Curry naru Shokutaku

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Many of you will most likely have heard of "Yakitate Japan", the famous manga based on cooking bread. Falling under the shadow of such a formidable title is the lesser known manga, "Addicted to Curry," an equally good manga, but about curry instead of bread. I personally found "Curry" an enjoyable, laughable manga to read, and would encourage you to read it, especially if you love curry. I like cooking, and I like curry, so I really liked Addicted to Curry.
Story:
Addicted to Curry has a very..."followable" plot, making the transition from chapter to chapter clear and smooth. While each arc spans several (10+) chapters, within ... each chapter Makito will cook a new curry that looks ABSOLUTELY delicious. Furthermore, they even kindly include the recipe of the curry so even us regular people can cook it :) The only thing i have against the plot is that the outcome of each curry battle is quite predictable, in that if the prize is the goodwill of the curry house, then Makito will most likely 99.9% win. However, so far I am enjoying the pace of each arc, and the different curries that appear in each chapter.
Art:
My pet peeve is wishy-washy art. That is why I love Addicted to Curry's strong, crisp, clear lines, with careful detail taken to each character's appearance. Makito is quite good-looking, and Yui looks really cute. Enough detail is present in the background of each panel, but not an extraordinary amount of detail (the only background I really remember is the curry shop), But I am a sucker for good art, so kudos goes to the mangaka for beautiful art.
Character:
Not too much to say about character...Makito is a perv, Yui cries a lot (but not so much that I would put down the manga because of it). I have only read 60 chapters, so Makito's past is still unknown to me, but it promises to be a very complex and interesting past. I liked how the mangaka develops all the main characters equally, so that was a plus. But that's about it.
Enjoyment:
I am a girl, straight, so fanservice is really not that...ahh...appealing to me, but if you're a boy, then you'll definitely have more than one nosebleed in the course of reading this manga. HOWEVER, I definitely enjoyed the cooking aspect, and the mouthwatering dishes were drawn sooooo well. I like all the arcs so far, not a single boring or filler chapter, so enjoyment gets a 9 from me.
Overall:
A great, solid, manga, probably won't become a classic like Cardcaptor Sakura, Swan, Bleach, whatever, but still a highly enjoyable read. I recommend it to boys more (for the fanservice) but girls could read it too! And enjoy it as much. If you have read Yakitate Japan, then you'll probably like "Addicted to Curry." However, even if you haven't, If you like cooking and curry, then you'll definitely enjoy "Addicted to Curry."

Those who wanted to learn how to cook, or those who wanted to improve their cooking skills will find Addicted to Curry suitable and interesting for them. Although this curry manga is not yet an anime, I'm sure it will be an interesting "curry anime" soon. However, this curry manga is not just about cooking and curry-talk! It contains fighting, guns and knives, for those who have interest in the weapons of destruction. This manga is somehow ... uh ... ecchi (meaning very small amount of inappropriate stuff) so I recommand those who do not like "a bit of gay" don't read it.But, those who ... loves curry, comedy, fighting and cooking will definetely find Addicted to Curry great.

This is about a dude called Makito who wants to make the Curry House as famous as it was in the past. However, the antagonists wanted to buy up the Curry House for himself since he didn't want it to go famous .... will Makito Koenji, the first-class skilled curry chef, make the Curry House infamous again ... or will he let the antagonist succeed his dream?

To be blunt, Addicted to Curry has a very mediocre plot, rounded off with forgettable (but not unlikeable) characters and slightly above average art. In all honesty, I feel that it merits a 5/10,but I gave it a rating of 6/10 because of my soft spot for food/cooking manga.

Why didn't Addicted to Curry manage to hold my interest?

To sum it up, it is because of the stale story and almost non-existent plot development. I had high expectations for this manga because of its good ratings, and simply due to the fact that it was about cooking curry. But I was disappointed with how ... the story progressed as I read it.

It was a little bit unrealistic but that isn't the main point. A story doesn't have to be realistic to be good. But on top of being unrealistic, it just was not interesting. It was kind of cheesy, with the over-used premise of an abandoned restaurant, followed by the sudden appearance of an angel sent from heaven in the form of a genius cook who, with his unparalleled skills, amazingly revives the shop (and the fighting will of the cutesy, well-meaning owner).

It's fine to use an over-used plotline. But to make it worth reading, there HAVE to be elements that make it different from the rest of such stories. There has to be a certain twist, or a cast of very strongly developed and unique characters. Unfortunately, Addicted to Curry employed neither and the story ended up sub-par.

Despite this, Addicted to Curry deserves credit in other aspects.

I really enjoyed the depictions and descriptions of the curry dishes. Cooking it as well as eating it; they were both a treat! The episodic stories also ended with the recipe of the spotlight curry so that you can try your hand at making it yourself. The range of curry information is truly praiseworthy.

Bottom line: Passively entertaining. Worth the read if you're a die hard lover of curry. If you love ecchi as well, you will most definitely enjoy it. However, if you're looking for a good, solid, interesting cooking manga, give this one a skip.

This have to be the one manga that I have felt in love to, I never have experience the same joy with another manga and I hope I can be as unbiased as possible in this review so here goes nothing...

Story 5/10

There isn`t something new here, nothing ground breaking really the title pretty much explain all the plot is about THE curry, well to be fair is about cooking curry in different circumstances with a few pinches of sweet vanilla and bitter tragedy here and there.
Is a bittersweet story that revolves around curry.

Art 7/10

Just above average (pretty simple)
...
Character 8/10

Now we are getting the the main dish, the forte of this manga are the main characters every one being different to each other like different spices in a meal (yes this review will contain food related comments) and when I said that I really mean it each character has something unique to provide to the plate.

Enjoyment 9/10

Maybe it is just me I don`t know but the circumstances that the main characters are throw into and the conversation that they have is what makes this manga, is the bittersweet dish that you fall in love with despise the bitterness because at the end the essence of sweetness is stronger.

Overall 9/10

To conclude I love this manga, the amount of passion and love that this manga gives to curry and food in general is what make it different to other cooking mangas, this manga tells you the difference between cultures though food and even the story behind those recipes.

There is ecchi in this manga if you are not comfortable with that... just leave.

And if you are actually into ecchi but expect something so stupid as a girl reaching climax because she ate the MC food welp go away with your shit taste.

This a good very good detailed food manga, for those interested in that kinda thing, although it deals with only curry related foods 80% of the time. I can see where Shokugeki no Soma "borrowed" many things from this manga.
Funny interesting characters overall though later on the manga adds too many (like so many other mangas of this type)
Has some RomCom in it, with your pervert type main character and many panty shots type ecchi, though it isn't the whole point of the series, but be warned.
I've read the raws to the end and it kinda becomes too over the top later on with pseudo ... magical cooking abilities, and becomes too ecchi heavy, but I was satisfied with the ending and the whole series.

Let's get to some bashing! First of all this manga had a GTO (Great teacher onizuka) vibe for me so i endured for whole 38 chapters (534 chapters all in all). THE only redeemable fact in this manga is curry recipes!. As for GTO thing i felt like author tried to create something like GTO but creating absurd idiocy doesn't equal GTO he created something that made me feel uncomfortable reading.
BTW i liked shokugeki no soma (but too much ecchi i agree)

Below all Overall i will write spoiler filled with chapter description bashing starting from chapter 25 i started taking notes in order not to ... forget this nightmare.

Story 3/10

The story revolves around world of culinary and to be more specific curry. Our main protagonist is a curry chef who travels around to find a man who holds a secret so he travels around to improve and find this man while helping around with his culinary skills various people. Until chapter 38 he helps one specific girl who apparently is also main (534 chapters of this sh*%t show......).
To put it bluntly and without any spoilers, people here are MORONS world setting is absurd and everything is whimsical and childish even though it clearly states seinen the feeling of shounen is all over but unlike shounen you expect some mature content well you get it - panty shots (WOW). Also do not seek romance here, there is one but up to chapter 100+ chapter even though they are both adults already they are still on a level of blushing and crotch kicking while it was referred that everyone else (even younger) are humping like bunnies (hell yeah usual manga troupe).
Author really touches more mature content but while making seinen set he makes everyone around like people from "Idiocracy" or at least he tries to project his viewer base like that. Please look at spoilers below if you want to know the reason for this bashing.

Art 7/10

Considering it was issued 2002 it's art is good, characters have unique distinct features with a lot of movement captured as well as emotions. As for background like usual there were quite a few blanks and cut corners but overall details of the curry and panels where background was seem seemed quite good and detailed. Panel placement and speech bubbles are up to standard.

Character 4/10

Sadly characters are f-in one dimensional manga troupes we have a perverted, somewhat skilled and aloof Male lead, Crybaby, short tempered and young Female Lead.
Also we have bunch of supports and backgrounders won't get too deep in them because well absurdity and one dimensionality.
So progression wise i cannot rate too much but looking at chapter 117 mains didn't grew up much besides their hair........

Enjoyment 2/10 (MAL 2=Dreadful)

Yes calling it dreadful is the perfect word for it I almost immediately started to regret reading it i fooled myself when i thought something close to GTO. So i was reading and started taking notes where idiocy was absolute where fiction was over the top where even i could tell that correspondence between fantasy and reality was absurd.

Overall 4/10

I cannot advice to read this. But i saw some reviews and their were more positive one girl even pointed out that fan service would be liked by the boys <--Maybe but i think panty shots and spying while someone showers is more on a creepy side of male spectrum there is distinction between average desire and stalker fetish.
Next many pointed out it's a great manga for cooking and curry well I agree but in that point is a problem......Write cooking books, work at kitchen or write cooking oriented manga not some frankenstein with curry restriction.......





------------Spoilers----------------------Below----------------------------------------



Chapter 25 - Before chapter 25 evil corporation who wanted to buy this run down curry shop for 60 million yen = 569,622.06 United States Dollar. They refuse then they have a competition with corporations hired cook terms being they will leave them or give up on curry shop for free.
They agree to the terms and win despite corporations attempts to play dirty assaulting main lead with a knife injuring his left arm (a deep cut), bribing the judges. He wins BUT the evil corporation does not keep its word and once again starting from chapter 25 create problems.
Problem being pouring gasoline un to the curry restaurant building and setting it on fire while Female Lead is on the second floor with bunch of animals (arson, murder attempt, animal cruelty = life sentence). If it weren't for Male Lead, underage girl would have died with bunch of animals. So fast forward they meet the arsonist (corporation hired cook once again but other cook). So after failed murder attempt, animal cruelty and arson they demand Male lead to agree to cook off with terms 2x reimbursement of damages if he wins or they will give the restaurant for free. So he agrees to their terms on their grounds(their arena) for the challenge despite knowing full well that they will cheat. Corporation frames previous cook for arson (leaving his sunglasses), so police try to arrest this guy despite clearly not having any evidence beside that (NOT Police doesn't work like that especially in japan, japanese prosecutors are very diligent if they don't have a 100% chance of winning the case they won't prosecute).
Next chapter 30 - Arsonist cook attempts assault with a cold weapon, reason being because our leads didn't finish curry in his restaurant after failed felony he tells "Remember this....I will definitely return the favor" - By this point i thought author is either a golden fish or deliberately tries to make absurd situations in order for the reader to feel furry growing inside them so that they would feel emotionally invested in this manga A FU*^&^ING DIRTY AND TRASHY TRICK at least because it is so artificial. After that we hear a sob story about our villain how some "evil" indian curry style cook conspired with others to beat his father in a cook off so his father lost the battle and hanged himself because of the betrayal of 1 workplace while leaving a small child alone <---First of all his father in flashbacks seemed like a strong and normal guy but the next day he is backstabbed and bam he hangs himself...........So now author raised a flag even before reading it i knew that Male lead, will win, arsonist will repent (will be given a light slap opposed to all of his transgressions - arson, attempted murder of underage girl, animal cruelty and attempted assault with a cold weapon).
Fast forward chapter 36 after losing he thinks everyone conspired against him (like with his father) even though obviously he was conspiring with his employer (bribing judges, riding the equipment and trying to stall male lead to competition).
Chapter 37 Like i guessed evil arsonist repents and confesses to the police that he was the arsonist i don't know what happened to him but i suspect because it is a feel good manga after a year or two our mains meet him again but now he is all good (even though in japan death sentence is still in effect and well considering what he was attempting to do death sentence or life sentence is not out of the question)
Also our Male Lead after saying that he is not buddha or god (he is not all forgiving) he still forgives arsonist cook (psychopath) and tells him before the police take him "Let's have a rematch!".
Author wanted to create Onizuka (i think) but created a brain dead moron who for the stupidest reason does idiotic things, he bums away a lot of time despite working in multiple restaurants he doesn't have money and so we meet him in 1st chapter being half dead because he could not find a curry restaurant for three days (he was hungry and dirty). So i don't know is he working pro bono everywhere despite being considered a great cook at least for 3 years? Wouldn't it be easier for him to open his restaurant amass some wealth and hire a detective to find a person he is looking for but yeah author and his artificial story i forgot sorry.

Sorry for the rant but the idiocy and absurdity in seinen manga is over the top I rarely see this sort of absurdity in shounen but shounen usually doesn't go to adult world much as for here we clearly see things like attempted murder and everyone simply forgets that someone could have died and goes with happy go lucky attitude there is a major difference between shokugeki no soma if someone tried to compare them one being a cooking feel good manga with sense of purity and good absurdity mixed it while this piece of s*^&t doesn't even compare.
AND YOU KNOW WHY ?! Why did shokugeki no soma had anime adaptation while this garbage didn't? Because despite having 500 chapters they had a constant viewer base BUT IT WAS SMALL while shokugeki no soma and Gto were works of art where authors tried to create a nice script!