Wikipedia

The Knife and the Sword

The Knife and the Sword (Japanese: 信長のシェフ, Hepburn: Nobunaga no Shefu) 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]

The Knife and the Sword
Cover of the first manga volume
信長のシェフ
(Nobunaga no Shefu)
GenreHistorical
Manga
Written byMitsuru Nishimura
Illustrated byTakuro Kajikawa
Published byHoubunsha
MagazineWeekly Manga Times
DemographicSeinen
Original runMarch 2011 – April 2024
Volumes37

Plot

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A young chef named Ken (ケン) 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 Natsu (夏), a young blacksmith girl. Because of his cooking abilities, Ken is soon recruited as personal chef of Oda Nobunaga.

Characters

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The present day (Heisei era)

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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.

Sengoku period and Azuchi–Momoyama period

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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

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Book release information

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  1. August 9, 2011, ISBN 978-4-8322-3261-7[10]
  2. October 14, 2011, ISBN 978-4-8322-3269-3[10]
  3. February 16, 2012, ISBN 978-4-8322-3283-9[11]
  4. June 16, 2012, ISBN 978-4-8322-3301-0[11]
  5. October 16, 2012, ISBN 978-4-8322-3325-6[11]
  6. January 16, 2013, ISBN 978-4-8322-3338-6[11]
  7. June 15, 2013, ISBN 978-4-8322-3358-4[11]
  8. October 16, 2013, ISBN 978-4-8322-3376-8[12]
  9. February 15, 2014, ISBN 978-4-8322-3392-8[12]
  10. July 8, 2014, ISBN 978-4-8322-3408-6[12]
  11. October 16, 2014, ISBN 978-4-8322-3421-5[12]
  12. February 16, 2015, ISBN 978-4-8322-3439-0[12]
  13. July 16, 2015, ISBN 978-4-8322-3458-1[12]
  14. November 16, 2015, ISBN 978-4-8322-3476-5
  15. April 16, 2016, ISBN 978-4-8322-3494-9
  16. August 16, 2016, ISBN 978-4-8322-3512-0
  17. December 16, 2016, ISBN 978-4-8322-3527-4
  18. April 14, 2017, ISBN 978-4-8322-3542-7
  19. August 16, 2017, ISBN 978-4-8322-3559-5
  20. December 15, 2017, ISBN 978-4-8322-3584-7
  21. May 16, 2018, ISBN 978-4-8322-3609-7
  22. September 14, 2018, ISBN 978-4-8322-3629-5
  23. January 16, 2019, ISBN 978-4-8322-3653-0
  24. June 13, 2019, ISBN 978-4-8322-3677-6
  25. October 16, 2019, ISBN 978-4-8322-3696-7
  26. March 16, 2020, ISBN 978-4-8322-3723-0
  27. July 16, 2020, ISBN 978-4-8322-3754-4
  28. November 16, 2020, ISBN 978-4-8322-3779-7
  29. April 15, 2021, ISBN 978-4-8322-3817-6
  30. September 16, 2021, ISBN 978-4-8322-3855-8
  31. February 16, 2022, ISBN 978-4-8322-3892-3
  32. July 14, 2022, ISBN 978-4-8322-3928-9
  33. November 16, 2022, ISBN 978-4-8322-3952-4
  34. March 16, 2023, ISBN 978-4-8322-3975-3
  35. July 13, 2023, ISBN 978-4-8322-0309-9
  36. December 14, 2023, ISBN 978-4-8322-0349-5
  37. May 16, 2024, ISBN 978-4-8322-0401-0

Television drama

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The Knife and the Sword
 
Japanese信長のシェフ
Genre
Written byMasaki Fukasawa
Directed byRyōsuke Kanesaki
Starring
Narrated by
  • Ryoko Kinomiya (season 1)
  • Rumi Sugimoto (season 2)
Music byYoshihiro Ike
Ending theme
Country of originJapan
Original languageJapanese
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes17
Production
Executive producerIkuei Yokochi
Producers
Production companies
Original release
NetworkTV Asahi
ReleaseJanuary 11, 2013 (2013-01-11) –
September 4, 2014 (2014-09-04)

The nine-episode first season of the drama was broadcast on TV Asahi between January 11, to March 15, 2013.[13][14] A second season, consisting of eight episodes, aired also on the same network from July 10, to September 4, 2014.[15][16] This is Tamamori's first starring role in a drama series and his first period drama in the "Friday Night Drama" slot.[17]

The average viewer rating for season one exceeded 10%.[18] This was rare for a late-night broadcast slot. This led to the decision to air Season 2 and its broadcast in prime time.[19][20]

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,[21] but the drama struggled, partly due to the presence of a popular variety show in the background,[22] and the average viewer ratings remained in the single digits.[22]

Development

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The drama was filmed at Toei studios Kyoto in Kyoto, which is famous for its jidaigeki studios.[23][24] Kyoto in winter is cold,[25] 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.[26] Through these physically demanding shoots, he said, "I think I got used to the cold a little through the filming of this drama.[26]

In the scene where he cooks French cuisine, Tamamori himself cooked the food.[26] Tsuji Culinary Institute supervised the actual cooking for the dramatization.[27] The lead actor, Yuta Tamamori, had little cooking experience before, but this drama inspired him to start cooking.[23]

Synopsis

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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 !"[28]

Main characters

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Ken by Yuta Tamamori (Kis-My-Ft2)[29]
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[30]
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[31]
Heroine. A bladesmith. 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
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[32]
A priest of Jōdo Shinshū. He is an enemy of Nobunaga and fights with him for a long time.
Yoko by Yuu Kashii[33]
A mysterious woman who serves under Kennyo. She is actually a time-traveling pastry chef from the present day and Ken's former lover.
Mori Ranmaru by Ren Nagase[34]
A boy in service to Nobunaga.

Episodes

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Season 1 (2013)

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# Title Original air date
1 Heisei era chefs go back in time to Sengoku Period! (平成のシェフが戦国時代にタイムスリップ!?) January 11, 2013[13]
2 Heisei era chef on the battlefield! Sneaking into the enemy's kitchen (平成のシェフが戦場に! 敵の台所に潜入) January 18, 2013[35]
3 Teriyaki Rebellion! Shogun Chef vs. Heisei Chef (テリヤキの乱!! 将軍VS平成のシェフ) January 25, 2013[36]
4 Ieyasu's betrayal! Save Nobunaga's crisis with tempura! (家康の裏切り!? 信長の危機を天ぷらで救え) February 1, 2013[37]
5 Heisei era chef becomes a spy! Assassinate Nobunaga's sister! (平成のシェフがスパイに!! 信長の妹を暗殺せよ!?) February 8, 2013[38]
6 Win the Battle of Anegawa with Yakiniku! The deadliest enemy has appeared! (姉川の戦いを焼肉で勝利せよ! 最凶の敵登場!!) February 15, 2013[39]
7 Honnō-ji Incident...A conspiracy between Mitsuhide Akechi and his Heisei lover! (本能寺の変…明智光秀と平成の恋人の陰謀!?) February 22, 2013[40]
8 Final Chapter "Death of the Beloved! Farewell Dinner is Chocolate Cooking" (最終章「最愛の人死す! 別れのディナーはチョコ料理」) March 1, 2013[41]
9 "Culinary showdown of destiny! Can they return to the Heisei era?" (運命の料理対決! 平成に帰れるのか!?) March 15, 2013[14]
Average Rating 10.8%[42] (Ratings are for the Kantō region, according to Video Research).

Season 2 (2014)

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# Title Original air date
1 "Heisei French Chef Goes to the Warring States! Stop the assassination of Nobunaga Oda!" (平成のフレンチシェフが戦国へ!? 織田信長暗殺を阻止せよ) July 10, 2014[15]
2 "The truth about the burning of Hieizan...Heisei Gourmet moves history!" (比叡山焼き討ちの真実…平成グルメが歴史を動かす!?) July 17, 2014[43]
3 "Nobunaga's chef is kidnapped! Shingen Takeda is furious at Heisei Gourmet!" (信長のシェフ誘拐される! 武田信玄が平成グルメに激怒!?) July 24, 2014[44]
4 The chef of Heisei poisoned Takeda Shingen!" (平成の料理人が武田信玄を毒殺!?) July 31, 2014[45]
5 Farewell, Takeda Shingen...the last supper! (さらば武田信玄…最後の晩餐!!) August 7, 2014[46]
6 "Tokugawa Ieyasu: The Greatest Crisis! Heisei Soup to the Rescue!" (家康 最大の危機! 平成のスープで救え) August 14, 2014[47]
7 Final Chapter! Topple the Muromachi Shogunate with gourmet food! (最終章! 食わず嫌いグルメで室町幕府を倒せ!!) August 28, 2014[48]
8 Farewell Heisei Chef! Save Oichi with the food of your memories! (さらば平成のシェフ! 思い出の料理でお市を救え!!) September 4, 2014[16]
Average Rating 7.3%[49] (Ratings are for the Kantō region, according to Video Research).

Release

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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.

References

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  1. ^ "Nobunaga no Chef Manga Gets Live-Action Drama". Anime News Network. 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  2. ^ "「信長のシェフ」ドラマ化、キスマイ玉森裕太が料理人に". mynavi (in Japanese). 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  3. ^ "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 (in Japanese). 2024-03-29. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
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  9. ^ "Akira's Katsuhiro Otomo Nominated Again for Angoulême's Top Prize". Anime News Network. January 12, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
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  11. ^ a b c d e 信長のシェフ漫画の殿堂 (in Japanese). Houbunsha. p. 2. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e f 信長のシェフ漫画の殿堂 (in Japanese). Houbunsha. p. 1. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
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  18. ^ "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 (in Japanese). 2013-03-18.
  19. ^ "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 (in Japanese). 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  20. ^ "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 (in Japanese). 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  21. ^ "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 (in Japanese). 2014-06-17. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  22. ^ a b "【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 (in Japanese). 2014-09-09. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  23. ^ a b "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 (in Japanese). 2013-01-08. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
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  25. ^ "Visiting Kyoto in Winter: What to Pack and Wear to Avoid Becoming Chilled to the Bone!". Live Japan perfect guide (in Japanese). 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
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  29. ^ "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 (in Japanese). 2014-06-29. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  30. ^ "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 (in Japanese). 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  31. ^ "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 (in Japanese). 2014-07-31. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  32. ^ "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 (in Japanese). 2013-02-08. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  33. ^ "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 (in Japanese). 2012-12-08. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
  34. ^ "「信長のシェフ」から『真夜中乙女戦争』まで――俳優・永瀬廉の歩みを振り返る". moviewalker (in Japanese). 2022-01-08. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  35. ^ "第2話 予告[2013年1月18日放送]". TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  36. ^ "第3話 予告[2013年1月25日放送]". TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  37. ^ "第4話 予告[2013年2月1日放送]". TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  38. ^ "第5話 予告[2013年2月8日放送]". TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  39. ^ "第6話 予告[2013年2月15日放送]". TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 2015-05-07. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  40. ^ "第7話 予告[2013年2月22日放送]". TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  41. ^ "第8話 予告[2013年3月1日放送]". TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  42. ^ "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 (in Japanese). 2013-03-18. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  43. ^ 第2話 [2014年7月17日放送] (in Japanese). TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 2015-05-07. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  44. ^ 第3話 [2014年7月24日放送] (in Japanese). TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 2015-05-07. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  45. ^ 第4話 [2014年7月31日放送] (in Japanese). TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 2015-05-10. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  46. ^ 第5話 [2014年8月7日放送] (in Japanese). TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 2015-05-10. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  47. ^ 第6話 [2014年8月14日放送] (in Japanese). TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 2015-05-11. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  48. ^ 第7話 [2014年8月28日放送] (in Japanese). TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 2015-05-07. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  49. ^ "【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 (in Japanese). 2014-09-09. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
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