Goro manga

In 2006, the anime series ranked 46th in an online poll conducted by TV Asahi on Japan’s favorite animated TV series. A Celebrity List of the same poll placed the anime series at the 70th spot. In 2005, sporting goods manufacturer entered into a one-year agreement with Shogakukan to have their company logo appear in the baseball equipment used by Goro Shigeno and other characters in the manga series. Under the agreement, Mizuno would also use the Goro Shigeno character in other promotional events. An article from credits the manga series for helping increase the popularity of the pitch.

Across 31 chapters we follow salesman Goro Inogashira and his work in importing goods from Europe as he travels across Tokyo and discovers various specialties and unique recipes, commenting and observing upon not just on the food he consumes, but the culture and differing customs he consumes as well. Not only that but this edition has a glossary of all the different foods at the start of each chapter which makes this manga a fine slice of edutainment as well as an entertaining read in its own right.

Owing to the more standalone nature of the individual chapters, this is a manga that some readers may opt to binge, whilst others may savour a few chapters at a time to preserve the magic – in either instance I found reading The Solitary Gourmet to be a joy, though not so much on an empty stomach! Goro makes for an interesting lead as his workload seems ever-lengthy but he still finds time to chow down on a variety of familiar staples like rice bowls, ramen, oden, sushi, and even convenience food – his journeys here feel oddly like a precursor to the wave of content creators who spend their time trawling Japan for the next hidden gem.

To summarise every chapter within this book would be a waste of good food, so to speak, as I feel that the surprise and unknowing of exactly what to expect chapter-to-chapter, asides from the dish being eaten, added to my reading experience. A few favourite chapters of mine though involved Goro seeking out some specialty bento to consume during a ride on the bullet train as part of one his business trips. On the recommendation of a colleague he ends up with shumai (Chinese-style steamed dumplings), which, though delicious, absolutely stink out the carriage, much to Goro’s embarrassment. Despite the setback, the meal is a satisfying one, and Goro ends up more put out by not being able to smoke on the train – it’s humorous but simple stories like this that make up the satisfying package within this collected manga.

The Goro Goro no Mi is a from the Japanese manga and its derivative works, and is a type of . Its consumer is Enel.