Cinematic Point Of View

Do you ever feel like you’re running on autopilot and never have a real moment for yourself? Are you always rushing from one thing to the next, some imaginary voice driving you here and there, making you anxious? I’ve been noticing it lately and realizing it’s how I’ve been living for many, many years.

So, I’ve been trying to break this habit. It takes a toll on your health in so many ways. When I catch myself, I try to do more for me, outside the routine. I take extra time to cook a meal. I spend time on my art. I’ll spontaneously go see a random movie in the middle of the week. A real rebel, I am.

Another thing I like to do for myself is stop by the comic book store on the way to pick up dinner. I did that the other night. I tried to take my time and browse the aisles—no rush, no hurry. But after a few minutes, I could hear that little voice in my head going, ‘You don’t need any more comics right now. You’ve got plenty you haven’t read yet. Also, you need to get going. What if the food’s ready? Won’t everyone be starving by the time you get back?’”

I quickly grabbed a few comics and made my way to the restaurant to pick up our food.

As I pulled up, I realized I was still early. I caught myself thinking about how this anxiety gets the best of me sometimes. Imaginary rules driving the ship. In that moment, it got me thinking about a really great little show I watched last year called Samurai Gourmet.

The Story

Samurai Gourmet is about Takeshi (Naoto Takenaka), a 60 year old husband and newly-retired salaryman. He is a creature of habit and custom. Now free from the restrictions and responsibility of the daily grind, he doesn’t know what to do. He feels a bit lost. Codependent on his job, and his wife, as a guide for so many years, he finds himself without a personal compass.

So, with his wife often busy and doing her own thing, Takeshi’s meals become the highlight of his day. Most episodes follow him heading out the door with no real plan, wandering his neighborhood in search of new restaurants, unfamiliar dishes, and the occasional beer.

He quickly begins to bump up against the little, self-imposed walls that have been created. He finds that he is meek and doesn’t speak up in many situations. From an overbearing chef to rowdy patrons. He even feels shameful for having a beer for lunch.

Most of the show’s dialogue takes place in Takeshi’s narrated thoughts. His mind makes simple choices become overly complex decisions leaving him full of anxiety. In these moments, Takeshi fantasizes about a samurai warrior (Tetsuji Tamayama) and how a man like that would handle these ordinary situations. He imagines himself sitting in a period restaurant as the gruff samurai orders extra food and drink or scares off bullies.

Takeshi wants to live that. He wants to embrace this freedom he’s forgotten he has and the samurai is his guide.

Of course, it doesn’t always work out like magic in Takeshi’s reality. It’s not a quick fix, but these little episodes are a wake up call and slowly he starts to change. He begins to better understand who he his and the life he has.

Why I Like It

Naoto Takenaka plays Takeshi with a wonderful, campy innocence. You can’t help but feel for him. He’s like a child experiencing the world for the first time. Every bite of a favorite food, or sip of drink, brings a comical, over-the-top sound of satisfaction. It’s one of those little things I love about his character.

At it’s heart, Samurai Gourmet is a series about finding freedom from codependency through small personal choices. Many of those choices involve food. Lots of food.

Okay, this also sort of a cooking show too.

I think that, whether it was intended or not, they use the subject of food and drink as a bridge into all those programmed reactions we build over the course of our lives. Food is just another form of freedom of expression.

As a 52 year old man, this show speaks to me on so many levels. From waking up to speaking up. All the little ways, you start to realize that you surrendered to the world over the years, be it through a job, society, or relationships.

I look at my father and see how routine he is with so many things. When I say “routine” I mean codependent. Food is one of those places I have noticed it in recent years. Rarely a variation and you can’t talk him into trying something new. I don’t want to end up that way at his age. Life has too much to offer.

In it’s own way, this show really speaks to men’s work culture in Japan and honestly, most countries.

At the end of the day, Samurai Gourmet comes across as a simple and super relaxing watch with just enough going on under the surface to keep you engaged. In it’s own way, this show really speaks to men’s work culture in Japan and honestly, most countries.

It also gets you in the mood to eat so be sure to have some snacks on hand. The food always looks delicious.

So break out of the ordinary. Trying something new. Walk or drive a different way to work. Stop by a random restaurant. Speak up for injustice and live like a samurai…sort of. (Leave the sword at home)

Samurai Gourmet is available on Netflix.