Gu Ra Me! Minister President's Cook (2016)

Bon Appétit

Facing a political impasse with the fate of the entire nation hanging by a thread? Fear not, for the PM’s own French cuisine chef shall come save the day. Sounds hard to believe but, as the aphorism goes, a hungry man is an angry man. Nothing complements diplomacy like fine dining with exquisite gourmet dishes that have been prepared with a lot of heart and soul.

That is the premise for Gu Ra Me! Minister President’s Cook, which revolves around the talented young chef Ichiki Kurumi, as she rises above discrimination to emerge from obscurity in becoming the Japanese PM’s official residence chef. She gradually discovers that her masterfully prepared dishes do more than merely satisfy the palate but also provide valuable life lessons to the politicians and dignitaries who are served.

The drama is based on the seinen manga and gourmet manga, Gu La Me Daisaisho no Ryori Nin that was serialised from 2006 to 2010. It was conceived by Mitsuru Nishimura, himself a culinary supervisor and a former official residence chef for the respective Japanese ambassadors’ residences in Brunei and Vietnam. He had also written the manga Nobunaga no Chef in 2011. The screenplay adaptation is co-written by Shinya Hishida and Junpei Yamaoka (Ao no SP: Gakko nai Keisatsu Shimada Ryuhei, Iryuu Sousa 4 & 5), while the directing duties are shared between Taketa Tsunehiro (dele, BG: Personal Bodyguard series), Masayuki Ochiai and Takashi Komatsu.

The theme song, Color Variations カラーバリエーション, is performed by the Japanese 4-member hip hop group, Ketsumeishi ケツメイシ. Kazuyuki Ishii (Avalanche, Tokyo MER) serves as the sound design consultant while the composer for the score is Harumi Fuuki. This TV Asahi and MMJ co-production was partly filmed at the Japan Prime Minister’s official workplace and residence in Tokyo, known as Sōri Daijin Kantei (総理大臣官邸).

What I Liked

This is a lighthearted dramedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously and sometimes appears a little over-the-top but for the most part, features elements of realism pertaining to the cooking techniques and dishes, as well as current political themes albeit in a somewhat satirical manner. I was captivated by two aspects of the premise - influencing diplomacy by way of cooking, and the underdog story of Ichiki Kurumi, the cooking prodigy and titular PM’s official residence chef.

The story unfolds in an episodic format where wide ranging issues of a socio-political, diplomatic as well as commercial nature are featured. I truly had fun watching how the problems in each episode are tackled and resolved during the customary luncheon with the PM through Ichiki Kurumi’s wit in crafting her menu and the backstory behind every dish that befits the occasion.

In addition, viewers get to observe the overarching rivalry between Ichiki Kurumi and the incumbent grand hall chef, Kiyosawa Haruki. Both will compete throughout the drama for the chance of presenting their own gastronomic creations to the PM’s guests. The “kitchen battles” between them as well as the variety of dishes that they serve are one of the major highlights of the drama for me.

From the technical perspective, I have no complaints with the kitchen scenes and food videography which feature some of the finer aesthetics of French cuisine, with a Japanese touch. The creativity of the dishes is remarkably extensive and quite impressive. The regal vibe of the dramatic score is rather fitting to the atmosphere and, on occasion, seamlessly contributes to the comedic timing. It’s worth mentioning that every episode begins with a brief historical trivia that serves as a prologue, which I found rather educational and interesting.

Ichiki Kurumi is played by the lively Gouriki Ayame, who captivates with her spunky persona and never-say-die attitude. In complete contrast to her more subdued role in Biblia Koshodō no Jiken Techō, I thought she injected much energy and enthusiasm to the role here. I had a lot of fun watching her interactions with chief rival, Kiyosawa Haruki, who is depicted by Takahashi Issei. A marvellous actor with dynamic range, it was my first time seeing him in an antagonistic capacity for which he provides a decent delivery in a more supporting role.

I was amused by Miyake Hiroki’s Tamura Tomokazu, the FL’s sidekick, who offers comedic relief in the drama. Kohinata Fumiyo plays the understated PM Atou Ichirou whose main role throughout is eating, apart from sharing certain words of wisdom during the luncheon. Takito Kenichi is equally lowkey where his character Koga Seiji draws more attention to his funky hair than his limited dialogue. Shinkawa Yua mesmerises as the beautiful news reporter, Tachibana Yuuko while Naito Risa showcases an intriguing Atou Riko in a rather odd Gothic Lolita costume. Yukimi Matsuo, Miss Universe Japan 2013, makes a cameo appearance in what is her first ever drama project.

What Had Room for Improvement

The overall storytelling feels very much superficial and doesn’t get fleshed out with as much depth as I would have liked. The pace moves too briskly at times, which is understandable given the format and time constraint of 40 minutes per episode. Likewise most of the supporting characters as well as the PM’s guests where viewers are only afforded glimpses into their characterization without the full awareness of the individual backstories and potential for further growth.

Final Thoughts

This is a feel-good, light and easy viewing where viewers are encouraged to suspend disbelief and simply go along for the ride. Beautifully served food by a charming chef along with certain amusing and heartwarming moments are in store over the course of only 8 episodes.

On a side note, look out for the cute outro montage of the various main cast dancing to the theme song. It’s not often that one gets to see Gouriki Ayame and Takahashi Issei performing interesting dance moves in a drama production!

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