Sai Sai Jaran Jaran is a featured series here on MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON from the members of the all-female band SILENT SIREN (aka Sai Sai) who visit various hot spots in Japan and experience different things, the Sai Sai way.

In Episode #11, SILENT SIREN’s keyboardist Yukarun will try her hand at decorative fruit cutting, something she’s always wanted to try. The musician, who enjoys munching on fruits every single day, traveled to Nakano to take a trial lesson at the Fruit Academy. 

Fruit cutting is the art of cutting different fruits into pieces that are both beautiful to look at and easy to eat. At the Fruit Academy, visitors can take different courses in fruit cutting from beginner to advanced, the latter including more artistic techniques. One-day trial lessons are available for beginners, so it’s easy to give it a try. 

Bring your favorite apron, put it on, and you’re ready to start your fruit cutting experience!

Fruit and a small knife are provided. Today, the teacher is explaining how to prepare an incredible fruit platter. 

Boat-Cut Pineapple

The lesson begins with pineapple, which has been cut into eighths. Placing the skin side down, insert the knife just under the harder core and cut along it. When you reach the end, cut along the skin, leaving the center hollow. Removing the hollowed-out fruit, cut it into bite-sized pieces, and simply place those pieces back in. Alternate pulling each piece out to the left or right, and then…

Voila, the boat-cut pineapple is ready! By holding the pineapple vertically, the pieces won’t fall out. 

Kiwi and Fig Wedges

Remove the stem and the core from the kiwi and cut into six equal wedges. Cut the wedges diagonally to make a sharp corner. Place the kiwi skin side down, and insert the knife along the skin. While keeping the blade against the cutting board, move the fruit around so that the skin peels cleanly and evenly. Cut the figs into wedges and peel them the same way. 

Grapefruit Cup

Cut the grapefruit in half and remove the bottom. Placing the grapefruit on its side, insert the knife and hollow out the pulp while carefully rotating the fruit. Place the previously removed bottom piece into the center to make a cup. Scrape off the white parts of the pulp and cut it into bite-sized pieces. 

Serve the pieces in the newly made cup for a gorgeous treat!

Cutting Shine Muscat (Grapes)

While it’s completely fine to eat these grapes whole, cutting them brings out more of their natural sweetness. After cutting off any stems, cut lengthwise with force. It’s easy to get a clean and crisp cut. Yukarun couldn’t help but look a little smug!

Flower-Cut Piones (Grapes)

To peel these purple grapes, carve the skin on the wider side with a cross. Peeling these four sides back, the fruit becomes a flower! Play with these pieces gently to really make them stand out, and when you’re ready, stick a toothpick in the backside and place it anywhere you like for a tasty decoration. 

Leaf-cut Apple

After cutting the apple in half and then into thirds, insert a knife into the edge of the skin side and make a slit, tilting the knife back and forth like a seesaw. Turn the apple over and make a cut on the other side, eventually connecting them. Repeat this step a few times. Finally, stack the pieces on top of each other and play with them until they resemble a fall leaf!

Apple Carving

Finally, the fruit carving begins! Actually, fruit carving is a traditional craft from Thailand, with these decorative pieces often prepared for entertainment and hospitality. This specially-shaped carving knife is held and used just like a pen. 

Cut an apple into six pieces. Then, cut horizontally and vertically across the skin. Insert the tip of the blade into one of these cross-sections and carefully remove pieces of skin in an alternating pattern. When you’re finished, you’ll be left with a gorgeous grid pattern!

Placing all of the fruits she prepared onto a platter, Yukarun’s work is done! The trick to fruit cutting is to make sure that each cut is precise and sharp. By lining up the pieces with the sharper edges facing outward, the finished product looks like it was made by a pro!

The teacher commented that Yukarun did a great job for her first-ever fruit cutting attempt, and praised her proper technique. So, how did you like it? 

“I’ve been wanting to give this a try forever, and it was a blast! It was great to learn how to peel certain fruits to make them taste even better. I can’t wait to try this at home! Even before digging in, the way it looks just puts me in a good mood. My favorite part was carving the apples, so I’ll keep practicing until I’m a pro!” (Yukarun)

Yukarun had such a great time, she bought a carving knife on her way home. If you’d like to give it a try, be sure to stop by the Fruit Academy for a trial lesson!

Photo: Haruka Yamamoto

Text: Sayoko Ishii