Cooking Papa: A touching story about cooking and family ties

Cooking Papa: The charm of a cooking anime that depicts the warmth of family life

Overview

"Cooking Papa" is a TV anime series that aired from 1992 to 1995, based on a popular manga by Ueyama Tochi that was serialized in Kodansha's "Weekly Morning". It consisted of 147 episodes (including 9 one-hour specials) and aired on ABC/TV Asahi every Wednesday from 18:15 to 18:45. It was directed by Tsunoda Toshitaka, produced by ABC/ASATSU/Eiken, and animated by Sunshine Corporation. The copyright belongs to Ueyama Tochi/Kodansha/Eiken.

■ Story

Arai Kazumi, who works in the second sales division of Kanamaru Industries, is an imposing, large-sized businessman who is highly trusted by his superiors and subordinates. On the other hand, he is also a kind husband and father who supports his busy wife, a newspaper reporter, and takes care of their two children. But Kazumi's special skill is cooking! His knowledge of food from all over the world, past and present, his skills in making it, and above all, his warm love for the people who eat his food, drive Kazumi to show off his skills today as well...!!

■Explanation

"Cooking Papa" is an anime adaptation of a popular series that has been running in Kodansha's "Morning" magazine since 1985. It is a work that pioneered a new genre by incorporating "cooking how-to" into the family drama that Eiken excels at. The characters, including the protagonist Arai Kazumi, cook and enjoy food in their daily lives, at home, at work, in the neighborhood, at school, and elsewhere. What is distinctive about the series is that it does not compete over the luxury of ingredients or cooking skills, but rather depicts "food" that is close to people's daily lives and hearts.

■Cast

• Araiwa Kazumi/Genda Tesshō
• Rainbow Arai/Masako Katsuo
• Makoto Araiwa, Miyuki Araiwa/Minami Takayama
• Yumeko Kimura/Yumi Touma
• Hajime Tanaka/Nobuo Tobita
• Mitsugu / Kyoko Tonmiya, Yuko Maruyama
• Etsuko/Akiko Yajima
• Sanae / Mika Kanai
• Cook / Atsuko Mine

■ Main staff

• Original story by Ueyama Tochi (serialized in Kodansha's "Weekly Morning")
• Director: Toshitaka Tsunoda
• Screenplay by Shunichi Yukimuro and Hiroyuki Hoshiyama
• Character design and chief animation director: Hirohide Shikishima
• Art Director: Katsuyoshi Kanemura
• Music by Toshihiko Sahashi

■ Main Characters

• Arai Kazumi is a professional-level cook and loves to cook and eat.
• Wife of Arai Nijiko and her gang. A career woman, she's completely useless at housework.
• Makoto Araiwa The eldest son of the Araiwa family, he is honest and kindhearted. He respects his father.
• Miyuki Araiwa The eldest daughter of the Araiwa family. A cheerful girl with a bright personality.
• Katsuyo Yoshioka: A heroine who raised the gang on her own. She is remarried to Yoshioka.
• Katsuyo Yoshioka's husband. A gentle and extremely kind-hearted doctor.
• Kimura Yumeko: An office lady at Kanamaru Industries who secretly has feelings for the gang.
• A subordinate of Tanaka Kazuichi's gang. He's a fun-loving guy who is always late.

■ Theme songs and music

• OP
  "Happy² Dance"
  Lyrics by Yukinojo Mori Composition by Takeshi Ike Arrangement by Katsunori Ishida Vocals by YASU
• ED1
  "Daddy knows everything"
  Lyrics by Yukinojo Mori Composition by Takeshi Ike Arrangement by Katsunori Ishida Vocals by Mari Sasaki
• ED2
  "HANDS"
  Lyrics by Keiko Kimoto Music by Masaya Ozeki Arrangement by Takayuki Negishi Vocals by Yukiyo Hanaoka

■ Detailed evaluation and analysis

"Cooking Papa" is a work that provides viewers with a comfortable sense of relaxation by depicting the warmth of family life and the small joys of everyday life. Below, we will provide a detailed evaluation and analysis of the story, characters, music, production background, etc.

story

The story of "Cooking Papa" depicts the story of an office worker named Arai Kazumi, who balances work and family life while deepening bonds with his family and those around him through cooking. Ichimi's cooking is not just a meal, but a way to deepen family bonds, and viewers are moved by the scenes in which his heartfelt cooking brings smiles to the faces of his family members. Ichimi's cooking is also diverse, and many of the recipes introduced are ones that viewers will want to try out for themselves. This allows viewers to incorporate Ichimi's cooking into their own lives, allowing them to become more immersed in the show.

character

The main character, Araiwa Kazumi, is a character who stands out not only for his cooking skills, but also for his kindness and consideration towards his family and colleagues. His passion for cooking and love for his family resonate with viewers. His wife, Nijiko, and his children, Makoto and Miyuki, are also portrayed as unique and attractive characters. Nijiko in particular has both a career woman side and a weakness for housework, reflecting the real concerns of modern women. Furthermore, his colleagues at work and neighbors are also unique and portrayed as familiar characters for viewers.

music

The music for "Cooking Papa" was written by Toshihiko Sahashi, and many of the songs are perfect for expressing the warmth of family life and the joy of cooking. The opening theme "Happy² Dance" in particular has a bright and cheerful melody that lifts the mood of the viewers. The ending themes "Papa Knows Everything" and "HANDS" are also fitting songs that express the love and bond the crew has with their families. These pieces of music are important elements that further enhance the appeal of the story and characters.

Background

"Cooking Papa" is a popular manga that has been serialized for a long time, and its anime adaptation was eagerly awaited by many fans. Eiken excels at home dramas, and he used that know-how to create "Cooking Papa." In addition, by incorporating cooking how-to's, he pioneered a new genre and offered viewers a fresh perspective. The talents of the staff, including director Toshitaka Kakuta, screenwriters Shunichi Yukimuro and Hiroyuki Hoshiyama, and character designer Hirohide Shikishima, are also highly praised.

■Reasons for recommendation

"Cooking Papa" is a work that provides viewers with a comfortable sense of peace by depicting the warmth of family life and the small joys of everyday life. Viewers are moved by the sight of the gang deepening their bonds with their family and those around them through cooking. In addition, the wide variety of recipes introduced makes viewers want to try them out for themselves. Furthermore, the unique characters and music that expresses the warmth of family life also add to the appeal of the work. These elements make "Cooking Papa" a perfect anime to enjoy with the family, and we recommend it to anyone who loves cooking or home dramas.

Related information

The original manga of "Cooking Papa" is still being serialized, and it has a large fan base. It has also been made into an anime, a movie, and a TV drama, so it can be enjoyed in a variety of media. In addition, books that compile recipes have been published, allowing viewers to actually try the dishes. By utilizing this related information, you can enjoy the world of "Cooking Papa" even more deeply.

Conclusion

"Cooking Papa" is a work that provides viewers with a comfortable sense of peace by depicting the warmth of family life and the small joys of everyday life. Viewers are moved by the sight of the crew deepening their bonds with their family and those around them through cooking. In addition, the wide variety of recipes introduced makes viewers want to try them out for themselves. Furthermore, the unique characters and music that expresses the warmth of family life also add to the appeal of the work. These elements make "Cooking Papa" a perfect anime to enjoy with the family, and we recommend it to anyone who loves cooking or home dramas. We recommend giving it a watch at least once.