Ep. 117: Mariko’s Success Leads to a Dinner with Nito Bank and a Protected Bird Controversy

117

Mariko Niki’s successful Global Food Tour article prompts a dinner with her father, head of Nito Bank, and Kaibara. Mr. Niki assumes friendly rivalry between the Ultimate and Supreme menu creators, unaware of the animosity between Yamaoka and Kaibara. A whole roasted bird is served, identified by both chefs as a protected Japanese thrush. Kaibara reprimands the chef and criticizes Yamaoka for not recognizing the bird until tasting it, causing Yamaoka significant embarrassment. Yamaoka misses work for 10 days before returning looking like a bum. He claims to have located bird traps and leads a Touzai expedition to nets catching migrating birds and other endangered species. Poachers are arrested by police and photographed by Touzai staff for a Mariko article. Mr. Niki shows the article to Kaibara, who makes no comment regarding Yamaoka’s efforts.