The offerings of cheese on toast, “takoyaki” octopus dumplings and unagi pie cookies all look good enough to eat--except they are made out of wood.

The items are so realistic that their creator, a civil servant-turned-woodcarver who goes by the professional name of Kibori no Konno, has become an internet sensation.

Images of his works go viral as soon as they are posted on social media, spawning a succession of books and exhibitions.

A display of Konno’s works at a department store in Osaka one autumn day drew gasps from a family group. Others, astonished at his faithful renderings of “natto” fermented soybeans, sushi and cherry tomatoes, snapped photos on their smartphones.

Konno started working with wood in September 2021.

At the time, he was searching for a hobby to occupy him at home after a table tennis practice facility he used to frequent was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Konno’s lightbulb moment, carving coffee beans from a piece of wood, came while he was sipping freshly brewed coffee. 

He was already a bit of a handyman around the house, having crafted shelves and tables with chisels from his elementary school days. He quickly went to work on wood leftovers, giving free rein to his imagination.

Konno surprised himself with his effort and posted images of the finished piece on social media. His account was flooded with “likes” and comments.

“I derived immense happiness from this level of human interaction, something that was destroyed by the coronavirus crisis,” Konno said.

Eager for more exchanges, Konno released a series of creations.

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He started with peanuts and sweets. In spring 2022, Konno finished a replica of a renowned baked product called Cigare from confectionery maker Yoku Moku.

His social media post about Cigare caught the attention of a Yoku Moku employee who was “stunned by how identical it is.”

That led to Konno being asked to meet with the company’s president over lunch.

“We are committed to pitching confections that consumers will feel like presenting to others (as gifts),” the president told Konno. “Your pieces are ones people will feel like showing and conveying to others. Our products and your works are similar.”

The remark inspired Konno to take stock of what he was doing. It made him determined to continue creating art pieces as tools for communications to serve as conversation starters during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Many of his 170 works are modeled after edible items because he loves eating. Konno examines, touches, smells and tastes the genuine article to help make his reproductions appear delicious.

When it came to the Cigare product, the replica was painted to make it look crispy, resulting in a buttery look.

For cheese on toast, Konno managed to create appetizing “strands” of melted cheese.

Konno is self-taught, having never taken a specialized training courses in woodcarving. He has his own style and makes it a strict rule not to watch videos of woodcarving.

“Watching how others go about it might cause me to adopt the same methods,” Konno explained. “By relying on myself, I am able to open up infinite possibilities, which makes the work truly rewarding.”

Konno said he does not fear failure.

“Making mistakes helps to develop new skills at some point,” he said.

OUT ON A LIMB

Konno quit working as a civil servant in Shizuoka Prefecture in March 2023, and now concentrates solely on wooden sculpture.

When he made a fresh start, he had no clear prospects for success.

It turned out his creations are attracting more attention than he could ever have imagined. As a result, Konno is caught up in a range of activities, including publications and exhibits.

The photo book “Docchi?” (Which?), marketed by Kodansha Ltd. in December, marked his third time to be featured in a printed title.

As exhibitions are organized across Japan, Konno hears visitors refer to his works as “striking up our family conversations” and “helping me and friends to uplift our spirits.”

A display of his works is scheduled to be held in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward between Jan. 26 and March 10.

Bolstered by the strong response, Konno is gaining confidence.

“Enjoy the present wholeheartedly, without rigidly mapping out the future,” he advises. “I believe doing so only broadens the scope of possibilities.”

Konno vowed to wow his fans with his next pieces.

“I will be showing off wooden crafts no one has seen before,” he said. “I will definitely present things that will astonish people.”