The word Konapun means (according to Google’s translator) “of this starch.” I assume that perhaps a better translation would be “made of starch” but I’m not quite sure. Here is the Japanese word Konapun: ăăȘă·ă.
The starch in this case is starch powder derived from seaweed. More specifically it is called alginic acid or alginate.
The kits come with multiple packets of starch that are all chemically different so that when you mix them with water and work them into the food item they are supposed to look like, they really take on that look amazingly well.
For the items that look like they are frying in oil, the “oil” includes citric acid which interacts with the alginate and forms tiny bubbles which simulate a frying effect.”
