相葉マナブ [2013.04.21]

Aired On: 21st April, 2013

The first episode of Aiba's own show! I guess this means that Aiba's in two variety shows without Arashi, huh. This one should prove interesting to fans as it aims to explore Japanese culture. In this first episode, we learn about Japanese food.

 

 

No, not what we normally think of when we think of Japanese food. Aiba meets with Tsuchida Teruyuki and Sawabe Yuu to find out more about food that originated in Japan. This was how it worked - they were given a chart with pictures of western food, but three of the food listed actually originated in Japan. They each had to guess one, and only those who guessed correctly could eat.

 

Tsuchida guessed first, choosing a doria, which I wasn't sure was Japanese or not, but I've definitely wondered about (because I've only seen them in western food restaurants in Japan). His guess was correct, which led to Sawabe choosing omurice (definitely a Japanese thing!), using the theory that "food that uses rice is more likely to be Japanese." This theory proves sound, as omurice IS a Japanese-originated food. Aiba wasn't sure what to choose, and decided to go with ebi-fry, because it's popular in Nagoya, but changed his mind and went with cream stew. His answer was wrong, and it turned out that ebi-fry was right after all.

 

 

Next the three had to visit a bakery, and choose three bread that originated in Japan. This was an easier task; Sawabe was the first to choose (curry pan), followed by Tsuchida (melon pan) and Aiba (choco coronet). All of them got it right! Aiba finally got to eat, yay.

 

Their last stop was for desserts, and they had to choose a Japanese-originated sweet each. Dissatisfied with the fact that he was always last to choose, Aiba decided that the three of them ought to choose at the same time. Aiba went for a sweet potato dessert, while Sawabe and Tsuchida chose a shortcake and mille crepe. All three were right :D Bonus info: the shortcake originated in the early Showa era, born from the idea of a Japanese man who was also the person who invented the cooling case that bakeries and cake shops keep their sweets in - Kadokura Kuniteru. Incidentally, Kadokura Kuniteru was also the founder of the sweet shop they were in.

 

 

Aaand that wraps up the lesson in Japanese food. Can't wait for the next episode!