The Knife and the Sword explained

The Knife and the Sword
Ja Kanji:信長のシェフ
Ja Romaji:Nobunaga no Shefu
Genre:Historical
Type:manga
Author:Mitsuru Nishimura
Illustrator:Takuro Kajikawa
Publisher:Houbunsha
Demographic:Seinen
Magazine:Weekly Manga Times
First:March 2011
Last:April 2024
Volumes:37

is a Japanese manga series written by Mitsuru Nishimura and illustrated by Takuro Kajikawa. It was noted to be adapted into a Japanese television drama series in January 2013.[1] [2] The manga was serialized in Houbunsha's Weekly Manga Times on a bi-weekly basis from March 18, 2011 to April 12, 2024.[3]

Plot

A young chef named is mysteriously transported to the Sengoku period and he also loses most of his memories. He is thrown in the midst of a battle between soldiers, and, as both sides think he is a spy, they hunt him down. During his escape, Ken meets, a young blacksmith girl. Because of his cooking abilities, Ken is soon recruited as personal chef of Oda Nobunaga.

Characters

The present day (Heisei era)

Ken
  • The main character. When transported into the Sengoku period, Ken lost all memories pertaining to his time period. He only remembers how to cook and the history of ingredients and persons. He falls in love with Natsu as the story progresses. He is one of the three people from the Heisei Era to come to Sengoku period. His family name is "Katsuragi" and he was a sous-chef at a hotel in Kyoto (as we will find out from volume 11 onward). He is a rather large man compared to the Japanese of the time, and is often depicted banging his head against the Kamogai or beams, and in episode 17 of volume 3, when he refuted an order, Nobunaga slashed him, leaving a scar on the bottom of his left eyebrow. He can cook anything from Ming (Chinese) style to Portuguese style. He can cook anything the person asks and create new menus every time. He can make ingredients from scratch. Many ingredients he uses were not known during the time.
    Youko
  • She is the last and only person, other than Ken, to have escaped in chapter 1. She was once Ken's lover during the Heisei Era. She was a pastry chef at a hotel in Kyoto (as we will find out from volume 11 onward). Like Ken, she is a large woman compared to women of this era, and according to Kaede, "she is just right alongside Ken. She serves Kennyo. Unlike Ken, she provides Kennyo with historical knowledge that only people from the future know, and is valued as a prophetess.
    Oda Nobunaga
  • A legendary warlord. Once he trusts someone, he never doubts them, but when he learns that he has been betrayed, he becomes furious. His sister Oichi tells Ken that he is a lonely person. He prefers strong flavors in his cooking and has a sweet tooth. He has been enjoying Western food since he took Ken under his wing, and after Ken sealed off Western cuisine, he has been holding out for other dishes, much to his frustration.
    Natsu
  • Heroine. A sword smith. She lost her family in the war and is left all alone. When she was collecting sand to make a sword, she rescued Ken from the river. She is in love with Ken. When she hears that Ken was wounded in the Tennoji Battle, she rushes to visit him and asks him to marry her, but she wants him to wait until she can pass on the blacksmithing skills she has inherited to her apprentice, Kanta. To avoid the jealousy of Kaneyakojin, the goddess of swordsmithing, she usually dresses as a man.
    Kaede
  • A kunoichi in Nobunaga's army, she has appeared since volume 3. When Ken infiltrated Kotani Castle under the orders of Nobunaga as a cook for Asakura's side, she was assigned to watch over and protect the hostile Azai Nagamasa and Oichi. Thereafter, she often works together with Ken. She is absolutely committed to Nobunaga's orders and is willing to sell her body for missions and information gathering, but she actually has secret feelings for Ken. she learns how to make confections from Ken, infiltrates Ishiyama Hongan-ji, meets Yoko, and gains her trust as her assistant cook.

    Reception

    Book release information

    1. August 9, 2011, [10]
    2. October 14, 2011, [10]
    3. February 16, 2012, [11]
    4. June 16, 2012, [11]
    5. October 16, 2012, [11]
    6. January 16, 2013, [11]
    7. June 15, 2013, [11]
    8. October 16, 2013, [12]
    9. February 15, 2014, [12]
    10. July 8, 2014, [12]
    11. October 16, 2014, [12]
    12. February 16, 2015, [12]
    13. July 16, 2015, [12]
    14. November 16, 2015,
    15. April 16, 2016,
    16. August 16, 2016,
    17. December 16, 2016,
    18. April 14, 2017,
    19. August 16, 2017,
    20. December 15, 2017,
    21. May 16, 2018,
    22. September 14, 2018,
    23. January 16, 2019,
    24. June 13, 2019,
    25. October 16, 2019,
    26. March 16, 2020,
    27. July 16, 2020,
    28. November 16, 2020,
    29. April 15, 2021,
    30. September 16, 2021,
    31. February 16, 2022,
    32. July 14, 2022,
    33. November 16, 2022,
    34. March 16, 2023,
    35. July 13, 2023,
    36. December 14, 2023,
    37. May 16, 2024,

    Television drama

    Native Name:
    Director:Ryōsuke Kanesaki
    Music:Yoshihiro Ike
    Country:Japan
    Language:Japanese
    Num Seasons:2
    Num Episodes:17
    Executive Producer:Ikuei Yokochi
    Network:TV Asahi

    The nine-episode first season of the drama was broadcast on TV Asahi between January 11, to March 15, 2013. A second season, consisting of eight episodes, aired also on the same network from July 10, to September 4, 2014. This is Tamamori's first starring role in a drama series and his first period drama in the "Friday Night Drama" slot.[13]

    The average viewer rating for season one exceeded 10%.[14] This was rare for a late-night broadcast slot. This led to the decision to air Season 2 and its broadcast in prime time.[15] [16]

    In the second season, which was broadcast in primetime due to the popularity of the first season, TV Asahi put a lot of effort into it by airing the first episode as a two-hour special,[17] but the drama struggled, partly due to the presence of a popular variety show in the background, and the average viewer ratings remained in the single digits.[18]

    On Filming the Drama

    The drama was filmed at Toei studios Kyoto in Kyoto, which is famous for its jidaigeki studios.[19] [20] Kyoto in winter is cold,[21] but because it was Sengoku period drama, Tamamori was dressed only in a kimono and barefoot. There were scenes where he had to walk around the mountains carrying a large pot on his back to serve food on the battlefield, and sometimes he had to jump into a cold river. Through these physically demanding shoots, he said, "I think I got used to the cold a little through the filming of this drama.

    In the scene where he cooks French cuisine, Tamamori himself cooked the food.[22] Tsuji Culinary Institute supervised the actual cooking for the dramatization.[23] The lead actor, Yuta Tamamori, had little cooking experience before, but this drama inspired him to start cooking.[19]

    Synopsis

    Ken, who was working as a French chef in the present (Heisei era in Japan at the time), suddenly slipped back in time to the Sengoku period one day. Moreover, he had lost most of his memory. All that remained was his knowledge of cooking and a little bit of Japanese history. While wandering around, he wanders into a battlefield where soldiers are fighting. While on the run, he meets Natsu, a woman dressed as a man who works alone as a sword smith. Ken cooks with ingredients from the Sengoku period, relying only on his culinary memory. Eventually, Ken meets the legendary warlord Oda Nobunaga and begins serving as his personal chef. Ken survives the difficult situation with his culinary skills. Every time Ken picks up a knife and delivers the signature line, "I'm coming! The cuisine of Sengoku period !"[24]

    Main Characters

    Ken by Yuta Tamamori (Kis-My-Ft2)[25]
  • Protagonist of the drama. He was a French chef in modern times (Heisei era at that time). He went back in time to Sengoku period and lost much of his memory. He was assigned to serve Oda Nobunaga as a chef and served French cuisine to Nobunaga.
    Oda Nobunaga by Mitsuhiro Oikawa[26]
  • Another protagonist of the drama. Ruthless and cruel, but at the same time innovative and rational. He likes new things and shows interest in Ken's cuisine.
    Natsu by Mirai Shida[27]
  • Heroine. A sword smith. She lost her family in the war and is left alone. She wears men's clothes. She has feelings for Ken.
    Toyotomi Hideyoshi by Gori (comedian)
  • He is in the service of Nobunaga. When he sees Ken's cooking, he suspects him of being a Portuguese spy.
    Kaede by Sei Ashina
  • A kunoichi (female ninja) under Nobunaga.
    Kennyo by Ichikawa Ennosuke IV[28]
  • A priest of Jōdo Shinshū. He is an enemy of Nobunaga and fights with him for a long time.
    Yoko by Yuu Kashii[29]
  • A mysterious woman who serves under Kennyo. She is actually a time-traveling pastry chef from the present day and Ken's former lover.

    Episodes

    Season 1 (2013)

    TitleOriginal air date
    1January 11, 2013[30]
    2January 18, 2013[31]
    3January 25, 2013[32]
    4February 1, 2013[33]
    5February 8, 2013[34]
    6February 15, 2013[35]
    7February 22, 2013[36]
    8March 1, 2013[37]
    9March 15, 2013[38]
    Average Rating 10.8%[39] (Ratings are for the Kantō region, according to Video Research).

    Season 2 (2014)

    TitleOriginal air date
    1July 10, 2014[40]
    2July 17, 2014[41]
    3July 24, 2014[42]
    4July 31, 2014[43]
    5August 7, 2014[44]
    6August 14, 2014[45]
    7August 28, 2014[46]
    8September 4, 2014[47]
    Average Rating 7.3%[48] (Ratings are for the Kantō region, according to Video Research).

    Release

    Season one aired from January 11 to March 15, 2013. The series aired every Friday from 23:15 to 0:15 on TV Asahi's "Friday Night Drama". Season two aired every Thursday from July 10 to September 4, 2014 from 19:58 to 20:54 on TV Asahi.

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Nobunaga no Chef Manga Gets Live-Action Drama. 2012-11-13. 2012-11-15. Anime News Network.
    2. Web site: 「信長のシェフ」ドラマ化、キスマイ玉森裕太が料理人に . mynavi . 2024-05-25 . Japanese . 2012-11-14.
    3. Web site: 信長のシェフ：13年の連載に幕　テレビドラマも話題になった戦国グルメマンガ . mantan . 2024-05-19 . Japanese . 2024-03-29.
    4. Web site: Japanese Comic Ranking, January 14–20 . January 23, 2013 . Anime News Network . May 10, 2015.
    5. Web site: Japanese Comic Ranking, October 14–20 . October 23, 2013 . Anime News Network . May 10, 2015.
    6. Web site: Japanese Comic Ranking, February 17–23 . February 27, 2014 . Anime News Network . May 10, 2015.
    7. Web site: Japanese Comic Ranking, July 7–13 . July 16, 2014 . Anime News Network . May 10, 2015.
    8. Web site: Japanese Comic Ranking, February 16–22 . February 25, 2015 . Anime News Network . May 10, 2015.
    9. Web site: Akira's Katsuhiro Otomo Nominated Again for Angoulême's Top Prize . January 12, 2015 . Anime News Network . May 10, 2015.
    10. Web site: http://houbunsha.co.jp/comics/detail.php?current=3&p=%BF%AE%C4%B9%A4%CE%A5%B7%A5%A7%A5%D5 . ja:信長のシェフ漫画の殿堂 . 3 . Houbunsha . May 10, 2015 . Japanese.
    11. Web site: http://houbunsha.co.jp/comics/detail.php?current=2&p=%BF%AE%C4%B9%A4%CE%A5%B7%A5%A7%A5%D5 . ja:信長のシェフ漫画の殿堂 . 2 . Houbunsha . May 10, 2015 . Japanese.
    12. Web site: http://houbunsha.co.jp/comics/detail.php?current=1&p=%BF%AE%C4%B9%A4%CE%A5%B7%A5%A7%A5%D5 . ja:信長のシェフ漫画の殿堂 . 1 . Houbunsha . May 10, 2015 . Japanese.
    13. Web site: キスマイ玉森：戦国シェフ役で連ドラ単独初主演　信長にミッチー . mantan . 2024-05-17 . Japanese . 2012-11-14.
    14. Web site: キスマイ玉森『信長のシェフ』最終回11.0% 全9回の平均10.9% . oricon . Japanese . 2013-03-18.
    15. Web site: キスマイ玉森主演『信長のシェフ』下克上達成! 7月よりゴールデン進出 . oricon . 2024-05-17 . Japanese . 2014-05-13.
    16. Web site: キスマイ玉森主演『信長のシェフ』7月からゴールデン　佐々木希は謎の女料理人で参戦 . crankin . 2024-05-16 . Japanese . 2014-05-13.
    17. Web site: キスマイ玉森の“ゴールデン”料理に信長ミッチー「美味じゃ！」 . eiga.com . 2024-05-19 . Japanese . 2014-06-17.
    18. Web site: 【週刊テレビ時評】テレ朝の大誤算となった玉森裕太主演「信長のシェフ」 . exite . 2024-05-19 . Japanese . 2014-09-09.
    19. Web site: キスマイ玉森：太秦でフレンチ料理の腕前披露　ミッチー絶賛 . mantan . 2024-05-25 . Japanese . 2013-01-08.
    20. Web site: Hi! TV Asahi . TV Asahi . 2024-05-25 . Japanese . 2013-07-20.
    21. Web site: Visiting Kyoto in Winter: What to Pack and Wear to Avoid Becoming Chilled to the Bone! . Live Japan perfect guide . 2024-05-25 . Japanese . 2020-11-09.
    22. Web site: キスマイ玉森、初主演『信長のシェフ』撮了に感涙 . oricon . Japanese . 2013-02-28.
    23. Web site: 【信長のシェフ】記者発表編 . tsuji.ac.jp . Tsuji Culinary Institute . 2024-05-25 . Japanese . 2013-01-09.
    24. Web site: 玉森裕太が包丁を見つめ…『信長のシェフ』的演出に視聴者歓喜「でた、戦国のキュイジーヌ！」 . TVer plus . 2024-05-17 . Japanese . 2017-11-04.
    25. Web site: キスマイ玉森、織田信長墓参「一段と身の引き締まる思い」 . oricon . 2024-05-19 . Japanese . 2014-06-29.
    26. Web site: キスマイ玉森、スゴ腕料理人役で連ドラ単独初主演 信長役で及川光博が初共演 . oricon . 2024-05-19 . Japanese . 2012-11-14.
    27. Web site: 志田未来、真夏の京都で時代劇「こまめな水分補給」で乗り切る . oricon . 2024-05-19 . Japanese . 2014-07-31.
    28. Web site: 四代目猿之助、襲名後初の地上波ドラマ 『信長のシェフ』で信長宿敵役 . oricon . 2024-05-19 . Japanese . 2013-02-08.
    29. Web site: 香椎由宇：連ドラ時代劇初出演　キスマイ玉森主演の「信長のシェフ」で“謎の女”に . mantan . 2024-05-20 . Japanese . 2012-12-08.
    30. Web site: 第1話 予告[2013年1月11日放送] ]. TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091416/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga_01/story/0001/ . 2015-05-18 . dead .
    31. Web site: 第2話 予告[2013年1月18日放送] ]. TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091326/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga_01/story/0002/ . 2015-05-18 . dead .
    32. Web site: 第3話 予告[2013年1月25日放送] ]. TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091231/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga_01/story/0003/ . 2015-05-18 . dead .
    33. Web site: 第4話 予告[2013年2月1日放送] ]. TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091321/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga_01/story/0004/ . 2015-05-18 . dead .
    34. Web site: 第5話 予告[2013年2月8日放送] ]. TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091329/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga_01/story/0005/ . 2015-05-18 . dead .
    35. Web site: 第6話 予告[2013年2月15日放送] ]. TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150507092548/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga_01/story/0006/ . 2015-05-07 . dead .
    36. Web site: 第7話 予告[2013年2月22日放送] ]. TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091424/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga_01/story/0007/ . 2015-05-18 . dead .
    37. Web site: 第8話 予告[2013年3月1日放送] ]. TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091456/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga_01/story/0008/ . 2015-05-18 . dead .
    38. Web site: 第9話 予告[2013年3月15日放送] ]. TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091456/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga_01/story/0008/ . 2015-05-18 . dead .
    39. Web site: キスマイ玉森裕太主演「信長のシェフ」　最終回11・０％　深夜枠でヒット！ . sponichi . 2024-05-19 . Japanese . 2013-03-18.
    40. Web site: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0001/ . ja:第1話 [2014年7月10日放送] . TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20150509012744/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0001/ . 2015-05-09 . dead .
    41. Web site: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0002/ . ja:第2話 [2014年7月17日放送] . TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20150507170302/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0002/ . 2015-05-07 . dead .
    42. Web site: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0003/ . ja:第3話 [2014年7月24日放送] . TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20150507092928/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0003/ . 2015-05-07 . dead .
    43. Web site: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0004/ . ja:第4話 [2014年7月31日放送] . TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20150510044451/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0004/ . 2015-05-10 . dead .
    44. Web site: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0005/ . ja:第5話 [2014年8月7日放送] . TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20150510121011/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0005/ . 2015-05-10 . dead .
    45. Web site: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0006/ . ja:第6話 [2014年8月14日放送] . TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20150511092309/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0006/ . 2015-05-11 . dead .
    46. Web site: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0007/ . ja:第7話 [2014年8月28日放送] . TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20150507183615/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0007/ . 2015-05-07 . dead .
    47. Web site: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0008/ . ja:第8話 [2014年9月4日放送] . TV Asahi . May 10, 2015 . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20150507165146/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nobunaga/story/0008/ . 2015-05-07 . dead .
    48. Web site: 【週刊テレビ時評】テレ朝の大誤算となった玉森裕太主演「信長のシェフ」 . exite . 2024-05-19 . Japanese . 2014-09-09.

    This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "The Knife and the Sword".

    Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.