Watch: Japanese Style Originator

That Netflix is an inexhaustible source of food inspiration is once again proven by my new favorite show: Japanese Style Originator. It’s exactly the mix of Japanese awkwardness and food being discussed at length that I’ve always been looking for.

The program covers everything you ever wanted to know — and much more — about things that are typical of Japanese culture. It’s not a food program, but since the Japanese are food obsessed, a great deal of time is devoted to it. The show is set up as a game show: questions are asked about each subject and the contestants write down their answers. The very best part? Nobody wins at the end.

Everything about tempura

If you really want to know everything about Japanese food, this is the program for you. The questions are so specific and answered so extensively that after watching this series, you could get a perfect score on your Japanese integration course. In the first episode, about tempura, you learn everything about the history of the deep-fried snack. From different frying techniques and the types of oil used for them to how to recognize a good tempura restaurant. And what, for example, should you never order as your first dish?

Two-hour rice special

The episodes vary enormously in length. From a reasonably concise three quarters of an hour about sushi to a two-hour special about rice toppings. There are also special episodes about food in spring and a top thirty of ways to cool down during Japan’s hot summers; including shaved ice, cold tofu, refreshing drinks, but also authentic fans or blankets to take a nap under in order to cool down. Huh?

Dubbed children

Just when you think it can’t get any stranger, two dubbed children suddenly appear on screen in every episode, searching for all the information about the subject at hand. A very unusual way to teach the viewer something, but hey, it works. I’ve already been glued to my Netflix account for evenings on end.