to pretend it’s a Japanese thing.

    • k0e3@lemmy.caEnglish
      2·
      3 days ago

      Interesting! I know we used to have them in Japan, but they must have phased them out over time because I didn’t notice they were gone until I saw this article lol. I mostly see clear packets that you tear, similar to ketchup packets.