昨日的美食 12

きのう何食べた? [Kinō Nani Tabeta?] #12

by Fumi Yoshinaga, 吉永史, 蔡雅婷 (Translator)

　　「男人的料理是什麼？」
　　甜鹹交錯一口接一口，
　　肉菜適中罪惡感統統丟腦後。
　　從高級食材所組成的壽喜燒，
　　到剛出爐的熱騰騰蘋果口味馬芬，
　　都有著濃濃的甜蜜心意～
　　年過半百依然超受歡迎的人氣男同志史朗，
　　今晚也牢牢地抓住了男友的胃唷！

Genres: Manga, LGBT, Comics, Food, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Slice Of Life

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 2016

About the author

Japanese: よしなが ふみ

Fumi Yoshinaga (よしなが ふみ Yoshinaga Fumi, born 1971) is a Japanese manga artist known for her shōjo and shōnen-ai works.

Fumi Yoshinaga was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1971. She attended the prestigious Keio University in Tokyo.

In an interview, she said that "I want to show the people who didn't win, whose dreams didn't come true. It is not possible for everybody to get first prize. I want my readers to understand the happiness that people can get from trying hard, going through the process, and getting frustrated."

Little is known about her personal life. She mentions that her favourite operas are those by Mozart in the author's note of Solfege.

She debuted in 1994 with The Moon and the Sandals, serialized in Hanaoto magazine, but was previously a participant in comic markets.

Of Yoshinaga's many works, several have been licensed internationally. She was also selected and exhibited as one of the "Twenty Major Manga artist Who Contributed to the World of Shōjo Manga (World War II to Present)" for Professor Masami Toku's exhibition, "Shōjo Manga: Girl Power!" at CSU-Chico.

Outside of her work with Japanese publishers, she also self-publishes original doujinshi on a regular basis, most notably for Antique Bakery. Yoshinaga has also drawn fan parodies of Slam Dunk, Rose of Versailles, and Legend of Galactic Heroes.

Reviews

[Eressea · Rating 5 out of 5]

20220630 2nd read
--
20191223 1st read
新秘書讀心術超強啊

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fumi Yoshinaga, and this series in particular, always gives me something to think about, and this book is no exception:

She's right. Americans are kind of obsessed with baking powder.

I can't imagine ever having leftover baking powder to worry about the way Shiro does in this volume (and a previous one), or wondering what I could possibly use it for. Probably we just eat more baked foods (or make more at home), but as I add four teaspoons of baking powder to my chocolate buttermilk cake later today, I will think of Shiro and his baking powder dilemma.

[Bee (BacchusVines) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relaxing read is relaxing c:

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great volume, this one was (kind of) action-packed! Kenji and Shiro are the best. I want to try making the apple muffins and the sweet potato rice recipes.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've rated every other volume of this series 4-stars because, despite the lack of plot, this manga series so enjoyable to read. There's something almost therapeutic about reading chapter after chapter of people making food. You almost feel like you, the reader, are hanging out with these people and sharing their meal with them, creating a sense of intimacy, almost like you actually know them yourself.

However, and the reason why I docked a star from my usual 4-star rating, is that this series has a weird stance on cheating.

1. The hair stylist who runs the salon that Ken works at is constantly cheating on his wife. All the staff are aware, and when Ken talks about it, he does so in these very casual and blasé way. I mean, I understand not getting caught up in someone else's marital affairs, but this character's actions are almost framed like a joke?? "Hahaha, there he goes cheating with some young thing again" is kind of the tone adopted with this character and it really rubs me the wrong way.

2. Shiro has a moment with Konihita when they go out for lunch in one chapter. Konihita mentions that he's tired of dating Gilbert and then holds Shiro's hand. Shiro interprets the gesture as a come-on (and then ascertains that it is) and then mentally has an argument with himself about how he shouldn't cheat on Ken with Konihita even though he REALLYYY wants to. Konihita and Shiro both decide that it would upset their partners too much if they went through with it. Shiro contemplates at the end of the chapter that if the proposition had come 10 years earlier, he likely would've accepted it without hesitation. Again, this situation seems to be played for laughs and I don't get it!? Cheating isn't funny, even if the other person ultimately doesn't follow through.

I still love this series and I will continue to read it, but I couldn't ignore how Yoshinaga occasionally uses characters cheating as some kind of joke/gag.

[Mauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the chapters dealing with Shino trying to get another admin hired - both from her perspective of not wanting to leave the office in the lurch if she gets pregnant and how the office handles the "risk" of taking on the eventual newbie, a mother who can only work part time because she can't find childcare for her youngest.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, but never read it when you're hungry!

[Loz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continued quality. Queer stuff, cookery, mild shenanigans. Perfect for me!

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This manga is about food, and yet it is about MORE than food. I enjoy the subtle plots about a gay couple and their life, the simplicity of the joy they find together when sharing a meal, and how food is at the centre of their life and they use food to show friends and family that they love them. Important moments happen over food, but food is also central to the humble everyday.

This couple show their love through food, so when Konihita tries to broach cheating in a restaurant, I just couldn't understand it, and I couldn't fathom why Shiro would even CONSIDER cheating. At no moment was there ever a suggestion that their relationship had gotten to a place where they were unhappy, so why did Shiro even contemplate cheating on Kenji? It was confusing, and really weakened the strong bond I thought those characters had in their relationship. It was out of place, and the fact that cheating was handled so lightly, a little worrying. Disappointing volume and a shame, as I love this series.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume was a bit of a grab bag of almost random events that may not all have been connected to one another but were still fun as a whole. The little changes at Shiro's workplace may prove interesting in the long-term while Kenji's job scope has expanded beyond the salon, in a manner of speaking.

But man, I'm still impressed at how long this manga has lasted with its focus on food. The new recipes per book continue to be interesting in their own right. The fact that each issue clearly highlights what's on the menu and the preview of the next issue also includes this rundown, it's clear that the book remains highly committed to this aspect of the writing.

No complaints there, certainly.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, nothing really major happens in this one, except for Shiro deciding not to CHEAT ON KEN WITH KOHINATA!!! It also contains a number of moments I loved, like Kenji's hair rage and getting to see his family, Kayoko and Shiro and Kohinata all cooking together and the return of the baking powder, and Tabuchi's and Wataru's total ridiculousness. And there's also an interesting development right at the end that might make things interesting for Shiro at work. Not the best volume, but definitely not the worst either, and I'm glad we finally got this one in at the library!

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't tell if I'm genuinely more into this series now, or it it's some kind of Stockholm Syndrome because I've committed to getting through all 20 volumes.

- tried the sweet potato rice, 5 stars for that alone
- confused by the reviews that are mad that Shiro thought about cheating - Shiro and Kenji have a strong relationship, but it was established from early on that Shiro thinks his friend is hot and that both Shiro and Kenji have cheated on boyfriends in the past, so it's not OOC

[Rebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this didn’t have the character development we’ve seen in some other volumes, it was vastly better than the previous one. Having some new characters and things come up in their lives helped. There was some sweetness and some great moments that made me laugh out loud with enjoyment, so I’ll take that as a win.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty slow volume but it was still nice to finally reconnect with these characters that I missed. Hopefully it doesn't take as long to get the next one because it seems like it might be more interesting!

[Miss Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

this kind of made me want to eat vegetables? alas, i have none on hand. maybe i should take it with me when i grocery shop wednesday for inspiration

3.5 stars

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's more plot in here than I remember from other books, but the recipes look good too! I want to try the rice with sweet potatoes.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some really funny moments in this volume and some interesting recipes.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and will be so sad to be at the end soon!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

:)

[Jillian -always aspiring- · Rating 3 out of 5]

The other characters can be more interesting than the leads at this point...

[小さな N (.❛ ᴗ ❛.)⊃ [_|_] ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[鯊 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made single-serve sukiyaki from this recipe.

[Carina Stopenski · Rating 4 out of 5]

headcanon: shiro is autistic lol

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, this volume made me so hungry.

Contrasted with the first volume, the characters, relationships, and drawing style have become so much more detailed and yet softer and more inviting. It's still a little frustrating how shallow Shiro can be, but I actually appreciate the consistency in his character. Even as he gets more relaxed with Kenji and his sexuality, Kenji has matured and started thinking more about the future and his career, and I love seeing these effects that they have on each other after so many years together.