Japan is very creative when it comes to the presentation of food. Indeed, much time and effort goes into making food look so good, you'll pay big bucks for it. Here are just some of the ways food is displayed in Japanese restaurants.
Stuff in the window: It starts with the plastic models of food in the front windows of restaurants so you can pick and choose your entree before you enter. (Reportedly, these fake food replicas started appearing just after World War II to help foreigners order food in Japanese restaurants). I often marvel at the groups of Japanese people crowded in front of restaurant windows pointing to plastic saying, "Oishiso!" ("That looks delicious!") Unfortunately, employees often neglect to dust off the plastic models, so the food doesn't always look so "oishii." When I first came to Japan, I dragged the waitress outside and pointed to the plastic tempura and ordered, "Tempura, no dust please."
Stuff in the tank: Some restaurants will offer a presentation of their food still in the aquarium. Nothing like bringing the sea inside the restaurant. I'm glad they don't do that with beef. Can you imagine a small corral with some cows grazing in it in the middle of the restaurant?