Karaage
Karaage...
The wafting steam,
the nose-tingling spices...
The plump chicken and the hot juices
that course along your lips...
Mozuya
One of the cornerstones of the Japanese dinner table
is about to become a weapon
in the ultimate fight for supremacy:
Sumire Avenue
the Sumire Avenue Shopping District Summer Karaage Campaign.
Summer Campaign
Karaage
Let's go scout enemy territory!
I doubt you'd ever manage to make ours!
So if our shopping district comes up with karaage that's better than yours,
it'd be a huge embarrassment for Mozuya-san, huh?
You talk big, boy,
but don't be fooling yourself!
What can a kid like you do?
Sumire Avenue
Yukihira Diner
The Karaage of Youth
What's the best way to enjoy karaage?
Well, of course, it's best to eat them right away after they're fried.
Right?
But that's not necessarily how it works for Mozuya.
Huh?
What do you mean?
They put their karaage in sealed plastic packaging,
so that their commuter customers won't bother other passengers with the smell.
Their product's made with the assumption
that it won't be eaten right away, but after customers get home.
You can't just walk around eating in that nice Ekinaka building.
I see.
It's not like there's a food court there,
so they only have takeout.
But a shopping district doesn't have that kind of constraint!
Some shopping districts even capitalize on how people can walk and eat!
Biting into piping hot karaage, straight out of the fryer!
That's how karaage should be eaten.
Not to mention, there are tons of schools around here,
from elementary schools to universities.
Right. There's no reason for us to fight on their turf!
Take-home Food
Capitalize on Our Advantage
They target people who take food home to eat!
That's right!
Our keywords are...
Walk-n-Eat Karaage
...Walk-n-Eat Karaage!
Don't you think we have a fighting chance?
Yup!
I'm feeling it!
Soma-chan, I'll do my best to test my recipes, too!
I own a bento store, after all!
Tomita Yuya Bento Shop Tomitaya Second Generation Owner and Current Chairman of the Shopping District
Let's defeat Mozuya together!
Yeahhhhhh!
All right!
Let's do this!
R-Right, well, good luck.
Yeaaaaahhhhh Don RS
We're Mozuya, known for being the three-time champion
Karaage Specialty Store Mozuya
of the National Karaage Competition!
Come buy our special karaage today!
President Kinu, we have the invoice from the consultant.
Hmph.
I think we can do without that brat now.
We don't have to keep paying his high consulting fees.
What?
Nothing.
All Mozuya needs is our secret marinade.
We do have the consultant to thank for getting a spot in this
ironclad fortress of success,
but this castle belongs to me now.
We'll just keep sittin' pretty and scarf down this town's money!
Packaging to let people eat the goods right away...
Add a toothpick...
Kind of like this?
Reusing milk containers?
Huh.
I went with karaage that elementary school students might like.
One with curry powder,
and one with powdered cheese that melts.
How are they?
They're delicious!
Both the curry and the cheese one!
But...
I feel Mozuya's karaage was more satisfying.
So... I'm not sure this measures up...
I see.
When you have to put the pieces in a container
and eat them with a toothpick,
the pieces end up being small.
It can't compete with Mozuya's meaty pieces.
The seasoning is superficial, too.
You have to capitalize on the quality of the ingredients.
Oh, what if you put the pieces on a skewer?
That'd let people eat it using only one hand.
Well, karaage skewers are a dime a dozen,
so it might not have much visual impact.
Oh, right.
The packaging needs to be fresh and unique.
The flavor also needs to be improved.
We need something that'll kill those two birds with one stone
and make us competitive with Mozuya.
I know!
I have a notebook with all the recipes I tried as a kid in it.
I'll go bring it from my room!
Yukihira-kun's room...
Yukihira's room...
Silence...
W-We're all alone, the two of us!
W-We have to talk about something!
Um...
Umm...
U-Um, Mito-san!
Yeah?
Um, uh, h... how...
How is high school going?
Brain
Grinding
to a
Halt
Huh?
Oh, no! I didn't mean to ask that!
I wanted to ask what Yukihira-kun's like in high school,
but I blurted out something that sounded like
Confused
How is high school? It's the same old here.
what a junior high school teacher would ask in a letter!
Um, um...
She knew Yukihira back in junior high, huh.
So, what I really meant to ask was...
Um... well...
Guess they're childhood friends.
So... er...
Um... uh...
Wait, why am I irritated?!
Recover, Mayu! Recover!
M-Mito-san, you're amazing.
You're in the most rigorous culinary school in Japan.
I don't have any special talents.
It's no big deal.
Most people are just hopeless.
I know a real deadbeat, too!
Man, just thinking about it is annoying!
He's such a deadbeat!
Become the Don RS's don!
I... I see.
Well...
I guess Yukihira's not so bad, though.
Does Mito-san have feelings for Yukihira-kun?
U-Um...
Oh, sorry.
You okay, Nikumi?
Wh-What the hell do you think you're doing, Yukihira?!
Sorry, I didn't mean...
Huh?!
Soma's Notes #1
Did I just imagine that?
Wow, it's even juicier than before!
Right?
Mozuya's using low-calorie, low-fat breast meat.
That'll be more popular with women, sure,
but if you want a pronounced flavor right out of the fryer,
you want thigh meat.
Yeah!
It's got volume and taste.
In stores that serve fried chicken,
thigh meat's really popular among children.
This'll be a great crowd-pleaser for students!
Nice! Good job, Meat Master!
No big deal.
Miito Master
"Miito" Master...?
Miito = Mito
Oh, because she's Mito-san...
Okay, next up is the marinade.
We'll use soy sauce and chili peppers as the base...
Oh, let's try using corn starch this time.
Crap!
I don't have any.
Oh, I'll go buy some!
Thanks.
We started from scratch,
but now we're just full of ideas.
Those two are amazing!
All right!
The seasoning's moving along.
Yup!
We just have to decide how to serve it to our customers.
Soma-chan!
Chairman.
I snuck in from the back door.
Snuck in?
I finished it!
I created a dish that's perfect for walking and eating at the same time!
Bento Shop Tomitaya
It's a revolutionary menu item that represents
all the knowledge that Tomitaya can offer!
Look!
This... is the karaage rice ball!
This already exists everywhere.
I've seen it in convenience stores.
Irritated
I'm so embarrassed!
What a deadbeat...
I was so confident it'd work.
I mean, karaage and rice are a match made in heaven, y'know?
Innovative
Something that's innovative, memorable, portable,
Memorable
Portable
Enhanced Taste
and able to enhance its taste...
That's it, Chairman!
Huh?
This?
No, not that.
But that!
We can work with that!
We'll use this against them!
The battle will begin tomorrow at sundown!
Hey!
Open up!
Iguchi Printing
We need you to print a bunch of these ASAP!
Yes, chicken thigh meat!
I need it, and it's urgent!
It must be delivered to
Todo Butcher Shop in Sumire Avenue Shopping District tomorrow at 5AM!
Sis, what're you doing?
Oh, Hiro-kun! Please help me.
It'll be a surprise attack.
Right before dinnertime,
when the war for selling side dishes is at its peak...
We'll strike right at the enemy's heart
without giving them any chance to launch a counterattack!
Kurase-san's Diary
Aghhh Disgusting
Hey, Soma-kun!
From the time we were in kindergarten,
Yukihira-kun would make disgusting bentos,
force them on his friends, and make them cry.
All right!
The sun's about to set!
It's time to rake in the big bucks!
Training was tough today, too.
I was already starving during practice.
What's that?
Are those brats holding karaage?
Nah, I must be mistaken.
There's no karaage that's more attractive to customers than ours.
Our business is safe.
The Next Day
Come in!
Would you like Mozuya's karaage?
The Following Day
What the hell's going on?!
There're a whole bunch of people holding that thing with that mark
in the station.
How're our sales looking?!
I e-mailed the information to you, like usual.
It's holding steady, isn't it?
Well, it's gone down by 20 percent over the past two days.
No way!
You guys'd better be giving proper customer service!
I'll beat you up if you're slacking in any way!
Hello?
Yes, yes, welcome!
Is this where you can get the Sumire Mark Karaage?
I... I believe that'd be in the shopping district in front of the station.
Oh, really?
The shopping district, huh?
Thank you for the information.
Want to get something for dinner at Mozuya?
Wha? I want the Sumire Mark one.
Hmm, yeah. Let's do that!
Yay!
Customers are passing us by?!
What humiliation!
Um, perhaps we should let him know...
We can't rely on that brat, idiot!
What's going on at the Sumire Avenue Shopping District?
I'm going to see it for myself!
They were a ghost town until three days ago! How'd this happen?!
Bento Shop Tomita
I want one!
Me, too!
I want one, too!
I want three!
Thank you!
Please wait just one second!
I need more!
Got it!
Another batch coming right up!
Our special marinade's based on soy sauce and chili peppers.
We've let large pieces of thigh meat soak in there all afternoon.
They're ready to go!
Here!
Man, this smell is killing me!
I can't wait to dig in...
And!
After frying it once to let it cook through,
we fry it a second time to crisp up the surface.
Then you put it in a special wrap along with herbs and leaf lettuce!
Add a dash of flavor with our special chili sauce that contains fish sauce,
and a round of black pepper...
Here you go!
Enjoy the Sumire Mark Karaage Roll!
Wow, it looks really filling!
It's still sizzling!
It looks delicious!
The chicken's really plump and juicy!
The way the fried chicken is crispy in parts
and soft where the sauce's soaked in...
The way all the different flavors mingle between the juicy meat,
black pepper, and the vegetables...
Yummy!
Delicious.
I want one, too!
Give me two, boy!
I want three!
Mom, I want to try, too.
Sure!
Oh.
Tomita-san, cover the fryer for a sec!
Wha?
What?!
Hey, Soma-chan!
What's it being wrapped in?
A crepe?
Or a tortilla like they use for tacos?
I have no idea.
Well, well! It's Mozuya-san!
There's no need to skulk about.
Why not line up with pride?
H-How long have you been hatching this plan?
Huh?
For three days.
What?!
The cooking equipment was provided by the hardware store.
The Sumire Mark branding iron was crafted by the sheet metal store.
The ingredients were provided by the grocer and the butcher.
Meat Overseen by Nikumi
The flyers and the packaging were made by the printer.
Designed by the Kurase Siblings
Sumire Avenue Shopping District
Everything was made here in the shopping district.
In a single night.
Izakaya
Who'd like ice-cold beer to go with that karaage roll?
We're selling taiyaki at a discount right now!
We have cold ramune here!
Try our new dish!
Our sweets are on sale!
Beer with this karaage? It's sinful!
It's like a festival!
Mister, please give me that.
I'll have a beer.
What in the world?
With the karaage....
No, with this brat at the center,
the entire shopping district's coming back to life!
I underestimated him.
This brat's an extraordinary tactician!
Sumire Avenue Mozuya
He created a siege around Mozuya in an instant,
just like Sunomata Castle that Hideyoshi built in a single night!
Remember what you said, Mozuya-san?
A place with no competitiveness or creativity deserves to die out, right?
Well, this place has it.
Sumire Avenue
Our shopping district has what it takes!
Quit yakking!
Who gives a shit about your karaage?!
You'll get crushed by Mozuya soon enough!
Hey, before you talk like that,
try it yourself, lady!
It's really good, seriously!
What's with you guys?
And don't call me "lady"!
They're right.
You let us try your karaage last time.
You should try ours.
Dig in!
This wrap...
It's made from rice flour!
I see... this is similar to bánh xèo!
Bánh xèo is a Vietnamese dish.
A thin layer of batter made of ingredients such as rice flour, water,
and coconut milk
is cooked, then stuffed with ingredients such as pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts.
I get it now...
This is based on the idea
that piping hot rice and juicy karaage are a match made in heaven.
That pairing was reimagined,
then further strengthened by improving its portability, taste, and visual impact!
Students on their way home from club practice...
Mothers rushing home to get dinner on the table...
Commuters enjoying a break...
The hustle and bustle of the city are strangely relaxing.
This karaage...
This ambiance...
Profits
They invoke something far more brilliant than profits and returns.
Returns
In this final match, it's the bottom of the ninth,
with two outs and bases loaded.
The pitcher's thrown the ball!
This... is the taste of youth!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Bento Shop Tomitaya
Nikumi, you're awesome!
That marinade was super helpful.
I hope you'll teach me a lot more from now on!
S-Sure, if I'm free.
I envy Mito-san.
After tonight, I won't get to spend any time with Yukihira-kun.
Kurase!
Um, it's up to you, but...
Y-Yes?
Can you help Tomitaya out part-time?
What?!
We just have to hang on till the karaage rolls stick, y'know?
But it'll be a little shaky if we just rely on Tomita-san,
and I can't help most of the time.
B-But I've never worked a job.
There must be someone better suited to...
Is there?
I thought I could depend on you because you're a responsible person.
What?
In junior high, you'd work really late doing class council stuff,
and even in elementary school,
you never skipped watering flowers when it was your turn.
I'd feel a lot better if I could ask you.
I thought he was always out of reach...
...but he actually noticed things about me?
Well, I won't force you.
I... I want to try!
Really?
Thanks!
I'll come by sometimes to air out Yukihira,
so you should drop by.
I'll cook for you.
O-Okay!
Yay!
Huh?
What's wrong, Nikumi?
Nothing...
Hmph
It's great to be young...
One here, too.
Me, too.
I've never felt so satisfied before!
I want to try it.
Bento Shop: Tomitaya Sumire Mark Karaage Roll
So, the Sumire Mark Karaage Rolls.
What's the score?
Here!
It's twenty
out of ten!
Sales
5 Days Ago 4 3 2 1 Today
Sales have plummeted three days in a row.
Well, Mozuya-san?
What do you have to say?
Well, so much for vacation. It was over in a flash.
Who the hell are you?
Yukihira Soma, right?
You'll be coming with us.
There you are.
And who're you?
The Sumire Mark Karaage Roll wasn't a bad idea.
I'm the one who orchestrated Mozuya's Tokyo expansion.
And not just Mozuya.
Since junior high,
I've offered consulting services to more than 500 businesses in the food industry,
and led them to success.
I heard about how you resurrected the shopping district.
Thanks to you, my plan was ruined.
So you want to beat me up now, is that it?
No.
Come work for me.
I'll make sure you'll never go hungry.
I already have a goal: to carry on my family restaurant.
I have no plans to work for anyone else.
I didn't think you'd take the offer,
but I guess you're like the rest.
Huh?
You're trapped in your own little world.
You're satisfied as long as you can pretend to be professional.
Your restaurant's small-time, isn't it?
Is it because you were born into that kind of place
that your ambition is so limited?
Well?
You talk big...
...but you're a chef, too, aren't you?
I'm not.
I am the one whom all the chefs obey.
I have my sights set on an entirely different stage than you.
Yukihira Soma...
...allow me to inform you
that you've been selected for the Autumn Elections.
But don't rejoice just yet.
The Elections will mark the end of your upstart trajectory.
I'll make you pay for staining my career.
This is what others call me:
The Alchemist
the Alquimista!
Totsuki Elite Ten
I'm the ninth seat in the Totsuki Elite Ten,
Eizan Etsuya.
Eizan Etsuya 2nd-Year, High School 9th Seat, Totsuki Elite Ten
I'll crush you on the best stage possible!
To Be Continued
Preview
Next time, at the Bento Shop, Tomitaya... no, wait!
...on Food Wars,
the nineteenth dish:
Menu The Chosen One
"The Chosen One."
It's so delicious, Yukihira-kun!
Kurase-san's Diary
I'm home!
Good job, youth!
I'll do my best at work today!