A Tale of Samurai Cookin: a True Love Story - CinemAsia

Not all samurai wield swords. As the heir to a distinguished line of chefs in Kaga (now Ishikawa prefecture), Yasunobu Funaki (Kengo Kora, Shoplifters, Shin Gojira) reluctantly wields a kitchen knife. The prideful samurai, however, shows no talent in gastronomy until he marries a headstrong wife (Aya Ueto, Azumi, Hanzawa Naoki) who teaches him the art of cooking. While a political revolt brews around him, Yasunobu must save his lord and clan by designing a banquet to manifest the splendor of Edo’s richest domain, while sending subtle messages of loyalty to the shogun.

Selected for Berlin and San Sebastian Film Festivals, this alternative samurai tale is a tasteful marriage of historical drama and culinary cinema. Written by Abacus and Sword screenwriter Michio Kashiwada, the warmly understated drama challenges the traditional samurai construct and gender roles while serving up dish after dish of sumptuous cuisine based on recipes left by the Funaki family.