Oishinbo: Japanese Cuisine, Vol. 1: a la Carte

Even the most die-hard of literary 'foodies' will find much delight in this first volume of Tetsu Kariya's comic-book "Oishinbo" series. Forget about the characters and meager, unifying storyline for the time being. The beauty of this series is the sheer amount of detail conveyed in its bite-sized, easily digestible, graphic novel format. Concepts such as what comprises the 'essence' of Japanese cuisine oftentimes gets muddled in erudite and pretentious articulations when presented in text-essay format but here, with simplistic illustration and breezy flow from one panel to another the reader quickly absorbs complex and detailed concepts with very little effort. This book will certainly appeal to foodies first and foremost. Whether you have a detailed understanding of Japanese cuisine or are a neophyte curious to learn more there is much to be gleaned within for both parties. Do not be turned off just because of its comic format, at 276 pages this book is information dense and you may be surprised to discover the efficiency of the medium in presenting its subject matter.

I was glad to find this series is being brought out in English now. The translation seems good and it is as enjoyable as the originals were years ago. I like that the format is still " Japanese Style", read from back to front. A really fun way to get an quick education in Japanese cuisine. Helps when traveling, too, to have at least read about the different foods that are available in Japan.

I have to admit that I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this manga. I'd never heard of it until it hit the shores here in the US & the synopsis made it sound sort of like a Top Chef minus the competition (sort of). What I discovered was nothing less than one of the best "all about" comics I've seen in a while. The story follows food critic Yamaoka & his galpal Kurita as they go about sampling some of Japan's finest cuisine as well as those from other countries. They aren't satisfied with just having meals at fancy restaraunts or giving a one-off review. No, they actually interact with the chefs in order to discover where their food comes from as well as how it's prepared. During the course of these meals Yamaoka also finds himself going head to head with his father (who is also a food critic). While there were one or two dry spots to the manga, the biggest drawing point of this series is that it literally goes over what goes into a good meal as well as showing concerns over ingredients. (MSG concerns are a frequent topic in the manga.) There is interaction between the characters, but the manga's biggest charm is that it's basically a guide on how to recognize good food as well as how to behave in certain restaraunts. (There's one great chapter about how to order food in a fancy restaraunt if you are unaware of how to order or what to get.) This manga may not appeal to everyone, but I recommend that everyone give it a try first. The artwork may appear dated to some but it's very much worth checking out. Once you get used to the flow of the manga it is really a gem to read.

I discovered Oishinbo over 20 years ago and I even owned the first three volumes of the original Japanese version. I long hoped to see this manga series or the TV anime version in English, and now we finally have this excellent manga in English. Everything about this series, from the careful attention to high quality Japanese 'washoku' cooking to the contentious enmity between Yamaoka and his father Kaibara, make this one of the most enjoyable manga series aimed at adults out there. That said, I do have just one complaint. Each English language volume is a "best-of" series. With dozens of volumes published in Japan, and the unwillingness of most Americans to invest in any series consisting of such a large collection, I can understand Viz's choice of going "a la carte," though the first volume should have reproduced the original Japanese first volume of Oishinbo since it introduced the cast, prepared readers for the quest to find the ultimate menu, and introduced readers to the father/son conflict between Yamaoka and Kaibara. Despie my complaint, I'm happy to see even parts of this series finally in English and hope you all find each volume as rewarding a read as I do. Let's hope Cartoon Network's Adult Swim takes notice and brings over the anime series :-) Now, go order this book!

It's a graphic novel, a cookbook, and primer on Japanese culture all in one. Oishinbo is not your ordinary cookbook. This creative narrative by Tetsu Kariya, takes us into the heart of Japanese culture and tradition using a comic book format. Not content to simply offer your run-of-the-mill cookbook, Kariya begins this epistolary with a family squabble that capitulates us into the world of Japanese culinary art. The story begins when one of Japan's leading newspaper editor's comes up with a great gimmick to build readership. He assigns his top journalist, Yamaoka Shiro, to visit a series of Japanese chefs in order to find the holy grail carte du jour, a.k.a. the "ultimate menu." Early on it is revealed that Yamaoka Shiro is not just any journalist, he is the son of the infamous director of The Gourmet Club, Kaibara Yuzan. The story becomes more layered when we learn that Yamaoka Shiro and his father have a long standing fiery rivalry that complicates the outcome of this venture. Along the way we meet Shiro's cohorts, and a series of chefs who explain everything from the secret of making a good dashi (a broth that is the basis for many Japanese dishes), to the careful crafting of chopsticks. The chapters are divided by course, and each section tells a fascinating story. We learn why a good chef does not smoke cigarettes, how to correctly brew tea, why a simple sushi recipe takes substantial talent to prepare, and that the main ingredient in a tea ceremony is humility. Though the book does not furnish as many recipes as I would have hoped, it fully conveys the unique qualities of Japanese fare; simultaneously taking on the universal conflicts that impact family relationships. This compelling story details the art of Japanese cooking using a clever format that makes one want to, if not try and create the recipes themselves, at least savor some of these delicacies at a nearby restaurant. Quill say: Explore the world of Japanese cuisine and culture, with a side dish of family conflict.