[NARRATOR] Fried chicken...
With rising plumes of steam...
and spices that tickle the nose...
The plump texture of the meat...
and the hot juices that run down one's chin...
This is the comfort food that continues to grace Japanese tables everywhere.
And now, the decisive battle, one fought with knives and skewers, is about to begin.
Sumire-dori Shopping District-
the Summer Battle for Fried Chicken!
(Opening Song)
Let's go check out the enemy!
(Obnoxious laugh)
I mean, it's not like YOU could ever possibly make something like this.
[SOMA] What would you say if
our shopping area can make a fried chicken more delicious than yours?
Mozuya would be totally disgraced!
You sure do talk a big game there, little boy.
But talking's a lot easier than cooking, isn't it?
What are you gonna do, punk?
What is the ideal way for someone to eat fried chicken?
Uhh...
Well, it's gotta be when it's piping hot fresh
right out of the fryer, of course.
That's right!
But you see,
Mozuya's dishes don't necessarily represent that.
Huh? Meaning what exactly?
The takeout boxes that they send home with their customers
are closed off in order to keep the heat from escaping.
Those are made assuming they'll be eaten when the customer gets home
and not right away when they're bought at the franchise.
Their customers aren't opening them up and eating them in the middle of the station.
Makes sense. There's no food court area at the station,
so the only option they have is takeout.
However, our shopping area doesn't have that mentality!
After all, that's one of the reasons you come here, to snack and walk around.
Chomping down on fresh hot fried goodness...
And that, my friends, is when fried chicken is at its best!
Plus we've got plenty of starving school kids
that need something quick, easy, and portable.
That's brilliant!
We don't have to fight on their terms at all.
We will offer fresh hot, ready-made food for takeout.
We can use this location to its full advantage!
Exactly right!
The keyword is...
"Fried chicken for eating and walking"!
I'm feeling pretty good about our chances.
Yeah!
[TOMITA] Woohoo! YEAH!
WOOOOOOHOO! Now you got me all fired up!
I'm on it! I'm going to make an exciting dish as well!
Huh?
'Cause after all, I am a lunchtime expert.
With everyone's help, we'll take those suckers down!
All right, people! Let's do this thang!
Yeah, good luck with that, Mr. Tomita.
[KINU] The All-Japan Fried Chicken Championship!
We've won the gold medal three years in a row, folks.
Because we're Mozuya!
Step on up and get yourself the best-fried chicken in the land!
Um, excuse me, Miss Kinu.
We've received the invoice from the consultant for this month.
[KINU]Maybe I should just be done with that four-eyed dweeb for good.
I can't keep paying all his ridiculous fees anyway.
Are you okay, Ma'am?
Nothing that concerns you!
As long as Mozuya has its secret marinade, we're all set.
True, we are now set up in this impregnable chicken fortress
thanks to that dork.
But this fortress is now mine!
All right! Let's get ready for another day
of sucking the delicious dinero out of the city!
Mwahahaha!
[SOMA] A package so you can eat it on the spot.
Then add some toothpicks...
Something like this, maybe?
You plan on reusing milk cartons?
Ohh!
Elementary and middle-school kids
seem to like to eat fried chicken, so...
I've got one flavored with curry powder
and another with some gooey grated cheese melted all over it.
[SOMA] What do you think?
Delicious!
Both the curry and the cheese are great! But, uh...
I feel like Mozuya's chicken was still more satisfying in taste and texture.
So, um... well...
I don't think this quite measures up yet.
Oh, alright...
Putting it in a package and having you eat it with toothpicks
makes the serving size feel small.
It pales to the in-your-face meatiness of Mozuya's.
And the flavorings are only concentrated on the surface.
We've gotta bring out the quality of the ingredients throughout.
Ah! What about if we tried putting the fried chicken on a stick?
You could eat it with one hand and not be messy!
Uhhh... chicken-on-a-stick is a pretty common concept.
It doesn't really scream that it's something different.
Oh... Okay...
We need packaging that's not only new and unique,
BUT will also be able to draw out more flavors.
There has got to be some idea out there to solve both problems at the same time.
Got it!
I've got a bunch of notebooks
where I wrote recipes down as a kid.
They're in my room.
He's going to his room?
Soma's room...
Ah! It's just the two of us!
I-I have to try and say something! Uh, uh...
U-um, Ms. Meat!
Whattayou want?!
Um, um... Are...
How are you enjoying the curriculum so far?
Huh?
Ah! N-no!
I wanted to ask what Soma is like at school,
and ended up saying something that sounds like
it's from a letter from a middle-school teacher!
I'm such a hopeless wreck. Soma please come and save me.
Just relax... This girl has known Soma since middle school...
Uh, well...
They're childhood friends?
How are you... um...
Why am I getting so mad?!
Recover, recover!
Um, you must be incredible too, Meat-Meat.
To think, you're in the strictest cooking school in all of Japan.
There's nothing remotely special about me at all...
It's not really a big deal.
A lot of worthless punks go there.
I mean real good-for-nothing bastards
whose level is nowhere close to mine!
Just thinking about it makes my blood boil!
I swear, some of 'em are absolutely worthless!
Get bowled over by Bowl-club, baby!
O-oh...
Still...
Soma's at least... a little better than most of them.
Sorta...
Oh no!
Please don't tell me this girl likes Soma?
I have no chance.
Uh! Meat-Meat!
Oh, sorry! Are you okay under there, Meat-Meat?
What the hell are you doing?! You're such an idiot! I said I was sorry, okay?
DAMMIT! AAHHHH!
Or maybe I'm just imagining things...
This is by far the juiciest of any of them yet!
That's right!
Mozuya uses all breast meat
which is low in calories and has very little fat content.
True, that does make it a bit more popular with the diet crowd,
But if you want the knockout punch of fresh-fried taste...
You've gotta use thigh meat to get the juices!
[MAYU] Yes! It's the perfect size and it's so succulent!
Even at Western fried chicken places...
drumsticks are by far the most popular pick with the kids.
So using dark meat will get the students drooling
and wanting more!
Nice! You ARE the Meat Master!
Cut it out.
"Meat Master"?
Oh! Because she's Ms. Meat-Meat.
We're going to need a really special marinade for our chicken.
Let's use a base of soy sauce and Ichimi-pepper seasoning.
And, to get the right batter, we should try using some cornstarch.
Ah! Yeah, I don't have any of that.
I can go buy some for us.
Be right back. [SOMA] Thanks!
We didn't have anything at first,
but now, they're coming up with idea after idea.
I knew those two were great, but this is amazing!
[IKUMI] All right. Looks like our flavors are now coming together.
Yeah, now to figure out how we want people to eat our food.
[TOMITA] Soma!
What's going on, Mr. Tomita?
With this I needed to sneak in through the back entrance.
Sneak in?
I've finally discovered it!
The perfect dish for the concept of walking and eating!
This radical dish captures all the knowledge of Tomita-ya Boxed Lunches!
Here is it! Behold!
A fried chicken onigiri!
People already sell this, you know?
They make them in convenience stores.
AhhhhHHHH!
I'm so embarrassed! Such a waste of space.
I thought it was a hit for sure...
I mean, fried chicken and rice is the ultimate combination. Right?
Something new with impact...
Something easy to carry...
and that elevates the flavor.
You, sir, are a genius, Mr. Tomita!
Huh? You think so?
Um, no, not that.
But that over there!
It's gonna work! We can pull this off!
We'll roll this thing out...
Tomorrow night!
[TOMITA] Hey! Open up!
I need to print something out, FAST!
[IKUMMI] Yes, chicken thigh meat.
I need you to get things ready right away.
Ship it to the Todo Meat Market.
It's in the Sumire-dori Shopping District,
I'm gonna it need there it by 5:00 am.
Hey, what are you drawing over there, sis?
Ah! I totally need your help with this, Hiro!
This will be a surprise attack.
Before dinnertime, when the daily feeding frenzy is at its peak,
we will invade the enemy's stronghold...
and there will be no chance for them to fight back!
[KINU] Now then...
It'll be dinnertime soon, when things really get moving.
[SCHOOLBOY 1] Our club activities were tough today.
[SCHOOLBOY 2] I know right.
I was starving and I still had like an hour left to go.
What is that?
What are those boys holding?
Is that fried chicken?
No, it couldn't be.
No fried chicken could possibly make you want to buy it more than Mozuya!
No worries, no worries.
Welcome! Come and get some!
[KINU] How about getting some fried chicken from Mozuyaaaaa? Uhhh?
Huh?
What the hell is going on here?!
What's with all these people walking around the station,
holding that damn cone full of crap?!
You, girl, what're our sales looking like?!
Oh, uh... Well, I e-mailed you my report, just like always.
And they were good, they were solid right?
Actually, Ma'am, for the past two days, they've been down about 20%.
Why didn't you tell me?!
You girls are giving proper customer service, aren't you?
I've seen you slacking off with your little "breaks"!
[CUSTOMER] Excuse me.
Ohh? Yes, yes. Welcome!
Is this the fried chicken place with the "Sumire Mark" on it?
I-I believe you mean the shopping area in front of the station.
[CUSTOMER] Oh, really?
[GUY] The shopping area, huh? Thanks very much.
Hey, sweetie, should we get some Mozuya for dinner?
Huh? I wanna eat Sumire fried chicken!
Works for me. Let's do it!
[GIRL] Yaay!
Customers are passing us by!
This is unacceptable!
Ma'am, I think maybe you should report it to your contact.
I don't need some kid to help us, you idiot?!
I wanna see what's goin' on at Sumire-dori with my own eyes!
This place was a ghost town three days ago. How is this even possible?!
[GUY 1] I'd like one, please.
[GUY 2] Oooh me too.
And me!
One for me too, son.
I think I'll take three.
You got it! One minute, please.
I need another batch!
Understood! Working on it now.
This original marinade is mainly soy sauce and ichimi pepper seasoning,
We added big chunks of thigh meat to soak throughout the day.
I'm done with the batter, too!
Fantastic!
Man, this smells so good I can't stand it!
I wanna eat some now!
Next, we take it from the oil and let the heat
slowly work its way through...
Then fry it again to make a crispy exterior.
Finally, we add lettuce leaves and herbs,
and tuck it in a special, lightly pan-fried wrap.
We top that with chili sauce that uses Thai fish sauce for a secret surprise,
Finishing with coarse black pepper...
Order up!
"Sumire Mark fried chicken roll"!
Whoa! This is stuffed with so much goodness!
[GIRL] It's still sizzling!
This looks yummy!
Oh, the meat is so plump!
[WOMAN] Some parts are nice and crispy,
and others are moist from absorbing the sauce...
Meat juices mixed with the pepper and vegetables...
So many flavors all coming together!
[ALL] IT'S DELISH!
This is incredible!
Another one for me, please!
I'll take two!
Three for me!
Mom, I wanna eat one!
Coming right up! Huh?
Mr. Tomita! I'll be back in just a minute.
Huh?! Hey! Where are ya going?!
Just what's in that wrap?
A crepe?
Something like they use for tacos? I've never seen that!
Well, if it isn't the lovely lady who said I was in over my head.
Why are you not standing proudly in line like everyone else?
When... When did you start planning this... this strategy?
Three days ago.
Three days?!
The hardware store gave us the cooking equipment.
The sheet metal place made the Sumire Mark branding iron for us.
The ingredients are from the butcher and grocer.
The printing shop made the flyers and paper sleeves for us to use.
We got everything ready right here in this shopping district...
in just one night.
I got your ice-cold beer here! Perfect to go with your hot fried chicken rolls!
We're having a sale on taiyaki!
Cold ramune over here! Two-for-one!
We've got some exciting new menu items people!
Come and try our brand new dessert for free!
[GIRL] It's like a festival!
[MAN 1] This fried chicken is so good!
[MAN 2] I'll take one of those!
[KINU] Fried chicken. Unbelievable.
This little waste of space was the driving force
in breathing life back into all of Sumire-dori!
I underestimated him.
The twerp is a master strategist.
In the blink of an eye, he set up a battle formation
that completely surrounded Mozuya.
Just like the "one-night castle" constructed by Hideoyoshi!
What was it you said?
We have no sense of identity
or competitiveness
and it's only natural we fall into ruin?
Something like that, right?
[SOMA] But you're mistaken.
Our shopping area...
Is like nothing else!
Shut up, you twit!
What's so friggin' special about your fried chicken?!
Sooner or later, Mozuya is going to crush you-
[BOY] Well, don't say that...
What?
Unless you're gonna try some, Grandma.
It's, like, crazy delish.
Where are your parents, young man?
And who are you calling "Grandma"?!
Oh, that's right.
Last time we met, you let me try a sample.
Care to have a taste of our fried chicken?
It's really tasty.
Order up!
(Fresh-fried moans)
This wrap...
It uses rice flour!
Dear Lord... It's like a... banh xeo!
[NARRATOR] Banh xeo: a Vietnamese batter-based delight.
The batter uses rice flour, water, and coconut milk.
It is lightly fried and stuffed with ingredients such as pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts.
It's so simple!
The concept of this dish is piping-hot white rice combined with juicy fried chicken!
He reinterpreted the ultimate family meal.
Packaging it so that it makes it easy to eat while walking,
while still showcasing its original flavors!
Students coming home from afterschool activities...
Mothers in a hurry to get dinner ready...
A place for commuters to relax...
The peaceful murmur of city streets...
It fits so well... The atmosphere of this place awakens the senses.
Profit... Earnings...
The two most important ingredients to any fine cuisine!
[P.A.] In this final battle, at the bottom of the ninth, two outs, full count.
Here's the wind up... and the delivery!
HOLY MOLY!
He scores!
This is...
the taste of youth!
You're welcome!
[SOMA] You were awesome, Meat-Meat. Big time.
Man, that marinade was perfect. You really nailed it!
I want you to keep teaching me stuff like that, okay?
Um, yeah, okay, if I'm not too busy.
She... She must be really nice.
This is the last night I get to spend with Soma.
I wonder if he notices.
Mayumi...
Say, uh, would you like to maybe, uh...
Y-yeah?
...would you like to work part-time with Tomita?
Huh?!
It's going to take a lot of hard work
to get that fried chicken roll famous!
I'm worried about him being on his own.
And I won't be able to help out very much.
Um, oh, I don't know. I've never worked a part-time job before!
There must be someone more suited than me.
You've got a strong sense of responsibility,
so I'm betting I could trust you with this.
Huh?
[SOMA] Back in middle school,
you used to work late doing things for the student council.
Even in elementary school, you never skipped your turn to water the flowerbeds.
I'd feel better knowing you were here keeping an eye on things.
[MAYUMI] I thought Soma was someone so very far away from me...
But he noticed me?
Well, I don't wanna force you-
I'll try to do my best!
Really?! Great!
I'll be back in town to air-out the shop every once in a while,
and then we can hang out more.
I'll even cook for ya!
Yeah, sure!
Ahhhhhh!
Uh... What's wrong, Meat-Meat?
Nothing at all.
Ah, youth.
I've never felt so satisfied! Show 'em the wrap!
The hot new fried chicken roll.
I'm sure you want to know all about it.
One, two...
An unbelievable score of 20 out of 10!
(Ending Song)
[EIZAN] Sales have been plummeting the past three days.
'Kay then... Can you explain?
What exactly is happening at Mozuya?
[SOMA] (Stretch) Man, so much for a relaxing vacation.
That was over so fast!
What the hell? What do you want?
You're Soma Yukihira, right?
Come with me.
Hello there.
So, who are you?
I hear you've created a new fried chicken roll.
And that it's a rather interesting dish.
I'm the one who oversaw Mozuya's expansion into Kanto.
And it's not just Mozuya.
Since my middle school year,
I've consulted for over 500 restaurants,
bringing in record-breaking profits for every single one of them.
I've been told it was you who got the shopping arcade back on its feet.
My strategy is ruined because of your play.
And? You want to take me out or something?
No.
I want you to work for me.
Do so, and you will never need to look for a job again.
I've got my eye on being the successor to my family restaurant back home.
I have no interest in being anybody's pet monkey, okay?
Hmph. Well, I didn't actually think you'd go for it.
Not with you reputation.
Huh?
A talented chef shut within his own little box...
who feels satisfaction simply by the pride in his work.
It's just a tiny little shop, isn't that right?
Has being born into such a modest household hindered your culinary ambitions?
Well?
You sure do talk a big game...
But you're not even a real chef, I mean how can you even-?
Not true.
I am the one whom all chefs look up to and aspire to be.
I'm standing on a far greater stage than you.
Soma Yukihira, I'm letting you know.
You've been chosen to compete at the Fall Selection.
However, I wouldn't get too excited if I were you.
Being selected means these antics of yours are over.
No one is going to blemish my career.
In the culinary world, I go by a nickname...
You've heard of me, I'm sure.
I am the Alchemist!
Tohtsuki Council of Ten...
Seat No. 9, Etsuya Eizan!
There is no greater stage than this,
and I look forward to crushing you.