Oishinbo - Vol. 31 Ch. 289 - The Ultimate Vs. The Supreme: The Hotpot Showdown!! (Part 5)

[MangaDex]

 

[Mugiwara325]

Nishi Kenichiro of Kyo-Aji. His inclusion in this showdown marks the first time Oishinbo has made a real person a recurring character. While he won't be the last, he is the most prominent, especially since this isn't the only time he returns.

This appears to be Kariya's way of giving Nishi props. He's basically admitting, Nishi's food is so good, it can even win against the Ultimate Menu.

 

[keatsta]

Found the messaging of this one pretty refreshing, after so many chapters (going back to chapter 2!) having the message of "those hoity toity ingredients are no good compared to good ol' humble Japanese staples", I liked the reinforcement that really it's about indifference to price, some expensive stuff is good, some cheap stuff is good, the important thing is that it's good.

 

[jwfiredragon]

"All are equal in the eyes of the Buddha."

Well unfortunately the Buddha doesn't pay my bills, and my ability to purchase the finest delicacies is dictated by the follies of the market.

I personally am much more aligned with Yamaoka and Kurita's idea of the ultimate hotpot, though maybe that's because it's closer to Chinese hotpot.

Also relevant page from Kill Six Billion Demons: https://killsixbilliondemons.com/comic/wheel-smashing-lord-4-116/

 

[Mugiwara325]

"All are equal in the eyes of the Buddha."

Well unfortunately the Buddha doesn't pay my bills, and my ability to purchase the finest delicacies is dictated by the follies of the market.

I personally am much more aligned with Yamaoka and Kurita's idea of the ultimate hotpot, though maybe that's because it's closer to Chinese hotpot.

Also relevant page from Kill Six Billion Demons: https://killsixbilliondemons.com/comic/wheel-smashing-lord-4-116/

I also lean more towards the Ultimate Hotpot. Partially because I prefer that rowdy style of hotpot, and partially because I think it's outrageous the judges are allowing Kaibara to submit the pike conger hotpot even though he can't produce it.

 

[PA270]

Found the messaging of this one pretty refreshing, after so many chapters (going back to chapter 2!) having the message of "those hoity toity ingredients are no good compared to good ol' humble Japanese staples", I liked the reinforcement that really it's about indifference to price, some expensive stuff is good, some cheap stuff is good, the important thing is that it's good.

I respectfully disagree. Or rather, I disagree that the sentiment you express here, which I do agree with, was effectively conveyed by this particular chapter and the Hot Pot Competition as a whole. The author seriously flip-flops on the judges' standards, and that's especially apparent when it comes to expensive ingredients; if the Ultimate and Supreme Menus are meant to be guidelines for the average reader to enjoy top-quality food, then doesn't using ingredients that only the ultra wealthy could possibly afford promote the idea that only the fiscally fit can experience "true gourmet?" I agree that there are a not insignificant number of storylines that outright reject fancy ingredients in favor of plain staples, but this particular case feels like the other extreme, compounded by the fact that, as has been pointed out, Yuzan didn't even present one of the dishes he was including, and yet won anyway.

 

[LavTheBurger]

I respectfully disagree. Or rather, I disagree that the sentiment you express here, which I do agree with, was effectively conveyed by this particular chapter and the Hot Pot Competition as a whole. The author seriously flip-flops on the judges' standards, and that's especially apparent when it comes to expensive ingredients; if the Ultimate and Supreme Menus are meant to be guidelines for the average reader to enjoy top-quality food, then doesn't using ingredients that only the ultra wealthy could possibly afford promote the idea that only the fiscally fit can experience "true gourmet?" I agree that there are a not insignificant number of storylines that outright reject fancy ingredients in favor of plain staples, but this particular case feels like the other extreme, compounded by the fact that, as has been pointed out, Yuzan didn't even present one of the dishes he was including, and yet won anyway.

This feels like it shouldve been a draw based on the fact that sure, Kaibara with numbers outdid Yamaoka and Kurita, but he also didnt showcase a FULL menu. They did. And yeah, in the longevity bout, Yuzan LOST because of the same reason he somehow wins here. He isnt actually cooking for EVERYONE. He's cooking for rich people.

Also the fact we just a few chapters ago saw Kaibara throw a dish (at the head too) at his apprentice. I have stated it before but all this " Hes so magnanimous under his stern demeanor " tripe falls flat when hes rude, vindictive, harsh and unpersonable to the umpteenth degree. He talks about hospitality and warmth and humility when his own family life is in tatters at HIS hands AND he lives in a goddamn temple villa. Oh, the man of the people he is. i do wish the series wouldnt balk at calling him out on the fact he is a asshole. The early manga did, and that Yuzan is a better character because he isnt just a author tract avatar.

 

[Mugiwara325]

This feels like it shouldve been a draw based on the fact that sure, Kaibara with numbers outdid Yamaoka and Kurita, but he also didnt showcase a FULL menu. They did. And yeah, in the longevity bout, Yuzan LOST because of the same reason he somehow wins here. He isnt actually cooking for EVERYONE. He's cooking for rich people.

Also the fact we just a few chapters ago saw Kaibara throw a dish (at the head too) at his apprentice. I have stated it before but all this " Hes so magnanimous under his stern demeanor " tripe falls flat when hes rude, vindictive, harsh and unpersonable to the umpteenth degree. He talks about hospitality and warmth and humility when his own family life is in tatters at HIS hands AND he lives in a goddamn temple villa. Oh, the man of the people he is. i do wish the series wouldnt balk at calling him out on the fact he is a asshole. The early manga did, and that Yuzan is a better character because he isnt just a author tract avatar.

Do pardon me, but the dish throwing hasn't happened yet in this timeline. That'll be next Volume.

 

[LavTheBurger]

Do pardon me, but the dish throwing hasn't happened yet in this timeline. That'll be next Volume.

Ah my mistake, I kind of read these back and forth order wise so I keep up with both translations, so I forgot the order. Entirely on me.

I'd spoilertag but I am not sure how I even do it.

 

[Mugiwara325]

Ah my mistake, I kind of read these back and forth order wise so I keep up with both translations, so I forgot the order. Entirely on me.

I'd spoilertag but I am not sure how I even do it.

No worries. It's a fairly minor spoiler all things considered.

 

[10milestereo]

I did not care for this arc. The characters kept bringing up points that contradicted each other then yuzan won for what felt like a really unearned and arbitrary reason. It felt like the author didn't know what point he was trying to make and decided to beat down yamaoka and crew for no reason.

 

[d_a_renoir]

The author trying to be philosophical, but only ended up just making no sense.
Like one of the reasons the judges gave for why Ultimate lost is because "readers would think that they can make something better". Because Ultimate's hotpot is "Whatever you want goes in", doesn't that mean that whatever hotpot you make is the Ultimate version anyway? And plus, seeing that something looks so easy to do would tend to incentivise people to be like "Hey that seems fun, let's call up the buddies and do this!"

It would make more sense, I think, if they disqualified Ultimate's hotpot precisely because anything could go in. Like, it's akin to submitting an empty dish and say "please put whatever you want on this".