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.

  • cley_faye@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    8 hours ago

    Eh. No jokes, no. The most engaging thing I remember seeing around in the city was a “vote” panel for cigarette butts with silly questions; but even that has gone away.

    It is unfortunate that we’re at this point. Hopefully other places do fare better.