[#75] The Manga Series 'Chuuka Ichiban!'

A legendary cooking manga spanning from the 90s.

This work by Etsushi Ogawa was serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine. Starting in 1995, the original 'Chuuka Ichiban!' concluded in five volumes, followed by the anime-aligned 'Shin Chuuka Ichiban!' and the ongoing 'Chuuka Ichiban! Kiwami,' which has been running since 2017. We look back at the history of this long-running series that has been cherished for over 30 years and dive into its profound world.

The protagonist Mao's epic culinary journey begins.

The story is set in late 19th-century Qing dynasty China. To protect the restaurant of his late mother, a legendary chef, the protagonist Liu Mao Xing (known as Mao) travels to different regions to refine his skills and engage in culinary battles. The show covers the heated narrative, including confrontations with the formidable 'Dark Cooking Society' and his quest to pass the national 'Super Grade Chef' exam. We revisit our childhood memories of reading the series and share that same excitement with you. Listen to the full episode to hear the rest of our discussion.