This week I dove into an interesting cross between a food documentary and fantasy series in the form of Netflix's Samurai Gourmet. The show follows the rebirth of Takeshi Kasumi, a recently retired salary man who embodies the spirit of a samurai in his pursuit of foods and actions outside of his comfort zone. The series serves as a cross between a food documentary and a period piece that depicts the lifestyle and actions of food across the two different time periods: that of the Edo period as well as the modern representation.
Because of the shows nature, the film offers a unique insight into some of the more simple aspects of Japanese society and food etiquette. We see the depiction of the traditional Washoku, Japanese food sets, as well as the social expectations surrounding salary men. Through the episodes, we see Takeshi embody the samurai spirit to perform actions outside of his comfort, utilizing the figures masculine nature to do so. In this way, Takeshi is able to take part in different foods and beverages that he was unable to during his time as a salary man, like beer on a weekday.
Through the supporting characters of the show, we also see a look into the common actions of Japan's society- who lack the spirit of the samurai to change their actions. In this way, we affirm the high cash based society that Japan is known for, the heavy focus of public transit systems like the train to get to and from work, as well as the great hospitality displayed by the hosts and chefs in the preparation and presentation of a meal. All in all, I found the shows premise to be interesting and a unique perspective compared other show that look into the lives of individual customers like Midnight Diner.
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