Samurai Gourmet

Excellent show that embellishes on Japan's food culture. It is based on a manga (comic) of a retired businessman who spends his new found time exploring different cuisines Japan has to offer. Some of his food adventures are intentional, and some are not. During his adventures, he has to summon his inner samurai (alter ego, so to say) to get him out of sticky situations. This show is purely fictional. The main character's chemistry with his very well played wife (famous Honami Suzuki from Tokyo Love Story) is so natural and genuine. Excellent directing, editing, and screenplay as well. Each episode is only about 20 minutes long, so it has a very high watchable rating. I was hooked after the first episode, and I hope they continue to make more. If you have an appreciation for good food and Japanese culture, you will enjoy this show.

I have really fallen in love with the series. It's not food porn at all, which what it first assumed it to be. It's the story of Takeshi Kasumi, recently retired salaryman. After 40 years of never doing anything besides work, he suddenly finds himself thrust into a world without expectations. He's lost at first. But he ventures out, meeting up with an imaginary, unnamed Ronin who gives him lessons in being free. Along the way, he eats a lot.

It's tempting to say it's all about the food, but that's not really the point at all. It's a warm look into someone discovering the simple pleasures of life - food, people, and memories. Kasumi is child-like in every way, but that just adds to his charm. And his expressions are just so over the top comical that you cannot help but be enchanted by him.

It's a slow series, with very little action. But it's so much fun to watch. It's probably not for anyone who needs a lot of action, conflict, changes of scenery, or characters, but it will appeal to those of us who have experienced that slowing the pace of life and appreciating every moment brings happiness.

The show is pretty simple, and its worth is exactly the highlights it gives to ordinary stuff of life. The attention to the details, the beautiful looks on the food, and the smoothness of the story sustain this great show. Don't expect the episodes to be full of drama and extraordinary stuff. This is just a charming, sometimes comic and, above all, very light and buoyant series.

The stories surrounding each episode aren't particularly interesting but I couldn't help but smile during every episode as this 60 year old man sat down and ate a meal.

It's about a man that thought his life is nothing without work but he starts to enjoy and try to do things that he have missed out.

I'm on episode 7 and I still don't see him doing stuff with his wife. If he focused on work for 30 years, he should take his wife with him.