Oishinbo
Season 1
The newspaper office, Tozai Shinbun, plans to publish the Ultimate Menu to commemorate their 100th anniversary. It would not only describe foods but also pass on dietary cultures for many generations to come. Despite its importance, Shirou Yamaoka, a lazy employee, and Yuuko Kurita, a company newcomer, are selected as the editors.
Where to Watch Season 1
136 Episodes
- The Ultimate Menu
E1The Ultimate MenuTo commemorate its 100th anniversary of the newspaper Touzai Shimbun, President Ohara announces a plan to publish the "Ultimate Menu". The assignment will be allocated to the reporters with the best taste in food and as a test, the assembled staff must distinguish the difference between three samples of water and tofu. - Brown Rice VS White RiceE70
Brown Rice VS White RiceThe Touzai Culture Division staff visit the spa at Shirakawa for a vacation where they had previously enjoyed hamanabe and takenoko sashimi.[m] They arrive and see a judo team training, including Tawara and Kanazawa from Butoku Women's University. They see them again later while eating hamanabe with rice for dinner on the beach. - Black SashimiE74
Black SashimiSai Shin'ei is one of a group of Japanese children orphaned in China during WWII who travel to Japan seeking information about their families. Deputy Director Tomii recalls his happy time as a child in China and thinks he recognises Sai as a childhood friend, but he is mistaken. However, Tomii offers to help Mr Sai find his family he was separated from during a Soviet bombardment of Japanese refugees. - Seafood of the Northern SeaE75
Seafood of the Northern SeaTatsuya Miyai is an earnest young man who works as an assistant in the kitchen of the Gourmet Club and impresses Kaibara with his tea making. One day, when he opens the kombu storage cabinet, a cockroach scuttles out and he notices a sheet with a hole in it. - The Specialty of the CottageE77
The Specialty of the CottageIn Autumn, the culture division revisit the Chikaraya udon restaurant (Episode 30) and the owner reveals that the three retired sportsmen, Otani, Oyama and Ouma are ready to graduate as chefs. Over dinner, Kurita mentions that the division will spend their holidays at a cottage in Kiyosato run by Yuzuru Takeda who quit last year. - Ultimate Menu VS Supreme MenuE78
Ultimate Menu VS Supreme MenuRival news organization Teito News announces that they will produce a "Supreme Menu", and have engaged Yuzan Kaibara to lead the project. They plan to release it before Touzai News completes their "Ultimate Menu" placing President Ohara in a difficult position. - Ultimate VS Supreme, the Ability with YolkE79
Ultimate VS Supreme, the Ability with YolkFollowing the win by Kaibara in the first round of the Ultimate VS Supreme Menu competition, Tōyama objects because of the high quality ingredients that Kaibara used. Kaibara agrees to supply the same eggs to Yamaoka who remakes his dish with just the egg yolks in truffle sauce and the result is declared a tie. However, Kurita later teases Yamaoka, saying that he really lost because he modified his recipe after experiencing Kaibara's dish. - Perseverance and Wild YamE80
Perseverance and Wild YamThe Culture Division staff travel to Kamakura to visit Manager Tanimura who has been ill. Yamaoka accidentally bumps into his childhood friend and ex-yakuza Kazuo Hirai who has opened a small restaurant with his wife Tomoe However, although the food is good, business is slow which Yamaoka attributes to the standard Japanese menu. - The Gift of the Sea BreezeE81
The Gift of the Sea BreezeYamaoka's friend Okaboshi calls him because he is concerned about the mental health of his brother Ryozo who works at the Gourmet Club. Ryozo was attracted to a young woman called Suzuko, but she became engaged to another chef. The chef then broke off the engagement to marry someone else and Suzuko attempted suicide. - Ultimate VS Supreme, the Live RiceE82
Ultimate VS Supreme, the Live RiceThe Weekly Times suggests that for the next round of the Ultimate VS Supreme Menu competition, both chefs use the same ingredients and Yamaoka suggests vegetables. Kabara agrees on one condition, that they both use vegetables from the same farm, grown without the use of pesticides - Ultimate VS Supreme Battle!! Vegetable EditionE83
Ultimate VS Supreme Battle!! Vegetable EditionThe Ultimate VS Supreme Menu competition using vegetables continues with dishes based on turnips. Kaibara's dish consists of steamed turnip filled with mushroom paste which proves popular although Kaibara declares that it is unfit because the mushrooms were overcooked and he walks out. Yamaoka's version is presented, - The Table of a FamilyE86
The Table of a FamilyThree months ago on a night out in Kabukicho, Yamaoka and the Culture Department rescue the teenager Yoko Nishio from some men who were harassing her. She explained that although her father Yasukaza is a famous architect and her mother Yoshiko runs the Bisai Cooking School, her home life is unhappy. - Intriguing KaraageE87
Intriguing KaraageSome local restaurant owners visit the Touzai offices seeking payment for meals Yamaoka has bought on credit. Kurita lends him the money, but he has to play Santa Claus at an orphanage in return. He proves popular with the children, however the director explains that the orphanage has only one month before they must vacate the premises. - Osechi and BrideE88
Osechi and BrideA heya's yobidashi, Oyakata, asks President Ohara to choose an appropriate bride for sumo wrestler Wakayoshiba from three candidates. Ohara suggests that they each prepare osechi dishes to determine the best potential wife. Meanwhile, Sumiko Senkichi, daughter of the heya's former yobidashi, is fond of Wakayoshiba and gets help from Yamaoka to prepare sweet kuromame (black soybean) for her own osechi. - Ultimate VS Supreme, the Spring of GyozaE89
Ultimate VS Supreme, the Spring of GyozaKurita's friend, Yoshiko Morisawa, asks her to help her boss Tsutomu Yamawaki, founder of a chain of Oharu gyoza restaurants. He makes traditional gyoza to a recipe developed by his late wife Oharu, but he is feeling the pressure of competitors and wants to update his menu. Yamaoka offers to create the ultimate gyoza for him. - Ultimate VS Supreme, Battle! Gyoza EditionE90
Ultimate VS Supreme, Battle! Gyoza EditionYamaoka enlists the help of two gyoza masters, Okutsu, who works in a publishing company, and Fang, a Chinese student. They both prepare boiled gyoza and the group is impressed by their versions. The dumplings are made more carefully to withstand boiling, the wrapping is more flavorsome and they do not use garlic as an ingredient - The Delicacy of MidwinterE91
The Delicacy of MidwinterYamaoka and Kurita are sent to a "Battle of Taste" TV quiz, competing against food enthusiasts from Teito News, Sports Times and Shina Economics. Yamaoka is unenthusiastic and during the quiz Touzai is in last place, however Yamaoka displays a strong knowledge of food and Touzai eventually wins. - The Agony of the European RestaurantE92
The Agony of the European RestaurantThe Culture Department go to the inexpensive Ginyotei European restaurant for breaded oysters but find the chef Nakazato despondent. He believes that he cannot compete with the well-known owner/chef of Restaurant Che Murono, Hiroy Murono who also grew up in Sendai. - Ultimate VS Supreme, Rays and Sharks Part 1E93
Ultimate VS Supreme, Rays and Sharks Part 1After watching a documentary on rays and sharks made by the filmmaker Mr. Fusamoto, Mr. Tanaka proposes making a feature film featuring Fusamoto. Fusamoto refuses because he has taken a dislike to Tanaka, but Yamaoka realizes that he dislikes many things, including the exotic foods he often films as part of his documentaries. - Ultimate VS Supreme, Rays and Sharks Part 2E94
Ultimate VS Supreme, Rays and Sharks Part 2In preparation of the Ultimate VS Supreme menu challenge using rays, Kaibara and Yamaoka separately approach Touyama to borrow dark green glazed plates to display the white flesh of the fish. For his dish, Kaibara selects a French style of preparation and Yamaoka also decides on a European approach. - A Passing PorridgeE95
A Passing PorridgeEditor-in-chief Koizumi requests help from Yamaoka. Koizumi's son Norio, a last-year student in jr. high, is not studying for his exams, and instead stays out late, drinking alcohol and getting into trouble. Koizumi believes that, since Yamaoka is a former delinquent, Norio might listen to him. Yamaoka takes Norio to a bar where Yamaoka is greeted by two intimidating men who Norio believes are Yakuza. - The Taste of EdoE96
The Taste of EdoTomii embarrasses himself in an underground railway station when he sees a rat and he is later reprimanded for overreacting by the Human Resources director, Hiyama. Yamaoka's attempt to cheer up Tomii only makes matters worse, reinforcing Hiyama's plans to cancel the Ultimate Menu project. - Grandma's AdventureE97
Grandma's AdventureAn elderly woman from Hakodate enters the Touzai offices to sell the "half-dried squid" she prepared, but as she leaves and crosses the street she is hit by a car and taken to hospital. Inspector Nakamatsu, Yamaoka and the Touzai staff offer to help sell her remaining squid, however she has brought 300kg of squid to sell to help pay for her orphaned granddaughter's wedding. - A Luxurious MealE100
A Luxurious MealKurita and Yamaoka are dining out in an expensive French style restaurant with Sushimoto's Ms. Natsuko and her boyfriend Mr. Kitao. An old school friend of Kitao and son of the owner of a Ryōtei in Ginza, Yasutaka Ashida, also arrives at the restaurant. Ashida states that he has little interest in the family business and sends an expensive vintage wine to Kitao's table, but Kitao accuses him of being a spendthrift. - Bean SproutsE101
Bean SproutsTouzai Deputy Director Tomii's son, Hitoshi, refuses to go on a field trip because his parents will not accompany him when they learn that the parents must also participate in a race. Tomii pressures Yamaoka and Kurita to play Hitoshi's parents for the day. At the school, Yamaoka notices a boy, Masashi, whose parents did not attend because of work, being bullied by other children while Hitoshi stands by. Yamaoka offers to run with Masashi, while Kurita runs with Hitoshi, and they win the race. - Donburi VS NorimakiE102
Donburi VS NorimakiMr. Black invites Yamaoka to lunch to get ideas for an upcoming magazine article on "introducing Japan" and Yamaoka suggests donburi. When the American journalist, Arthur Brown, arrives in Japan to write the article, Yamaoka takes him to different restaurants to sample donburi topped with tempura, chicken and tuna sashimi. - Gourmet OrientedE103
Gourmet OrientedThe growing economic power of Japan has meant that Japanese people can afford more luxuries, so Koizumi requests that Yamaoka and Kurita write an article about the international restaurants appearing in Japan. He suggests they collaborate with the critic Mr. Sakurada, however, Sakurada feels that the exercise is pointless. - Skills of the Second GenerationE104
Skills of the Second GenerationMr. Okaboshi takes Yamaoka and Kurita to his friend Norio Tsugawa's tempura restaurant called Ginya. The patronage has declined since Norio took over following his father's his death and the playwright and famous gourmet Yasuichi Kawanishi, complains that the quality is not as good as that of Norio's father. - Pasta After Five YearsE105
Pasta After Five YearsYamaoka and Kurita encounter the homeless man Tatsu in a park where they also meet a young man called Shin who is a good cook. Later, Kurita sees a news item identifying Shin as Nobuyasu Yoshimura who abandoned his wife and young child. She and Yamaoka question Shin who explains that he and Kizaki, another young chef, Kizaki, worked at the Mercurio restaurant and loved the owner's daughter, Kumiko. - Nostalgia DishE106
Nostalgia DishA German luxury cruise line hosts a dinner prepared by head chef Yoshio Terasugi on board their ship for Touzai News staff. Terasugi explains to Yamaoka and Kurita that many years ago he began training in the German restaurant Hansa in Yokohama under the German chef and owner, Ernest Muhler. - Sea Pine Mushroom RiceE107
Sea Pine Mushroom RiceThe famous artist Ginko Kiyotani suffers a cerebral hemorrhage and has to undergo surgery. Afterwards, his old friend Mr. Kyogoku is worried that Kiyotani's mental abilities and memory have been affected. Kyogoku tells Yamaoka that the day Kiyotani collapsed, he told Kyogoku he wanted to cook "sea pine mushroom rice" for him and claimed it was better than using matsutake mushrooms. - The Rain of UmeboshiE108
The Rain of UmeboshiTamayo, Kurita's grandmother, is pestering Kurita about finding a husband, so Kurita is relieved when Yamaoka calls her asking for help. On his way home, Yamaoka had run into two young children, and been told by the apartment building's landlord, that their mother had disappeared several days ago, leaving them to fend for themselves. - Toji and WaterE109
Toji and WaterYamaoka and Kurita encounter Inspector Nakamatsu on the street, but their conversation is disturbed by two men struggling nearby and Nakamatsu demands that they explain themselves. They are Tooru Kiyama, a toji (brew master), and Hōji Kinno who runs a nihonshu brewery with his brother. Their product has a poor reputation, and they wanted to improve it so Kinno went to Niigata and hired Kiyama. - Mild VinegarE110
Mild VinegarIn summer, Yamaoka and the culture division visit Kyoto for the Gion festival, and dine on botan hamo (peony-shaped conger pike). On the return journey he buys some blue mackerel sushi for a friend, but the groups eat half of it on the train. They arrive in Tokyo and discover that it was for Mr. Tojin's wife, Ryoko. - Cooking Skills and Painting SkillsE111
Cooking Skills and Painting SkillsKichi, an aspiring artist and heir to the famous 100 year old Shibahama restaurant in Kanda, is disinterested in the family business. Meanwhile, Ohara asks Yamaoka and Kurita to accompany him to Shibahama to evaluate the food for the Ultimate Menu, but also to investigate why the elderly owner is not prepared to hand it over to his son. - The Heart of HojichaE112
The Heart of HojichaOn a hot summer's day, Yamaoka and Kurita see tea being roasted to make hojica which prompts him to recall the time he went home to visit his sick mother. Kaibara bullied her into make hojicha and she complied, even though Yamaoka tried to stop her and broke her roasting pot. Meanwhile, Manager Tanamura asks Yamaoka to visit the novelist, Mr. Riichi Kamura who is writing a series for Touzai News, but is behind schedule and has complained about the quality of the tea Touzai have sent him. - Cool Breeze SomenE113
Cool Breeze SomenYamaoka accompanies Yūko Kurita and her grandmother, Tamayo, on a shopping trip. Grandma Tamayo insists on consulting a fortune teller about Yūko's future with Yamaoka, however, the elderly man collapses from the heat and they take him to a hospital. In the hospital they learn that his name is Ohashi, and he is the former head of an advertising agency. - Aged LiquorE114
Aged LiquorAt a Wine & Spirits Expo in Maruzakaya, Higashi Ginza, Yamaoka and Kurita see a man a who has become inebriated from tasting too many liquors. Later, President Ohara asks them to interview Shinichi Furuyoshi, the famous literary critic. When they meet him, they realise he is the man they saw earlier and he is drunk again. - The Secret of SpicesE115
The Secret of SpicesA policeman finds a man dressed as a chef on the handrail of Miharabashi Bridge who cannot recall who he is, but holding a piece of paper with a list of Katakana characters and numbers. Inspector Nakamatsu asks Touzai to place a notice in its newspaper and his wife Keiko, recognizes him as Yutaka Mizoki, a chef obsessed with creating the perfect curry mix for their small restaurant. - New ProjectE116
New ProjectMr. Nita, chief editor of Touzai Graph a weekly pictorial magazine, invites the Culture Department to participate in production of a "Global Food Tour" article. When the attractive Ms. Mariko Niki joins the team, Yamaoka eagerly volunteers to contribute to the project. During an argument about the content of the project, Yamaoka suggests investigating boar stew and Ohara agrees. - Prohibited BirdE117
Prohibited BirdThe first "Global Food Tour" article by Mariko Niki is a success, and she takes Yamaoka and Kurita to meet her father who is head of Nito bank. However, Mr. Niki has also invited Kaibara to dinner, thinking that there is only friendly rivaly between the Ultimate and Supreme menu creators, not realizing the animosity that exists between Yamaoka and Kaibara. - The Spirit of ChallengeE118
The Spirit of ChallengeMariko Niki suggests hiring award-winning photographer Isamu Kinjō for the Global Food Tour articles in Touzai Graph but he refuses, saying that focusing on food is frivolous. However, Kurita does not give up, and presses Kinjō while he drives his old Datsun Bluebird, a car built in Japan that he explains displayed the challenge spirit of Japan against US car manufacturers in the post-war era. - Japanese RootsE119
Japanese RootsPhotographer Isamu Kinjō is concerned about his friend, the successful fashion designer Hide Hirao who is based in Paris. Hirao is exhausted by years of business and after visiting Japan, he is homesick and reluctant to return to Paris. Kinjō asks Yamaoka to prepare some dishes that will entice Hirao back to Europe. - Jumbo ChawanmushiE120
Jumbo ChawanmushiYamaoka encounters an assertive woman in the street and saves her from a speeding car. The woman then trips and breaks the heel of her shoe and she blames Yamaoka. He discovers that she is Mariko Niki's aunt Teruko. When they meet with her date, the writer Mr. Katamori, she insults him for being late and poorly dressed, and leaves. - Life and BowlsE121
Life and BowlsChairman Niki asks Mariko, his granddaughter, what she sees in Yamaoka. Mariko answers that she thinks Yamaoka is a free spirit who is unafraid to go against the expectations and restraints of society. Chairman Niki meets with President Ohara and inquires about Yamaoka. Ohara describes Yamaoka as a lazy and difficult employee who doesn't follow orders. - Spicy MentaikoE122
Spicy MentaikoThe 'Global Food Tour' team meets with Editor-in-chief Koizumi who praises Kinjō for his work and offers him a packet of spicy mentaiko which he recommends grilling. Kinjō doesn't want it because he says it makes his tongue numb and adds that grilled roe becomes hard and dry. Koizumi says that someone so sensitive to spicy food can't go on the Global Food Tour which irritates Kinjō, and both men lose their temper. - Ultimate VS Supreme, Battle! SpaghettiE123
Ultimate VS Supreme, Battle! SpaghettiMariko Niki suggests to Yamaoka that they eat lunch at an Italian restaurant and Kurita decides to join them. When they arrive, they overhear Yūzan Kaibara telling the chef off for serving him unacceptable carbonara. As Kaibara is leaving, he spots Yamaoka and tells him the next round of the Ultimate VS Supreme Menu competition will be about spaghetti dishes. - An Embarrassing DishE124
An Embarrassing DishA handsome young couple visit Kurita at work and they go out to dinner with Yamaoka who suggests a high class restaurant. At dinner, the couple confess to being embarrassed at being stared at because of their good looks. After dinner, the women and men split up, and Toshiko takes Kurita to her family's factory where they produce pre-packaged food. - New Year's UdonE125
New Year's UdonChef Okaboshi creates a nabeyaki udon dish for Yamaoka, Kurita and Tōjin Tōyama and he credits the famous gourmet, Mr. Takaragi, for its success. Okaboshi's younger brother Ryozo arrives, and reports that he met Ms. Fuyumi at the ski resort. Okaboshi then tells the story of how he met Fuyumi while training to be a chef. - The Porgy Inside the PorgyE126
The Porgy Inside the PorgyOn New Year's day, President Ohara invites the Touzai staff to lunch at his home. Ohara also invites his childhood friend and rival, the wealthy Inota Okawa, who sees himself as a gourmand. Okawa arrives, and after insulting Ohara, he presents live tai or red sea bream[o] freshly flown in from Akashi. His chefs grill the fish and present small portions to the guests as a way of demonstrating his wealth. - Two Bridal CandidatesE127
Two Bridal CandidatesOne winter, Yamaoka does not turn up for work for three days so Kurita and Mariko go to visit Yamaoka at home. They meet Ms. Chiyo who takes them to his rooms on the top of a run-down apartment building. Ms. Chiyo is the wife of chef of the Gourmet Club and has known Yamaoka since he was a child. She embarrasses the women by saying they would make good marriage candidates for Yamaoka - The True Value of KajikiE128
The True Value of KajikiAfter finishing a photo shoot of food for the Ultimate Menu, Yamaoka, Kurita, Mariko and Kinjō go to Sushi Tomo and encounter Mr. Hirano, the feature editor of the competing Teito News and two coworkers. When Kinjō asks for kajiki sashimi, they make disparaging remarks for requesting an inferior fish. Kinjō replies that his family was poor, living in Chiba, and to them the occasional time they ate kajiki sashimi was a special treat - Pizza and YokozunaE129
Pizza and YokozunaNoriko Hanamura's husband invites Yamaoka and Kurita to a new pizza restaurant opened by her husband's friends. While there, sekitori sumo wrestler Kagaminada of Shimatakabeya arrives for pizza, but he is more interested in the owner's sister Toshiko Iimura. The group invites Kagaminada to eat with them but he mentions that his oyakata[p] should not know about it because sumo should only eat chanko food to gain enough weight to be competitive - The Spirit of the SardineE130
The Spirit of the SardineChairman Niki asks Ohara for Touzai News to design and manage a restaurant on the top floor of the Nito group's new headquarters. Ohara is reluctant, but when Niki threatens to offer the opportunity to Teito News, Ohara accepts and assigns the task to a reluctant Yamaoka. When Yamaoka starts working on the project, Niki offers him a 51% stake in the restaurant if he joins the Nito group. - Ultimate VS Supreme, Battle of Sweets!E131
Ultimate VS Supreme, Battle of Sweets!The next Ultimate VS Supreme menu contest involves desserts, but Yamaoka is undecided about what to prepare. Meanwhile, Toujin invites Yamaoka to a new teahouse he designed for the owner of Kanzendo, but he also invites Kaibara. The delicacy offered with the tea is monaka, crisp shells containing sweet muscat grapes which must be consumed within 5 minutes before they go soft. - The Gift of the SunE132
The Gift of the SunMs. Kinue Tabata has to cancel the reception for her wedding to Mr. Arakawa after Arakawa has to pay an old friend's large debt. Meanwhile, wealthy art collector Sataka sees one of a set of carved wooden three wise monkeys in a photo of a ceramic vase taken by Arakawa and owned by the notoriously difficult collector, Hoichi Matsumori. - The Crab and the MonkeyE133
The Crab and the MonkeyMs. Kinue Tabata has to cancel the reception for her wedding to Mr. Arakawa after Arakawa has to pay an old friend's large debt. Meanwhile, wealthy art collector Sataka sees one of a set of carved wooden three wise monkeys in a photo of a ceramic vase taken by Arakawa and owned by the notoriously difficult collector, Hoichi Matsumori. - Sole and Flatfish
E134Sole and FlatfishKoichi, one of Ohara's grandchildren, fails to get into his first choice university and becomes discouraged. Ohara gets Yamaoka to cheer him up over dinner and he is successful until Ohara disparages the sole they have for dinner instead of the more expensive flatfish even though they taste almost the same, undermining Yamaoka's good work. - The Ultimate Wedding Reception Part 1
E135The Ultimate Wedding Reception Part 1After overhearing Tabata planning for her wedding, the Touzai Culture Department decides on a wedding reception for the next round of the Ultimate VS Supreme Menu and offers to pay the costs. However, when Arakawa invites his mentor, Mr. Yuji Kiso, to the reception, he refuses because he considers them a petty event. - The Ultimate Wedding Reception Part 2
E136The Ultimate Wedding Reception Part 2The Ultimate VS Supreme wedding reception menu is to be held over two weddings. The first is the Supreme Menu at the Nakai and Aotani wedding, and the Touzai Cultural Department staff attend. The meal is presented as a double-layer bento box containing the simple foods that the husband and wife ate growing up as a way of introducing the two families to each other.
