Ep. 42: Director Tanimura and the Touzai group attend a rakugo show followed by a tofu dinner dispute.

42

Director Tanimura takes his subordinates to a rakugo performance by Kairakutei Hasshou, after which the group dines at a tofu restaurant. A customer named Stan Black, a Los Angeles food researcher and author of the Book of Tofu, argues with the chef about the quality of the tofu. Hasshou and Yamaoka support Black’s critique. Yamaoka intervenes to resolve the conflict. The next morning, Yamaoka meets the chef, Black, and Hasshou at a shop using nigari, a magnesium chloride solution, to coagulate soy milk. He explains that modern methods often produce inferior, watery tofu. The chef tastes the traditional product, acknowledges its superiority, apologizes to Black, and considers switching suppliers. Later, the Touzai staff discover that Hasshou has taken Black on as a rakugo disciple.