The Centenarian Table

Name: The Centenarian Table
Yield: 4 people
Ingredients: 2 cucumbers; 2 carrots; 2 red bell peppers; 2 yellow bell peppers; 200 g firm tofu; 100 g sugar snaps; 100 g radishes; 4 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp rice vinegar; 2 tbsp sesame oil; 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds; salt and pepper to taste

Based on:

TypeSalad

Serves4 people

DateSeptember 16, 2026

A solemn salad shaped as a long table full of centenarians.

A precisely arranged salad with 10 rows of long vegetables and tofu cubes as chairs, honoring Japan’s growing line of centenarians. The setup forms a long, solemn table, symbolizing aging and social care.

Ingredients

2 cucumbers
2 carrots
2 red bell peppers
2 yellow bell peppers
200 g firm tofu
100 g sugar snaps
100 g radishes
4 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
salt and pepper to taste

Method

Cut the cucumbers and carrots into long strips of about 15 cm.
Slice the bell peppers into long, wide strips.
Cut the tofu into 2x2 cm cubes and marinate for 10 minutes in soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
Briefly cook the sugar snaps until just tender, rinse with cold water.
Slice the radishes thinly.
On a rectangular platter, lay out 10 alternating rows of cucumber, carrot, and bell pepper strips, forming a long table.
Place a tofu cube as a 'chair' on each side of every row.
Arrange the sugar snaps and radish slices as 'napkins' on the table.
Sprinkle sesame seeds over the salad.
Season with salt and pepper.

Serving notes

Serve on a large rectangular platter for the best table effect.
Offer extra soy sauce for dipping.