Posts Tagged ‘shogakukan’
I feel like this week came and went and as I wrote my last few articles, I really hadn’t realized that the week was almost over.
I actually thought that I had written so much (many of them have been written prior to MMF), but the week caught up with me well and somewhere along the way I had to give up on some ideas for articles. To be fair, it’s something that is difficult to catch up on because it’s really just a summary on the cute development of Yamaoka and Kurita’s relationship. And to be honest, I can’t remember much since I crammed 104 volumes in my head.
The last day is sweet and it’s not because I made dessert with French Pancake. And it’s not because I finally remembered to mention this awesome Japanese site that actually inspired me to hold the culinary aspect of this feast: Manga Shokudo which also has its own book now!
In writing the list of unlicensed manga that mangavores and foodies could appreciate, it dawned on me that a lot of these titles wouldn’t have been present if Oishinbo hadn’t been written. After the success of Oishinbo, the manga industry found value in discussing and experimenting with food in its pages. Thus, I’m really happy that food manga was born as it gave us more manga to read.
Food, while integral to our living, hardly finds its presence in other forms of culture other than its kitchens and diners. To see it as an effective tool in educating people about food makes me appreciate its legacy not only in Japanese culture, but in the world as well. While Ed Sizemore might be missing out on experiencing these featured flavors, I’m happy that he sees value in this genre. When we all have forgotten flavors, these comics contribute in reminding us the various tastes and textures that we experience in food.
In my podcast, I asked about the future of food manga and Erin was talking about astronaut meals and such. Seeing other developments in cuisine also made me wonder if smaller or microscopic dishes will be enough to feed us someday. Perhaps our dining preferences may change and evolve but I think I can feel assured that if the world does end in 2012 and aliens would have to figure out what we ate, they might just chance upon these comics that tried to capture the flavors that changed our life.
I’d love to give my sincerest thanks to all the awesome folks who contributed for this Oishinbo and Food Manga MMF. Of course, I’d also like to thank the readers for supporting us! I’ll be updating the links in the viking a few hours from now so stay abreast and follow me over at twitter for any other announcements. If you enjoyed this feast and would like to participate to similar (sans the food) Manga Moveable Feasts, join our Google Groups page!
Next month is honestly just as exciting as mine! Michelle Smith and Anne are hosting the Inoue Takehiko Manga Moveable Feast from June 24 – June 30 at Manga Report and Soliloquy in Blue. With all these food I ate for this feast, I’m going to get my Shohoku trainers back and get myself ready. L-O-V-E RU-KA-WA! \o/
This was a difficult set to write because it was difficult to whittle down the list to seven. This week/month, I’ve been reading various food manga and here are the seven titles that I enjoyed… right now. I have a feeling that if I read the other stories, I’d probably go to my wits and them here. But right now, these are the titles that we’ll all probably enjoy, regardless if we love manga or food a little more than the other.
The first time I entered an izakaya (Japanese pub) in Manila, I was quite surprised that they had a small bookshelf filled with manga. Back then, I was appalled that they didn’t have Prince of Tennis or Naruto but they did have a treasure trove of classic manga which, back then, I honestly didn’t care for. While I ignored many of the titles, I did notice volumes of comics that had food on the cover. What was strange was that when I went to another izakaya, there they were again. And again. And again. Even when I went to Japan, I saw that shops that kept this manga within reach and for a good while I thought that it must be some food manga bible.
And you know what, it probably is.
This title had tackled more than just cooking. It spoke of the best preparation, the finest ingredient, the humblest of meals, and the power of food. Oishinbo was more than just a passing read while waiting for your food in an izakaya. It was a food epic.
While this may be old news, it’s still a thrill to see the illustrations for Adachi Mitsuru’s new title in Gessan called Mix. What’s awesome about this is it’s in many ways a sequel to Touch but since it’s happening 26 years after Tacchan’s Koushien win, it’s impossible that it is fully a sequel. Perhaps you can say that it’s part of the “Meisei” universe… those kind of things.
I can’t say much about this title as I have not read it yet. But Comic Natalie speculates that these two are brothers. I’m not so hot about this whole brotherly thing since I’m still affected by the shenanigans in Touch. However, I am more pleased that it looks like a catcher-pitcher team. At least I don’t have to worry about anyone dying. >_>) Soon. I dunno, there’s always someone who dies in an Adachi Mitsuru title.
This title’s running in Gessan starting this month in celebration of Gessan’s 3rd year anniversary. Is it me or Gessan’s the hip cool place for awesome new shounen titles?
I am a print baby and I would sooner read my manga in print than in front of the computer. I will admit that since I am in front of a computer most of the time due to work, I cannot help but stray for a quick fix. But that was then and now, it’s a different game.
In the last few years, manga has been shifting from print to digital. This was in many ways born in response of growing manga scanlation aggregators, but it’s also responding to the needs of some consumers. This year has been particularly exciting and let me share to you that there are now ways for you to enjoy reading manga online… legally!
For this ‘column,’ I’ll be scouting for some places where you can read legal online manga. This means these are websites that have appropriately licensed and is distributed online some manga online by its publishers. Simply put: these are websites that makes sure the money spend to their website gives something back to their published authors. Your purchase for their digital manga puts food on those tired starving mangaka’s (and friends!) table.
Guest on 
d4rkn on 
Ash on 
