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(29 Sep 2008) New York - September 10, 2008 1. Wide shot model climbs onto table 2. Close up model's face 3. Woman arranges cloth over model 4. Close up of woman's face 5. Close up of model's stomach as flower is put in belly button 6. Mid shot of woman walking over and putting flower near model's hair 7. Close up of model's forehead and flower 8. Close up of flower and covered breast 9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Melanie Burliet, Sushi Model: “You know, I sort of didn't really give it much thought until I was actually here climbing up on the table. At that point I was slightly nervous, but I really became comfortable very quickly. It's really an experience, one worth having I'd say, if you get the opportunity give it a try.“ 10. Close up of wine glasses 11. Close up of models face, platter of sushi is placed on her chest 12. Wide pan of table with model laying in the middle 13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Melanie Burliet, Sushi Model: “It is difficult and then once in a while you get the random itch that you know, you just have to put out of your head.“ 14. Close up of model's fingers 15. Shot of sushi arrangements on model's body 16. Close up of sushi and model's face 16. Close up of sake being poured 17. Close up of tongs selecting sushi 18. Close up of man putting sushi into his mouth and chewing 19. SOUNDBITE: ( English) Melanie Burliet, Sushi Model: “I'm wondering what they're eating because I can't really see. But that's the one strange element is suppressing my curiosity, because I can't see anyone's face and I can't see what they're eating, but I'm sort of dying to know.“ 20. Close up tongs selecting sushi, focus on pieces of sushi 21. GV men's faces as they're eating 22. SOUNDBITE: (English) Parag Patel, Sake Class Attendee: “First, they're usually hairless so that's always a good thing as far as hygiene goes and food. After that, it really goes down to the quality of the food, essentially. You go for the wow factor and then after that you keeping going back for the food.“ 23. Close up of tongs selecting sushi and model's face 24. Close up of man eating 25. Close up of man setting down sake glass 26. SOUNDBITE: (English) Leonard Phillips, Ambassador Wine and Spirits: “'Is the person actually naked?' And I say well they are partially clothed, yes. 'You can do that?' I said, why not? It's a form of art it's something, it's just a different way of presenting the food, which is an art form.“ 27. Tight shot of sushi and model's leg 28. Pull focus from model's face to sushi 29. SOUNDBITE: (English) Melanie Burliet, Sushi Model: “You know I think the only other time you lay this still is before falling asleep and I've nearly fallen asleep for the past twenty minutes at least.“ 30. Close up of sushi piece 31. Wide pan of sake class LEAD IN: New Yorkers have found a novel way of serving sushi: naked! In one locale, female models are placed on the table for decoration and adorned with pieces of the Japanese cuisine. It's run of the mill for Melanie Burliet who's earning $100 dollars an hour from the craze. STORYLINE: When you enter Ambassador Wine and Spirits in New York City and ask for the sake class, you know instantly that something is different about this place. Because what you've found is a half naked woman lying on a table covered in sushi. The naked sushi models come from an almost completely abandoned Japanese tradition called Nyotaimori. When translated it literally means: woman, body, decoration. It was practiced by the Yakuza who are famous for their full body tattoos and mafia ties. There are two salesmen and one dentist. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive:
