By Jae-Lyn Miranda
Staff Writer
This anime/manga series has everybody’s mouth watering. “Food wars!: Shokugeki No Soma” is a Japanese shōnen manga series made by Yuto Tsukuda and illustrated by Shun Saeki. This anime was produced and directed by J.C. Staff and Yoshitomo Yonetani to become a Japanese television series (anime).
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
This show takes place in Japan featuring a teenage boy, Soma Yukihira, who owns a family diner with his father, Joichiro Yukihira. Soma wants to be just like his dad, who’s a master chef.
Joichiro ends up placing Soma in an elite culinary high, where only the best chefs in Japan go. Prior to working as a professional chef, Soma worked at a diner. This may have given him prior knowledge on cooking; however, it was a big step for his career. Soma then begins to gain his confidence back after he’s heard about the elite ten, a list of master chefs that he wants to qualify for. Many chefs try to challenge Soma’s cooking skills, including Erina Nakiri.
Nakiri’s father owns the culinary school, making her think she has power against everyone. Nakiri says she’s born with extremely good taste buds, making it challenging to get a pass from her when she tries many people’s food. Yukihira does change Nakiri’s mind with one of his creations, but she turns him down, even though she really enjoys his food.
“Food wars!: Shokugeki No Soma” is meant to show the purpose of never giving up. Yukihira wanted to be part of the elite ten, but he was struggling because of the large difference of cooking status between his work at the diner and others’ more elite backgrounds. When he entered the school, he was nervous since a group of kids made fun of him for only cooking at a diner. He gained his confidence back after he tried to cook for Nakiri. Yukihira never gave up because in an episode he actually beats Nakiri in a cook off, meaning he gains his role as part of the elite ten.
Yukihira also wanted to show his father that he could be just like him; he wanted to make him proud of what he’s accomplished. Yukihira, now part of the elite ten, made his father proud.
Tsukuda has won the 34th Jump Juniketsu Newcomers’ Manga award with “Kiba Ni Naru,” a one-shot story, following up with “Kimi to Watashi no Renai Soudan.” Both of Tsukuda’s works haven’t been released in English meaning that “Food wars!: Shokugeki No Soma” is his first English-language release.
“Food wars!: Shokugeki No Soma” does contain some bizarre noises every time a customer tries some of Yukihira’s delicious delicacies. I would recommend wearing some headphones when it comes to the part where they try the food.
The visuals after they eat food is also very peculiar. The customers’ clothes rip off, showing their skin, which isn’t really a sight to see. Of course, it’s censored by their hands or the food they tasted but, still, it can make viewers really uncomfortable.
However, the visuals of the food is just breathtaking. Yes, it’s an anime, but the illustrator makes the food so detailed that I just wish I could be one of the customers who try Yukihira’s food. The artist of the show probably takes so much of their time just to get the food perfected.
“Food wars!: Shokugeki No Soma” is also super hilarious. Everytime someone critiques Yukihira’s creation, he makes them try octopus dipped in honey. Yukihira says he doesn’t need to improve, hence why he gives the critiques some disgusting food if they ever say he needs improvement.
Tsukuda also gives off some recipes during the show. When Yukihira cooks, he also states what he’s adding. So if you’re ever wanting to try something new to cook, just know that “Food wars!: Shokugeki No Soma” is your show.
I would definitely recommend watching “Food wars!: Shokugeki No Soma.” This show is great for laughs, visual details and new recipes, and it also gives a good reason to why you should never give up.
Featured image (at the top of this post): This is the logo for “Food wars!: Shokugeki No Soma.” PHOTO CREDIT: Wikimedia Commons
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