Nobushi no Gourmet (2017)

Appreciating the Simple Things in Life

I finished Mangaban Nobushi no Gurume in one sitting and was pleasantly satisfied. The samurai was what attracted me to the drama in the first place. I saw a short trailer for it on Netflix, and it immediately drew me in. I thought it was an interesting idea for a culinary drama, so I gave it a shot. It's safe to say it didn't disappoint me. The drama isn't spectacular, but it does hit the marks for a solid slice-of-life drama.

Kasumi Takeshi (Takenaka Naoto) is a 60-year-old man who recently retired. We follow his journey to new destinations and we meet a variety of people on the way. Personally, I think some of people he met along the way were uninteresting. The writers could have done a much better job in that regard. On a positive note, his enthusiasm for the cuisines is contagious wherever he goes. Even if it's just a simple lunch box, as long as the atmosphere is good, he'll enjoy the food. I also like how he found love in simple things like sitting alone with a cup of coffee and reading a book. Takenaka Naoto, who played Kasimi Takeshi, did a very good job. However, I thought he was overacting a lil bit.

I also enjoyed the flashbacks to his past. They were relevant in showing the audience why he loves a certain food so much. One of his quotes that made me think back on special memories was this,

“They may look and taste simple, but they are still special and full of memories. I'm sure there’s a food for everyone that’s like what this croquette is to me.”

That is true not only for food but also for favorite books, movies, and so on. Even if the food isn't special to others, it is to you because of the memories you have associated with it. I think it's a lovely quote that makes us think back on good times.

Of course, I can't talk about food without mentioning how delicious it looked. It’s my favorite aspect of the drama. The cinematography was also excellent. In fact, it took me by surprise. The scenic and cuisine cinematography was visually appealing and created a soothing atmosphere. The music is also enchanting and magical, which added to the drama's atmosphere. Also, the samurai concept is unquestionably the most distinctive aspect of this drama. In every episode, the samurai appears for a brief moment, and it's always entertaining to watch.

All in all, I recommend it to anyone looking for a short, sweet, and entertaining drama.

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Ignore That Guy With The Sword ⚔ Relax & Have a Croquette °7.5° °VG°

In SG a retired corporate drone gets to slice and dice that corporate mold and kick back with a 🍺 and a coquette. Early in his retired life he discovers that small plates create a big appetite for new experiences. It's the small things that season life to perfection. SG is a quiet celebration of the joy of food. The episodes, at 15 minutes each, are barely longer than a commercial break. (Ask your grandparents what a commercial break is. It's like waiting for that "skip ⏭ ads" button, just longer). Each one is its own small plate.

Without a ⏰️ to punch, Takeshi Kasumi (Sincere. Warm. Optimistic. Cute. Played by Naoto Takenaka), has no idea how he should spend his time. He starts wandering… aimlessly. Eventually, he gets hungry. So, he stops for a bite to eat in the middle of the day, when most people are stuck in a cubicle. One of the other diners ordered a beer! Smack dab in the middle of the day! ~⚡~ Like the entire city of Pittsburgh, here's a guy that understands how well 🍻 goes with food. TK decides to indulge; something he never would have done when he was working. He almost feels like he's committing a crime. He looks up and sees a samurai sitting a few tables over. It's his imagination, isn't it? The samurai is tough, he orders freely, eats with gusto, and doesn't let rude patrons intimidate him. ✂⛓ - TK is inspired now. He's not decisive, but the samurai is. TK becomes positively ravenous to go out and bravely try new restaurants and new foods, like a lone wolf, um… lone samurai.

He meets with friends, fellow retirees, and family - including his petulant niece/aspiring band member (her parents are getting desperate: "Would you talk some sense into her?"). He also revisits places he loved as a child, all on the hunt for food. He even becomes a movie set extra for the free lunches. He's upset to learn from a professional extra, who's had 120 appearances, (thank you very much), that today's caterer is subpar. Thank goodness some locals volunteered to make pork soup for the cast, which made the long day nearly worth it. Got a doctor's appointment? That's an opportunity for a 🍱 out. Ya gotta eat, right? The samurai is always there, watching from the shadows, giving him strength. The biggest drama in the series is when a grumpy chef scolds some foreigners for putting pepper on “his” food before they even taste it. Our corporate dude is mortified at the rudeness, but another customer manages to smooth out the situation nicely by putting pepper on his yakitori and declaring it/ amazing/.

It wasn't immediately clear if the woman that he lives with, Shizuko (Honami Suzuk), is his daughter or wife. Apparently she's his wife, so he's doing alright. We find out that she's a little bit younger than him; she was in middle school when he was in college. When the sales clerk hands him the shampoo his wife asked him to pick up, and then starts talking about their men's product line, he may run away. But still, he's doing alright.

He does need more of that samurai spirit, however. A samurai isn't afraid of sales clerks or to order a beer for lunch, and a samurai isn't afraid to tell customers to be quiet because they're loudness is disturbing others. I must say that the burly samurai is attractive. He's that friend that saves you from becoming too “normal”. Mundane. PHONY. In a buttoned-up society that must feel daring. "You're trying something new?" His wife recognizes the shifting attitude. "That's nothing compared to the first person that tried sea urchin." TK's already looking at things in a new light. After all, in his mind, he just watched the samurai be the first ever to guzzle a spiky urchin and proclaim it delicious.

Apart from safety, food and drink are life's most fundamental needs. They also happen to be one of great life's greatest pleasures. It's quite wonderful that spinal taps and walking on glass are not one of life's fundamental needs. We all know this world is deeply flawed, but food is evidence that the world is a wonderful place, too. Food is comfort, a connection to others, a way to unite and spend time: Food brings us together.

Not only is food one of the greatest pleasures in life, but it is strongly connected to memory. It has the power to transport us to our youth. Just a few decades ago, ingredients were limited and there was less exposure to the rest of the culinary world. (I remember when lasagna became a big deal, and how my family first made it with cottage cheese! Not only did we have no knowledge of ricotta cheese, but it wasn't even available for purchase at our suburban grocery store.) Food also has powerful emotional connections for us. While my grandmother made delicious food, some of it was unappealing. My grandparents, like everyone, loved some foods, not because they are inherently delicious, but because they grew up with them. Now that the whole world of cuisine has been opened up to most, we demand things that are taste sensations. People, nowadays, have access to the most delicious food in the history of the world. We eat better than royalty did 100 years ago. Manga!

Our protag is infused with the samurai spirit. He boldly goes to new destinations and boldly orders new fare. In the last episode, he tries getting a little more samurai with his wife. I wonder how that will work?

Simple clothes, a simple, small house, an uncomplicated & respectful relationship… & croquettes. Somehow, that plain potato croquette he ate in that one episode has haunted me. It looked so crunchy. It sounded so crunchy. I could have sworn I /smelt/ it 😛. I want to go to Japan just to get 🍘ne. SG is a reminder that it is not luxury and Michelin star restaurants that create happiness. Happiness and contentment come from within, which allows the simple things from without to make life special.

〰🖍 IMHO

🎬7.6 🖋〰7.6 🎭 7.7 🌞7 🎨6.6 🎵/🔊6.8 😅4 😭2 🤔4.5 💤2.5 🔚8

Age - there is nothing inappropriate for elementary school kids. It is a matter of their interest. The ML is warm to the watch. The show radiates comfort.

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