Curiosities about Shokugeki no Souma

Shokugeki no Souma (食戟のソーマ) is a cooking manga written by Yuto Tsukuda and illustrated by Shun Saeki. Its great hallmark is that it conveys emotion and fighting spirit – so much so that it became one of the cornerstones of Shonen Jump. Shokugeki no Souma became so popular that it received more than three anime seasons and a light novel adaptation.

The work tells the story of a young man named Yukihira who has to attend an elite culinary school, does things his own way, and constantly faces the impossible. The series is genuinely indescribable – I never imagined a simple cooking anime, with a touch of ecchi and plenty of over-the-top moments, could be this good.

In this article, we will look at some secrets, easter eggs, and curiosities about Shokugeki no Souma (Food Wars!). Keep in mind that this article may contain spoilers. P. S.: Did you notice that the level of ecchi dropped significantly in the second and third seasons?

Curiosities about Shokugeki no Souma

Shokugeki (食戟) appears in the title of the anime and in the academy battles, but its kanji do not literally mean "food war". The first kanji (食) means "food" and the second (戟) is a halberd or a type of Chinese spear. The character (戟) is also used in words that refer to wars and sword fights.

In the first season of the anime, more than 70 different dishes were prepared. There is even an official Shokugeki no Souma recipe book, and some of those recipes can be found on our site.

Have you ever wondered why Shokugeki no Souma has such exaggerated ecchi moments? It is likely because the manga's illustrator, Shun Saeki, has also worked on hentai titles. The series also benefits from the collaboration of Yuki Morisaki, a model and culinary chef who is responsible for the recipes shown in the story.

In the original one-shot of Shokugeki no Souma, the protagonist has shorter black hair. There is a spin-off manga focusing on Shinomiya Kojiro, titled Shokugeki no Souma L'étoile. Another release related to the series was a limited drama CD bundled with volume 11.

The dishes shown in the anime are all developed in collaboration with professional chefs. The production team worked with culinary experts to ensure the recipes stay realistic, even though the characters' reactions to them are often wildly exaggerated.

Another easter egg: many characters carry kitchen knives from the same real-world brands favored by professional chefs. The authors' attention to detail is also visible in the precise descriptions of ingredients and cooking times throughout the series.

The opening themes of each season are performed by well-known Japanese bands and artists. The first season's opening, "Kibou no Uta" by Nano.Ripe, remains an all-time favorite among fans.

One last tip: if you have not watched the series yet, consider starting with the manga. The story goes far beyond what the anime covered and offers a surprisingly satisfying conclusion.

Have you discovered any other curiosities about Shokugeki no Souma? Feel free to share them in the comments! We also welcome your feedback on this article.