Ep. 118: Kurita Persuades Photographer Isamu Kinjō Through Traditional Hida Cuisine

118

Mariko Niki suggests hiring award-winning photographer Isamu Kinjō for the Global Food Tour articles in Touzai Graph but he refuses, saying that focusing on food is frivolous. However, Kurita does not give up, and presses Kinjō while he drives his old Datsun Bluebird, a car built in Japan that he explains displayed the challenge spirit of Japan against US car manufacturers in the post-war era. Kurita seeks help from Yamaoka who suggests the Hida Takayama morning market, and takes Mariko and Kurita there the night before to arrive early and select a range of ingredients to provide a dish to tempt Kinjō. Yamaoka heats a dried silver magnolia leaf over a hibachi, to heat soybean paste and combine it with a salted vegetables and steamed rice to make a simple dish which is a specialty of Hida. Kinjō is excited by what he exclaims is a real taste of Japan, and Kurita challenges him to create a photograph that captures the essence of the experience. Later, Kinjō visits the Touzai offices accepts Kurita's challenge. (Source: Wikipedia)