Hirothero
Palma de Mallorca (Spain)
This review may contain spoilers
(─‿‿─)
I can say without fear of being mistaken that almost all Japanese dramas revolve around two main themes: family abandonment (in all its forms) and food. In films, it's common for someone to be dying of an incurable disease. While the first theme implies separation or abandonment towards a person, a group, or the family nucleus itself, the second implies the opposite: the birth of new bonds or the strengthening of existing ones.
For a country as rich in gastronomy as Japan, food serves as a second mother tongue—more native and deeply rooted in the essence of the Japanese people. Trying to replicate Japanese curry with tablets sold in supermarkets won't bring you any closer to understanding their culinary culture, unfortunately. There are tons of dramas and films centred around food: from classics like ‘Tampopo’ to more recent shows like ‘Shinya Shokudo’. These stories, even though they consider food as the main point of the narrative and character development, vary completely in genres: While 'Tampopo' defines itself as a 'noodle western', films like 'Little Forest' take a more contemplative approach. Food also jumps back and forth between media; a few months ago, I read the novel 'The Kamogawa Food Detectives', which is set in a restaurant/detective agency that recreates dishes from the past through the testimony of customers.
Is it possible to fall in love through food? Well, according to otaku knowledge, Japanese women give chocolate to the men they love on Valentine's Day, and if the men reciprocate their feelings, they return the gesture on White Day a month later. Technically, the answer is yes. ‘Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna’ (She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat) picks up the gastronomic baton to tackle current and vital issues such as love, the way we feel and express it, sexuality, and gender roles.
If you watched the first season, you will have tasted the broth of this soup. Yuki Nomoto loves to cook, but she eats little and has no one to cook for. Coming home one night, she meets her neighbour, Kasuga-san, who will later become the main spectator of her passion for cooking. Thus, a close ‘friendship’ blossoms between Nomoto-san, who cooks and observes, and Kasuga-san, who tastes and devours. As the story unfolds, we discover that Nomoto is feeling drowned by the family and social pressures she is under to meet and marry a man, while Kasuga is dealing with a family past that is directly linked to her relationship with food. Eventually, Nomoto starts to have feelings for Kasuga and the first season ends. However, its short duration and that cliffhanger make you feel like you want to repeat it, like a good plate of food. Fortunately, earlier this year NHK delivered a double portion of episodes about this story.
The second season is not only longer but also better, expanding on what has already been explained with the introduction of two new characters: Naguno Sena, a new tenant in the building who suffers from deipnophobia (irrational fear of eating in public) to such an extent that it affects his daily life, and Miss Yako, a social network mutual of Nomoto, an Aroace, who helps Nomoto to find herself in search of her true identity. The social spectrum has expanded compared to the previous season.
She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat is so special to me, not only because of its courage to address sensitive issues in Japan, basically because of sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and all sorts of phobias fostered by poor sexual education and the culture of homogeneity, but also because it's about women. Empowered women who decide about themselves and their destiny, while supporting each other to move forward. It is an open story that never falls into the queerbaiting to which the Japanese are so accustomed, and one that connects women of different backgrounds through food in a subtle and respectful way.
She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat has become my refuge and comfort zone over the past few months. Whether it's the warmth of Nomoto's apartment, the preparation of the food, the way she watches Kasuga while she eats, or that little music that relaxes the body and mind. I'm looking forward to the third season.
For a country as rich in gastronomy as Japan, food serves as a second mother tongue—more native and deeply rooted in the essence of the Japanese people. Trying to replicate Japanese curry with tablets sold in supermarkets won't bring you any closer to understanding their culinary culture, unfortunately. There are tons of dramas and films centred around food: from classics like ‘Tampopo’ to more recent shows like ‘Shinya Shokudo’. These stories, even though they consider food as the main point of the narrative and character development, vary completely in genres: While 'Tampopo' defines itself as a 'noodle western', films like 'Little Forest' take a more contemplative approach. Food also jumps back and forth between media; a few months ago, I read the novel 'The Kamogawa Food Detectives', which is set in a restaurant/detective agency that recreates dishes from the past through the testimony of customers.
Is it possible to fall in love through food? Well, according to otaku knowledge, Japanese women give chocolate to the men they love on Valentine's Day, and if the men reciprocate their feelings, they return the gesture on White Day a month later. Technically, the answer is yes. ‘Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna’ (She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat) picks up the gastronomic baton to tackle current and vital issues such as love, the way we feel and express it, sexuality, and gender roles.
If you watched the first season, you will have tasted the broth of this soup. Yuki Nomoto loves to cook, but she eats little and has no one to cook for. Coming home one night, she meets her neighbour, Kasuga-san, who will later become the main spectator of her passion for cooking. Thus, a close ‘friendship’ blossoms between Nomoto-san, who cooks and observes, and Kasuga-san, who tastes and devours. As the story unfolds, we discover that Nomoto is feeling drowned by the family and social pressures she is under to meet and marry a man, while Kasuga is dealing with a family past that is directly linked to her relationship with food. Eventually, Nomoto starts to have feelings for Kasuga and the first season ends. However, its short duration and that cliffhanger make you feel like you want to repeat it, like a good plate of food. Fortunately, earlier this year NHK delivered a double portion of episodes about this story.
The second season is not only longer but also better, expanding on what has already been explained with the introduction of two new characters: Naguno Sena, a new tenant in the building who suffers from deipnophobia (irrational fear of eating in public) to such an extent that it affects his daily life, and Miss Yako, a social network mutual of Nomoto, an Aroace, who helps Nomoto to find herself in search of her true identity. The social spectrum has expanded compared to the previous season.
She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat is so special to me, not only because of its courage to address sensitive issues in Japan, basically because of sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and all sorts of phobias fostered by poor sexual education and the culture of homogeneity, but also because it's about women. Empowered women who decide about themselves and their destiny, while supporting each other to move forward. It is an open story that never falls into the queerbaiting to which the Japanese are so accustomed, and one that connects women of different backgrounds through food in a subtle and respectful way.
She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat has become my refuge and comfort zone over the past few months. Whether it's the warmth of Nomoto's apartment, the preparation of the food, the way she watches Kasuga while she eats, or that little music that relaxes the body and mind. I'm looking forward to the third season.
Was this review helpful to you?
