JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — Hosted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, a dessert was served in what appeared to be shiny men's shoes for everyone at a diplomatic dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife.<br /><br />Although it looks quite bizarre for any guest, to the Japanese leader and his wife Akie, to put shoes on the table was considered by many to be particularly offensive. <br /><br />An unnamed senior diplomat who formerly served in Japan told Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth [f]that the presentation was a stupid and insensitive decision.<br /><br />The diplomat added that there's nothing more despised in Japanese culture than shoes. It is equivalent to serving a Jewish guest chocolates in a dish shaped like a pig. <br /><br />The dessert was prepared by Israel's celebrity chef Segev[g] Moshe[h]. The chef's publicist said the shoe is actually a sculpture made by international artist Tom Dixon.<br /><br />A Japanese diplomat told Yedioth Ahronoth that they are offended by their prime minister, even if it was meant to be a humorous gesture, they certainly do not find it funny.<br /><br />Moshe received a ton of criticism after he shared pictures of his dessert creation on his Instagram account, as one person wrote "That is just nasty! No chance I would eat that. The idea of eating out of someone's shoe turns the stomach."<br /><br />Israel is the first stop of the Japanese leader's Middle East tour.
