Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman

                                                                   

This week I once again dove into the world of Japanese Television, specifically the show Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman. The show follows the main character Kantaro, an uptight and closed off Programer who has recently joined a publishing company. We discover that the reason behind Kantaro’s change in employment stems from his love for sweets and deserts, and that his time as a salesman allows him to visit the thousands of different specialty cafes located around Tokyo.

It adopts a comedic tone as Kantaro is forced work under extreme pressure to successfully complete his work while hiding his frequent stops at different cafes. In doing so he adopts an inhuman, robotesque characteristic, whose veneer only breaks in the presence of a new sweet or dessert.


The episode focused on introducing the character as well as the Japanese Dessert Anmitsu, a traditional Japanese cold dessert made of white, semi-translucent jelly covered with syrup. What’s interesting about the show is that it not breaks down the cultural significance of the dishes but the surrounding atmosphere of the eatery, and the decorations that appear in the restaurant.                            
                                                                     
The show reminds me greatly of Samurai Gourmet, though where in the former Kantaro utilizes food to connect with his softer emotions, the later has Kasumi embracing his selfish qualities to enjoy foods and actions new to him. Similarly, both shows utilize absurd cutting sequences to establish the protagonist's thoughts of the food, with Kantaro becoming the Anmitsu at one point before he fully consumes it.


I found the show to be an interesting premise and view into the more niche world of Japanese confectionery, though its outlandish depiction of its characters and foods makes it feel like an Anime rather than a TV drama that I would dedicate extended time too. I was able to follow the plot of the episode well, learning about specific ingredients in addition to my vocabulary surrounding sweets and food in general. I was also able to understand the descriptions of the characters, with Kintaro drawing greater attention to the world/god of flavors that permits the tasting experience he has had.


While I personally would not continue to watch the show, I found the premise to be interesting and a good way to learn about Japanese sweets,even if it's only through reading the episode descriptions going forward.