“Toriko” vol. 20 is another volume with fun-filled adventures but also featuring challenges that push Toriko and Komatsu to the limit. With a lot of humor and delightful storytelling, fans of the manga/anime series will no doubt enjoy the latest volume of Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro’s “Toriko”! Recommended!
© 2008 Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro. All Rights Reserved.
MANGA TITLE: Toriko Vol. 20
STORY AND ART BY: Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro (å¤å‘³ç›´å¿—)
FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.
PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shonen Jump Manga
RATED: T for Teen
RELEASE DATE: February 4, 2014
The rivalry between the two superpowers of the Age of Gourmet heats up when IGO President Ichiryu pays a visit to Gourmet Corp.’s headquarters in the Gourmet World. Meanwhile, Toriko and Komatsu set off on a world-spanning journey in search of some bizarre – and stinky – ingredients needed for a massive sushi roll that will guide them to the next item on their training list.
Why is IGO President Ichiryu paying a visit to the Gourmet Corp. headquarters? And can Toriko and Komatsu brave the stinky stench of the Durian bomb? And what happens when all four kings of Gourmet Corp. is called to catch the Madam Fish?
Find out what happens in an adventure, action-packed 20th volume of Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro’s “Toriko”!
What is “Toriko�
In Japan, we have seen Shonen Jump series that have had a long life, not just as manga but as anime series. From the “Dragon Ball†series, “One Pieceâ€, “Narutoâ€, “Bleach†and another series that has captivated readers and viewers is “Torikoâ€.
Created by Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro in 2008, the manga series has been published on “Weekly Shonen Jump†and is currently on 28th tankobon volume, while the anime series produced by Toei Animation is still being broadcast since 2011 on Fuji TV.
oriko takes place during a time where gourmet is important. The taste, the texture of food and rare ingredients are what chefs seek for, but in order to get rare ingredients and animals, major organizations hire Bishokuya (which are “gourmet huntersâ€).
The series begins with a chef named Komatsu who is dispatched by the International Gourmet Organization (IGO) to find Toriko in order to capture a rare animal known as a Gararagator (level 8). When Komatsu arrives, he sees the gourmet hunter easily catching a Pincer Fish. When Toriko finds out that Komatsu is trying to catch a Gararagator, Toriko who loves the challenge, agrees.
While Komatsu is timid and often scared of the creatures in the swamp and jungle, they come across a Gararagator, which is a gigantic red alligator and Toriko manages to kill it with his “Fork and Knife†technique but instead of giving the Gararagator to Komatsu for his organization, his intention to catching it was for a full-course menu. Wanting to become a world-renown chef, Komatsu feels that by being with Toriko, he can achieve that. So he asks if he can accompany Toriko on his adventures capturing animals for gourmet and Toriko accepts.
But as the two embark on their mission, they are challenged by a rival organization known as the Gourmet Corps who are bent on controlling the world’s ingredients and wanting to do all they can to hinder or even kill both Toriko and Komatsu.
But the two have endured and Komatsu has managed to cook exciting dishes thanks to Toriko’s ability to find these hard to get ingredients, sometimes both braving the most difficult missions to get the best ingredients, which typically have a high capture rate.
Since when I first discovered “Toriko” (through the animated series), I have always said the series is the most creative manga series that is so far-out in terms of its adventures and the ability to come up with dishes/creatures that are always surprising but with adventures that are so much fun!
In the 20th volume of “Toriko”, each chapter features its own different storyline. One storyline involves the Gourmet Corp. taking part in Gourmet Santa and delivering gourmet food to the least fortunate around the world.
But when the President of the Gourmet Corp. gives Toriko a list to find the ingredients for a special “Fortune Roll” in order to continue his training, both Toriko and Komatsu must join the three kings in order to find the Madam Fish in the middle of Stew Pond.
Then from the help of sushi chef Monchy, finding the next ingredient takes them to Champaign Island and the Cocktail Isle, where they encounter a familiar face.
But the biggest challenge for both Toriko and Komatsu is to find the “Durian Bomb”, a fruit that has been long outlawed for 300 years due to its horrid stench. But knowing that despite how horrid it may smell, the stinkier the fruit, the more tasty it is.
And what happens when the two try to find the Eco Seaweed?
As always, the story is far-out but so much fun and creative! The artwork by Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro is well-done as the detail of each panel is amazing and there is no doubt that he is one of the few manga artists that really goes all out in his artwork.
Overall, “Toriko” vol. 20 is another volume with fun-filled adventures but also featuring challenges that push Toriko and Komatsu to the limit. With a lot of humor and delightful storytelling, fans of the manga/anime series will no doubt enjoy the latest volume of Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro’s “Toriko”! Recommended!