Oishinbo - Vol. 31 Ch. 284 - Death Awareness Cuisine

[MangaDex]

 

[Mugiwara325]

It was definitely an exercise translating all those wordplay-based auspices. Hopefully it came across well. This sort of thing is pretty common in East Asian cultures.

Here in Singapore/Malaysia for example, we do something called 'lau sang' (it has many other names) during Chinese New Year. It's when we arrange a bunch of fruits, root veggies, and raw seafood on a large plate, and everybody uses their chopsticks to mix and toss the food while chanting 'auspices', often based on wordplay.

The mixed food is then distributed to everyone.
I could've sworn this was a very recent practice, since I don't remember doing this ever until I reached my 20s.

 

[77BLc9JwJGpLVARkamJx]

I dont think I can handle the head part of an animal, fish and shrimps are cool with me though. Something about their eyes and their eye socket. And brain? Maybe if im feeling adventurous enough, like eating with a lot of people like this, a party. But its a big IF still.

 

[keatsta]

If I was to try to eat my way through Oishinbo, this would certainly be one of the most challenging chapters... I've never had brain before, and it's one of the rare things that actually freaks me out a bit conceptually. And the chicken heads I'd imagine are like chicken feet, which were never my favourite either. Fortunately as much as I would love to, I lack the time, money, and resources to eat my way through Oishinbo lol.

 

[Mugiwara325]

If I was to try to eat my way through Oishinbo, this would certainly be one of the most challenging chapters... I've never had brain before, and it's one of the rare things that actually freaks me out a bit conceptually. And the chicken heads I'd imagine are like chicken feet, which were never my favourite either. Fortunately as much as I would love to, I lack the time, money, and resources to eat my way through Oishinbo lol.

If it makes you feel any better, I think most Chinese people are similarly hesitant to eat brains like this. I haven't met anyone excited at the prospect of eating brains and most of them see it as a barbaric thing to do, so in a sense, it's surprisingly respectful of Oishinbo to depict it as just a part of culture (after an initial shock that appeals to the barbaric narrative).

Chicken heads are at least popular enough that I've seen a chain food stall selling them here in Singapore. I just haven't seen anyone eat them.

 

[d_a_renoir]

I always eat the chicken brain, it didn't even occur to me that a lot of people would find that weird.
I also like to eat the chicken eyes.

 

[tamarakko]

Quite some Halloween-esque chapter. I appreciated you being gracious with people that could dislike real photos of dead animals but I still laughed at the thought of fish not counting.

If it makes you feel any better, I think most Chinese people are similarly hesitant to eat brains like this. I haven't met anyone excited at the prospect of eating brains and most of them see it as a barbaric thing to do, so in a sense, it's surprisingly respectful of Oishinbo to depict it as just a part of culture (after an initial shock that appeals to the barbaric narrative).

Chicken heads are at least popular enough that I've seen a chain food stall selling them here in Singapore. I just haven't seen anyone eat them.

Kariya being born in China gives a good layer of understanding regarding Oishinbo paying respects towards Chinese cuisine.