They say the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but in Sakaomi Yuzaki's latest manga, that proves just as true for women.
She Loves to Cook, She Loves to Eat is a lovely, heartwarming story about two neighbors who bond over a shared love of food. Nomoto, an office worker with a passion for cooking and no one to finish off the epically-sized dishes she dreams of making, finally meets her match in Kasuga, her very tall, very reserved neighbor with a very, very large appetite-an appetite perfectly suited to dishes containing, say, eight eggs and over three pounds of rice.
The dialogues flow naturally in this excellent translation by Phil Christie, as does the character growth. While the two initially get off on a slightly awkward foot, a series of shared dinners slowly bring them closer together.
But what starts as mutual appreciation is beginning to show signs of developing into something deeper in these first two volumes. Between bashful daydreams, thoughtful gestures, and small steps outside of their respective comfort zones, the two women find themselves wanting to spend more time with each other. And more time looking at each other.
And as their feelings become more and more obvious, it shows clear as day on the page. Blush-lines and all.
The slow simmering of the romance is poised to make it all the more satisfying. This is such a perfect comfort read-clever, funny, sincere and so full of love. The second volume has a bit about the cultural meanings of take-out boxes that had me in stitches.
The focus on food includes some truly delicious descriptions and illustrations, so I'd recommend reading this either on a full stomach or with some savories handy. For example, crab cakes and spicy peanut sauce (which is what I got up to make halfway through volume one!) or popcorn with melted cheese and sun-dried tomato pieces (the accompaniment to volume two).
If you prefer Japanese food inspired by the story, there are also recipes at the back of the books, so you can open to the last page and prepare something ahead of time...
Fans of Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon and that soft, low-stakes romance-with-a-side-of-social-commentary centering two working women will find a similar slow-burn story here, albeit with more overt observations on gender roles and norms in modern Japan. It doesn't shy away from nuisances like marriage pressure, misogyny and uncalled-for assumptions, but it does not let them take center stage, either. Unless it's to gently, elegantly skewer them.
Whether portion sizes, passion or paychecks, the women are constantly expected to make do with less. But these diminishing encounters are subtly contrasted with the genuine appreciation, acceptance and admiration that Nomoto and Kasuga's budding relationship is based on.
They really do care for each other so much and it's so lovely to read. There are so many warm fuzzies, but it's the grounded sort of tenderness that comes with age. I was smiling so much at the little kindnesses and considerations they had. It's such a healthy relationship that never loses its sense of humor.
I mean, no one says that the quickest way to a woman's heart is through her period cravings, but the author certainly understands!
Chapter 16 was the one that deviates a little from this vibe and delves into some heavier topics. It comes prefaced with an author's note stating such. But it also has a Frog and Toad reference that proves a well-placed picture can express a thousand words. It's a reminder of the ways queer youth find and make meaning from media that was never explicitly about them, but which made space for stories like theirs nonetheless. For a manga focused on acceptance, it is a series of fitting visuals.
The manga might also appeal to fans of the older m/m series What Did You Eat Yesterday by Fumi Yoshinaga. Granted, the plot seems to take precedence over the food so far, while it was the other way around in Yoshinaga's manga, but I'm excited to see where it goes. Preferably, with a plate of loaded egg-battered fries on the side.
Volumes one and two are currently available in English, and Volume three is available for pre-order!
