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食戟のソーマ [Shokugeki no Sōma] #20

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, Vol. 20

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An action-packed, saucy food comedy featuring one boy’s determination to be top chef!

Soma Yukihira’s old man runs a small family restaurant in the less savory end of town. Aiming to one day surpass his father’s culinary prowess, Soma hones his skills day in and day out until one day, out of the blue, his father decides to enroll Soma in a classy culinary school! Can Soma really cut it in a place that prides itself on a 10 percent graduation rate? And can he convince the beautiful, domineering heiress of the school that he belongs there at all?!

Soma challenges current Council of Ten first seat Eishi Tsukasa for his seat on the council! Up against Tsukasa’s delicately refined technique, Soma highlights his own creativity with a brand-new take on traditional French cuisine. Will he win that coveted seat or lose big and join Central? Even if he does win, Soma won’t be out of the woods—not when the surviving first-years have just received notice of their biggest challenge yet!

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2016

45 people are currently reading
348 people want to read

About the author

Yūto Tsukuda

94 books125 followers
Yūto Tsukuda (附田 祐斗, Tsukuda Yūto) is a Japanese mangaka who is mostly known for his manga, Food Wars! (Shokugeki no Soma).

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5 stars
477 (43%)
4 stars
426 (39%)
3 stars
157 (14%)
2 stars
20 (1%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Profile Image for Nixi92.
311 reviews78 followers
July 22, 2022
Erina-cchi *-* La storia si sta sviluppando, anche se gli shokugeki sono ancora un po' lasciati da parte... La parte migliore è rappresentata dal racconto del passato di Erina e della sua famiglia, in particolare il suo incontro . Bello, bello, bello... Non vedo l'ora di leggere il seguito!
Profile Image for Jesus Flores.
2,569 reviews66 followers
May 19, 2024
Quisiera ponerle el rating que merece, porque la segunda parte del volumen es buena. El flashback de Erina, el que acepta comer el platillo de Soma, el entrenamiento que les da a los alumnos de la casa Polar, es muy bueno.

Pero es que no entiendo, que le pasa al autor con esa mania de poner apuestas ridículas en los shokuguekis de Soma, que hacen obvio el resultado, le quitan emoción, pues es tan obvio el resultado, y como en este caso que asi ocurre, el autor luego sale con una tonteria para zafarse del resultado. Mal muy mal.

Eso si super raro lo de que , haber si luego explican bien que onda con eso.

Que quitando lo de la apuesta ridícula, bien podría ser un volumen de 4 estrellas, pero esa tonteria bien son como -5 estrellas

Lo dejaremos en 2
Profile Image for Bookishrealm.
3,241 reviews6,432 followers
January 15, 2018
I'm so happy Erina finally was able to pull it together! The group needed someone strong like her to be able to figure out what they were supposed to be doing. I'm really interested in seeing where this manga is going to go now that we have a new challenge on the horizon. I'm also interested in figuring out how long this manga is going to be! I hope long because I'm definitely loving and enjoying each and every volume.
Profile Image for Jane.
339 reviews54 followers
August 26, 2019
Awwwww, I love how Erina is becoming... She is indeed a good person with a big heart..
Profile Image for Brandon.
2,809 reviews40 followers
September 13, 2021
The ending to the 'first seat' match is bad. The premise and stakes of the advancement exams are bizarre. As a whole this series is nose-diving in quality badly.

But.

This volume also has one of the best moments in the entire series thus far. After volumes of Azami becoming this over-the-top evil monster of an abusive father and terrible dictator, we see Erina's backstory with Soma's dad and suddenly the series has some touching moments about fatherhood, inspiration, and what it means to enjoy cooking.

I'm hoping this is the point where the series turns around, grounds itself, and pushes on with some actual cooking. But Central is still a thing and their plan is still stupid and everyone in it is so cartoonishly evil that I don't enjoy reading them. But maybe it will get better!
Profile Image for Michelle.
625 reviews89 followers
March 27, 2018
The cliffhanger of volume 19 is resolved relatively quickly here, and I personally found the conclusion to be a total cop-out. However, I still continue to love this series and am always eager to pick up the next volume. This storyline involving the evil dean isn't the best, and this volume halted the development of it, but with a new challenge introduced, it looks like things will be moving forward again. Onwards to volume 21!
Profile Image for Sophie Crane.
5,210 reviews178 followers
July 24, 2020
For some cooking is perfecting a taste. For others it's eliciting a theme or making a statement! Finally for some it's the discovery of something new. It may not be that way for everyone, but it is hard to think of something anyone is passionate about without those elements being involved. While this book not so subtly shows what drives Soma, it did so in a way that I found quite satisfying.

Now comes the question is it going to be Erina that is the someone that makes Soma want to give the best food he's ever made? Or will it be one of the others? That is not answered here.
Profile Image for Katelynn.
412 reviews4 followers
June 6, 2021
I really love this series so much, it’s informative about cooking techniques and has one or two actual recipes written out that the reader can make themselves. It also falls under the “manga/anime you wish to recommend to people but can’t” because of the excessive fan service.
This volume is no different, fan service, recipe and really pretty art. It moves the story into the next arc with the advancement exams for the 1st years.
Profile Image for Marker.
707 reviews2 followers
December 21, 2020
Este volumen lo senti un poco más lento, al principio con las competencias iba bien luego cuando fueron explicando un poco el pasado se fue calmando la cosa.
Profile Image for C.M. Chafin.
Author 1 book10 followers
June 24, 2023
Go, Erina, go!! This series is written so well. Still can’t put down and 20 volumes in!
Profile Image for Marcos “MSMDragon”.
634 reviews20 followers
June 25, 2024
It’s finally time to fight back against Central and their ridiculous policies! Cooking isn’t about perfection, it’s about creativity and passion.
Profile Image for Rod Brown.
7,347 reviews281 followers
October 22, 2017
I still like the characters in this series, but the protracted storyline about the evil dean is wearing on me. Also, nothing of consequence happens in this volume to move that storyline toward a conclusion, making me fear that it could last for many, many volumes to come.
5,870 reviews145 followers
May 3, 2020
Food Wars: Shokugeki no Sōma!, Vol. 20 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next nine chapters (164–172) of the on-going manga series with one bonus story.

The informal shokugeki between Sōma Yukihira and Eishi Tsukasa concludes. The main ingredient of the shokugeki is venison done in the French style. Erina Nakiri and Hisako Arato were furtively watching the match and inadvertently become the judges. Eishi ultimately wins, but realizes that if Sōma became his sous-chef, he wouldn’t stamp out his uniqueness and individuality.

Meanwhile Megumi Tadokoro and Ikumi Mito are fighting their own shokugeki to save their respective societies. In the end, they both manage to defeat their opponents from Central Gourmet Institute and their respective societies: "Traditional Cooking Research Society" and "Don Research Society" are allowed to continue. It has been noted that the surviving societies were all won by first year students and have many commenting on the strength of this particular year's recruitment.

The Promotion Examination event was announced. It is an examination to determine, which first years would survive to become second years student. Traditionally, the exams were taken in Hokkaidō where first year students would go from spot to spot with only passing students advancing towards the end. However, this year these exams is being took over by Central Gourmet Institute and it was blatantly designed and announced that it was to weed out the students that have their societies continuing would be booted out.

This tankōbon is written by Yūto Tsukuda and illustrated by Shun Saeki. It continues the takeover of Tōtsuki Saryo Culinary Institute by former student and dropout of Azami Nakiri from Central Culinary Institute. It introduces the next arc – the Promotion Examination in Hokkaidō. The relationship between Sōma Yukihira and Erina Nakiri is explored further as she shares her memories of Sōma's father and he encourages her to fight against her father. Erina would later encourage all remaining first year students to pass and become second year students despite how the examinations were designed.

All in all, Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Sōma, Vol. 20 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems really intriguing and I can't wait to read more.
Profile Image for Helen.
1,192 reviews
February 7, 2018
Soma very rashly agrees to a match against Eishi, Elite Ten first seat. If Soma loses, he will have to join Central. If he wins, Eishi gives up the first seat to him! From the start, we know that this isn't a real shokugeki -- there aren't an odd number of judges, nor were there any judges at all at the start. And no official is present to certify the challenge. I'm not sure why both boys agreed to it, since they surely know the rules for a shokugeki well by now. Nevertheless, the atmosphere was suspenseful -- maybe I'm just gullible, but I was like, whoa, are the writers going for some unpredictable paradigm change this way? Either Soma as first seat or Soma as a Central lackey? Or, how's he going to get out of this one?

Hisako and Erina's spying is cute and also funny. It seems quite undignified behavior for the girl who used to be Her Highness Miss Erina!

Eishi's cooking style, where he seems to be having a conversation with his ingredients and coaxing into a dish of unparalleled taste, is creative and interesting and also suited to his personality. He makes an unnerving antagonist / villain because of the contrast between his personality (timid, anxious, considerate) and the ardor with which he endorses Central's philosophy. He doesn't seem like the sort of person who'd espouse such a single-minded way of thinking, which makes that way of thinking feel more threatening -- because if such a pliable, kind, and delicate person can jump on that bandwagon, it means Central can attract any type of person, even one who seemed like an ally...and that makes them a terrifying force. Will Soma lose any people we assumed would be allies?

Also, I have to remind myself that this is a cooking manga and that probably (?) no one will die in these "wars"...they'll just get expelled and exit the culinary world in disgrace.

Erina, for the first time ever, seeks out Soma alone and shares her anecdote of how she met his father.

The stage is also set for the next story arc, the Promotion Exams.
Profile Image for Rolando Marono.
1,944 reviews19 followers
June 1, 2019
Continuamos justo con el duelo entre Soma y el primer asiento. Los resultados no se hacen esperar y no es muy sorpresivo, es evidente que el nivel de Soma es muy distinto al de su rival. Sin embargo los autores nos logran dar un giro interesante y que definitivamente les permite seguir contando la historia de la tiranía del Nakiri.
El resto del volumen aunque la historia no avanza mucho, desarrolla bastante a los personaje de Erina y Soma. Somos capaces de ser testigos de una evolución interesante entre ellos.
Sientan las bases para el siguiente arco, que parece ser un examen complicado en el que viajarán alrededor de Hokkaido.
No vemos muchos platillos nuevos ni muchos combates interesantes pero también obtenemos un poco de luz sobre la relación del pasado de Erina con el papá de Soma. Me pareció bastante extraño porque es una relación extraña pero al mismo tiempo me pareció tierno. Veamos como evoluciona la relación entre Erina y Soma, ahora que parecen aliados, se avecinan peleas increíbles.
Profile Image for Lara.
4,213 reviews346 followers
October 4, 2017
How have I made it through 20 volumes of this series without getting bored??? That never happens! Also, I know I am ridiculous for rating it 5 stars, but you know what? I don't care. I love so much about this volume--getting more of the back story on Erina and Soma's dad, Soma's contest with Tsukasa, Megumi and Nikumi kicking ass, Soma's egg tempura (omg I want that!!!), Erina's evolution of character and seeing her leading everyone into battle...so, so good!

On the other hand, there are several major foodgasms, but I consider them a small price to pay (and many would not consider them a price at all, ha) for the entertainment this series otherwise brings me. And even the foodgasms entertain me at times, I will admit, although the ones in this volume are just kind of eh.

Anyway, so looking forward to volume 21. FIVE STARS, hahahaha!
Profile Image for Wing Kee.
2,091 reviews37 followers
June 12, 2019
That was a rather crappy end to that battle.

World: The art is solid. World building is also solid with the continuation of the story and now the final exams. New pieces are in play for the story to play out.

Story: The end to the venison battle was pretty pathetic with backtracking and no consequence this is not what I expected from this series, pretty disappointing. The rest of the book however was good with large chunks of development for Erina which is pretty good.

Characters: Erina gets a huge huge chunk of development and that's great, her arc since the start of the series to now had been earned and it's fun to read. Those scenes of her and the Polaris groups is beautiful.

Really bad end to the battle and really good stuff with characters.

Onward to the next book!
3,035 reviews14 followers
February 23, 2021
The story in this volume is something I never would have imagined at the start of the series. The changes in Erina Nakiri have been a real treat, especially as her understanding of what cooking really means changes with her experiences.
That said, even her "tutoring" sessions can't be quite normal, nor can her appreciation of Soma's cooking demonstrations. The idea of her training her first-year comrades for this weird advancement series of tests is fascinating, but i have no idea how it's going to play out.
I did like the idea that some of the first-years are successfully fighting back against the "Central" cooking theories and challenges, and it's interesting to see which ones have succeeded so far.
Profile Image for Yukimaru Hatake.
661 reviews23 followers
December 9, 2019
Desde el volumen 1 hasta el volumen 30, este manga es increíble. No puedo creer la velocidad a la que lo devoré, definitivamente fue un gusto enorme encontrarme con esta historia.

Todos los volúmenes tienen un inicio y un final que te deja con muchas ganas de seguir leyendo y sobre todo, la comida, la historia, los diálogos, todo tiene un sentido y espero que todas esos platillos sean posibles en la vida real.
3,178 reviews
January 4, 2018
Soma's challenge for the First Seat concludes and he cooks for Erina.

This is a 'not much really happens' volume which is ok. It builds a little on characterization of Erina and her history with Soma's father. I'm looking forward to the next volume with the chefs taken to the cold northern regions of Japan for advanced placement exams.
Profile Image for Olivia.
1,626 reviews1 follower
January 3, 2018
This might have been the best volume thus far! I love Food Wars because I feel like I’m learning so much about cooking as I read...even if I’ll never remember these things later. This volume had the best bit of advice I’ve read in a manga in a long time. “This is just my personal opinion but, people who think there’s only one right answer...probably never go on to discover something better.”
Profile Image for DonutKnow.
3,307 reviews48 followers
October 19, 2019
Damn, I want one of those double-breasted jackets!! 😂 But also, (haha finally) I think the ideals in this series are not just about food but for giving all you’ve got in life- I have trouble with the ‘fail and learn’ idea but this is s l o w l y making me see how beneficial and vital it is in life 💪
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads).
1,627 reviews47 followers
July 27, 2018
I loved how the story threads came together in this one, and we get a better understanding of some past events. If only this series didn't continue to have those weird semi-nude "really loving food means losing your clothes" panels, it would be a lot more recommendable.
Profile Image for David.
881 reviews52 followers
November 22, 2018
Souma's shokugeki with the First Seat concludes... with something that feels somewhat like a cop-out. It's explained, but still feels like a cop-out. But the rest of the volume was great - more backstory on Erina's childhood, seeing other supporting characters shine, and the set up for the next "field trip", which is the advancement exams for the first tears, potentially spelling doom for the band of resisting students.
15 reviews
November 28, 2017
Awesome sauce!

I literally can't get enough of these. I just have to wait a little bit more for the next set.
Profile Image for Dorcas.
679 reviews17 followers
January 25, 2018
I'm really enjoying this series, along with the food descriptions and innovations, what it says about restaurant and food culture is equally as interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews

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