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.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 26 points 1 year ago (1 child)

Some people just don’t appreciate the irony of killing turtles with fish-shaped plastic, what can you do

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment