nhk world's daisuke asuma has the latest from beijing. >> reporter: using 3-d printers people can create a thing in almost any form or shape. this cutting-edge technology is spreading in china. 3-d printers have even reached the local restaurants. if i scan a photo of my face, this device takes a picture and the printer makes a kind of pancake that looks like me. the printer quickly makes a drawing of my face using pancake batter. a short time later, at the cost of about $1.50, my face pancake is ready. there are others currently operating in beijing. >> translator: i feel like i'm eating myself. this is very strange. >> reporter: the chinese government is promoting the use of 3-d printers as part of its plan to innovate and upgrade the manufacturing industry. domestic 3-d printer shipments doubled last year. the medical profession is also putting high hopes in the latest technology. this university hospital in beijing made an artificial backbone using a 3-d printer. doctors then transplanted this into a patient who had a spinal tumor removed. this was the surgeon. he says at the moment