The Ningen (or “Human”) Restaurant in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district is hosting a pop-up experience where guests can dine on dishes inspired by the last meals of previous Death Row inmates in the US.
A pop-up in Japan is serving an unusual theme. Image by: Getty Images/Matthew Roharik
Located in Kabukichō, the red light district of Shinjuku, the Ningen Restaurant was set up by art collective Chim↑Pom on the site of a soon-to-be closed book centre. The space will display artwork by Japanese artists and host avant-garde performances during its run. In a creepy move that will raise some eyebrows, the restaurant is also serving food inspired by the last meal requests of Death Row inmates prior to their execution.
「1人で行きづらい店に同行してほしい」という依頼で「にんげんレストラン」へ。1人で行きづらさ溢れる店構え。写真2枚目はお通しのサプリメント。3枚目は店内にいた「おにぎりを解体する人」4枚目はジョン・ゲイシーという死刑囚（ITのモデル）が最後に食べた料理です。28日で閉店するのでお早めに pic.twitter.com/KXe9Y89XPQ
— レンタルなんもしない人 (@morimotoshoji) October 25, 2018
Choices include the Judy Buonoano meal, which consists of a plate of broccoli, asparagus, strawberries, tomatoes and hot tea, the same meal the Florida “Black Widow” requested before she was executed in 1998. There’s also the dish inspired by the last meal request of murderer Gary Mark Gilmore. Prior to his execution in 1977, he reportedly dined on a hamburger, a baked potato, a hard-boiled egg, and three shots of Jack Daniels. Although Ningen has swapped Jack Daniels for Maker’s Mark whiskey for their version.
Kabukicho. The area is a renown nightlife and red-light district. Image by Shutterstock
Joseph Paul Jernigan’s final meal of two cheeseburgers, fries, a salad with Thousand Island dressing and a glass of iced tea is also available. The pop-up is open for two weeks until 28 October, just in time for Halloween when morbid fancies are more customary.
甘い香りが漂う店内で、巨大なチョコレートの塊を舐め続ける女のコを見ながら、ハンバーガーにかぶりつき、バーボンを嗜んできました。#にんげんレストラン pic.twitter.com/CHzYxA6Zk4
— sequi@ya (@se_qui_ay) October 22, 2018
According to Amnesty International, 23 countries carried out at least 993 executions in 2017, although the figure is believed to be much higher. Japan, the United States, Singapore and Taiwan are the only “industrialised” states where execution is used to punish criminals. Every European country has abolished it except for Belarus.
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