The rare and coveted Asura Oyster Battle is now available to watch in full HD on The Iron Chef HD Collection on archive. https://archive.org/details/theironchefhdcollection 

Enjoy!

When the chefs are plating their food, they generally are arranging five servings. Who is the fifth dish for? 3 for the judges, 1 for the chairman, 1 for ???

I have finally acquired all 9 of the PONY CANYON Iron Chef VHS Tapes. All are in excellent condition and work perfectly. I have already completely digitized one of the tapes, and will be completing all 9. These will be added to the Iron Chef HD Collection on https://archive.org/details/theironchefhdcollection in the future when they are complete.

In the provided images I took of these tapes, I took front and back photos and then I used google translate to make english versions of the images so you can read them.

Importantly, If you look close at the Google Translated image of the Michiba Series 2 tape, on the back it shows the famous 'RICE BATTLE' which will be part of the digitization.

All videos will be recreated remastered and upscaled in HD, including a seperate new HD version of the famous missing Rice Battle. I believe a portion of this battle was provided on here not too long ago but this will have the missing VHS footage (still not 100% complete episode though but very close).

Every Iron Chef fan should be able to watch these tapes as they have been part of Iron Chef history for decades now. I myself have always had the museum mentality: all archival things should be free and accesible to all. I also don't believe in the exclusivity mindset of hey look what I got you cant have it kind of way... its just childish. When they are released on my page on Archive, I will also be providing English Subtitle Translations for every tape so you can enjoy them!

The famous Rice Battle however will be getting a newly translated subbed/dubbed version like the other 3 I have released so far. More to come.

:)

Currently working on dramatically fixing up the Asura Oyster Battle, which to many is a very unknown episode if not only ever viewed in really bad quality, but overall a Very Very rare episode for the collection.

Audio is being remastered by seperating the vocals from background music and noise, cleaning up the vocal track, redoing sound effects, and adding HD music back in.

Video is requiring tons of work with AI upscaling, watermark removal of the food network logo, removal of VHS artifacts, removing of all subtitles and remaking new subtitles with clean sharp borders.

In the end this episode will have been essentially completely rebuilt from scratch as it was esentially the only way to get a beautiful copy of it, and it is a Great episode.

To see what it looked like before the remaster go to this link and click on the video number 262 Oyster, part of season 7 - https://archive.org/details/288-sea-bass

Enjoy this preview of the remastered HD version... final complete episode soon to come.

This was the only time they had a woman participate in this round. Does anybody know what she is saying at the very beginning? I know afterwards, Fukui says that she is 42 years old according to the records, looks quite young, and describes her as a "Spring Roll Beauty". To which he then apologizes.

So this is one of the two famous American release episodes that couldn't make the cut on the FilmRise streaming platforms (Along with Chocolate & Pear Battle) because somebody in Japan was going to have a poopy diaper hissy fit if the likeness of singer Masahiko Kondo was shown on a streaming platform (yes he was a judge and guest commentator on these episodes). I mean heaven forbid somebody watches a singer 25 years after they are relevant.

Anyway, does anybody have a copy of the Japanese version or know where the Japanese version may be available to watch? Yes I know the food network terrible quality version is available to watch on youtube (if you filter it with a Japan VPN) and its on archive with the rest of the digital distractions rips... but I would like to see the Japanese version.

How's my subtitles, BTW? I double-checked to make sure they were as accurate as they come.

1

00:00:01,201 --> 00:00:03,670

KAGA: If my memory serves me correctly,

2

00:00:04,137 --> 00:00:10,343

never before has a Japanese chef from the Kansai region set foot in my Kitchen Stadium.

3

00:00:10,643 --> 00:00:15,648

So, this time, I decided to bring in a Japanese cuisine chef all the way from Osaka,

4

00:00:15,882 --> 00:00:20,253

and not just anyone, but a true heavyweight in the field.

5

00:00:22,355 --> 00:00:27,560

And the man they chose was Toshiro Kandagawa, 55 years old.

6

00:00:29,262 --> 00:00:34,567

He opened the "New Japanese Cuisine Kandagawa" in Kitashinchi, Osaka, 28 years ago.

7

00:00:36,002 --> 00:00:40,340

He became widely known through the "Kandagawa Cooking Dojo" segment on a daytime variety show.

8

00:00:36,636 --> 00:00:41,741

"2 O'CLOCK VARIETY SHOW" (YOMIURI TV)

9

00:00:40,974 --> 00:00:43,943

He is truly the Don of the Osaka culinary world.

10

00:00:44,844 --> 00:00:49,883

I contacted him, hoping he would take on the challenge, but...

11

00:00:51,117 --> 00:00:53,853

KANDAGAWA: Kaga-san, I appreciate you bringing this up, but...

12

00:00:54,020 --> 00:00:56,823

...I cannot simply agree to it lightly.

13

00:00:57,557 --> 00:00:58,758

There are specific conditions that must be met.

14

00:01:00,093 --> 00:01:02,028

I will send out two of my disciples.

15

00:01:03,096 --> 00:01:06,533

Once I defeat that, I'll figure something out.

16

00:01:06,666 --> 00:01:08,201

Please keep it out until then.

17

00:01:10,437 --> 00:01:15,909

KAGA: For Kandagawa had, to my surprise, made it clear to me just how formidable a barrier it was.

18

00:01:16,476 --> 00:01:19,446

The disciples Kandagawa refers to are these two.

19

00:01:20,413 --> 00:01:28,021

First up is 31-year-old Koichi Taniguchi, considered the top young talent in the Kandagawa school, a group known for producing 1,000 successful practitioners.

20

00:01:24,651 --> 00:01:28,955

KOICHI TANIGUCHI (31)

HEAD CHEF OF SETSUGETSUKA KANDAGAWA

21

00:01:29,456 --> 00:01:36,696

The other is Kazuyoshi Masaki, Kandagawa's right-hand man and the executive chef at a luxury hotel in Arima Onsen.

22

00:01:34,594 --> 00:01:37,964

KAZUYOSHI MASAKI (45)

EXECUTIVE CHEF, PRINCESS ARIMA

23

00:01:37,664 --> 00:01:41,167

And this time, it seems Taniguchi will be the first to step up to the challenge.

24

00:01:44,504 --> 00:01:48,575

Koichi Taniguchi became an apprentice to Kandagawa at the age of 18.

25

00:01:48,942 --> 00:01:55,081

He achieved an exceptionally rapid rise through the ranks, becoming the head chef of Setsugetsuka Kandagawa at the young age of 30.

26

00:01:51,344 --> 00:01:55,982

BORN IN GIFU IN 1962.

AT AGE 18 (1980): BEGAN WORKING AT "KANDAGAWA".

AT AGE 30 (1991): BECAME HEAD CHEF OF THE BRANCH RESTAURANT "SETSUGETSUKA KANDAGAWA".

27

00:01:56,116 --> 00:01:59,886

KANDAGAWA: His knife skills, honestly, they are incredibly fast.

28

00:02:00,053 --> 00:02:02,755

Even when he cuts with a large kitchen knife, it retains a beautiful sheen.

29

00:02:03,223 --> 00:02:04,791

And then, there's the stylishness of his plating.

30

00:02:06,226 --> 00:02:09,062

He is looking for a role that calls for someone who is efficient, articulate, and cheerful.

31

00:02:10,363 --> 00:02:14,400

KAGA: The speed of that knife work could indeed be called an art form.

32

00:02:14,701 --> 00:02:22,542

Furthermore, the presentation is exceptionally beautiful, and the dish counts Akira Kobayashi, Shuichi Akai, and Seibu manager Mori among its fans.

33

00:02:24,110 --> 00:02:30,450

Now, Taniguchi, show us the skills that have so captivated Toshiro Kandagawa!

34

00:02:31,417 --> 00:02:34,754

TANIGUCHI: When it comes to Japanese cuisine, the Kansai region really leads the way as the trendsetter.

35

00:02:35,455 --> 00:02:38,625

I intend to give it my all and create dishes that overflow with youthful energy.

From the Banana Battle (12/12/1993). The first time an Iron Chef would ascend into Kitchen Stadium alone. This is the only time Ishinabe rises alone during his tenure as Iron Chef. He would ascend alone in later appearances when he returned in 1995.

Please remind me of these little anecdotes. I don't know where to find the subtitled Iron Chef Japan.

I'm almost done fully subtitling both episodes. I should be done with them either today or tomorrow.

(Audio is a little glitchy at the beginning.)

From the Prawn Battle (2/6/1994). The man himself. Toshiro Kandagawa in his first appearance in the show's history. The first of many in Kitchen Stadium. In his first episode, he sends in one of his students to battle Iron Chef Chinese Chen Kenichi. 2 Episodes later he would make his first appearance as a challenger in Kitchen Stadium. This episode never seen the light of day in the U.S Subbed and Dubbed version of the show as the earliest episodes would be December 19th of 1993 and April 15th of 1994. Iron Chef French Yutaka Ishinabe would retire 3 weeks later on February 27th of 1994 and Sakai would take his place. Kandagawa is one of the many who is no longer with us. Rest In Peace to the man that made his mark in Iron Chef history by never giving up.

Since I began collecting the original Japanese episodes, I realized that this was one of the few from 1998 that I didn't have in its original form, but now I do, and now, I would like to present it to you a little recreation of how it likely aired on Food Network in 1999 when they were first running the February-September 1998 shows. Watch and enjoy. Dubbed by Food Network as Season 1, Episode 14.

Latest posts of the Where to Find These Battles thread in the flamola forum from tetsujin070561. Very highly requested.

This list includes every Iron Chef from the original chain of continuity, spanning the original series to the days of Iron Chef America and Quest For An Iron Legend, as well as Iron Chef Australia due to the appearance of ICA’s Chairman in that series. William Shatner’s Iron Chef USA is included, but only because I like sharing facts and didn’t want to ignore two additional episodes, non-canon and cringe though they indeed are.

Why would I do this? Eh, because I was bored and wanted to share some facts.

And so, without further ado:

Iron Chef (Original Series):

Yutaka Ishinabe: Salmon

Rokusaburo Michiba: Foie Gras

Chen Kenichi: Pufferfish

Hiroyuki Sakai: Oysters

Komei Nakamura: Foie Gras

Masahiko Kobe: Short Pasta

Masaharu Morimoto: Red Snapper

Bobby Flay (As a challenger): Rock Crab

[Iron Chef America:]

Bobby Flay (As an Iron Chef): Trout (Golden Trout and Rainbow Trout)

Mario Batali: Spiny Lobster

Wolfgang Puck: Eggs

Masaharu Morimoto (As an ICA cast member): Crab (Dungeness, Blue, and Peekytoe)

Cat Cora: Potatoes (Russet Burbank, Red, Ruby Crescent, Yellow Finn, and Purple Peruvian)

Michael Symon:

(As a challenger): Asparagus

(As an Iron Chef): Thanksgiving (Turkey, Sweet Potatoes, Cranberries, Corn, and Pumpkin)

Jose Garces:

(As a challenger): Melon

(As an Iron Chef): Hawaiian Moi

Marc Forgione: Bell Peppers (Forgione served as a Sous Chef in the Goat Cheese episode, but not as a challenger)

Geoffrey Zakarian:

(As a challenger): Sardines

(As an Iron Chef): Brook Trout

Alex Guarnaschelli:

(As a challenger): Farmer’s Market

(As an Iron Chef): Mortadella

Stephanie Izard:

(As a challenger): Bread

(As an Iron Chef): Wagyu Beef

[Iron Chef: Quest For An Iron Legend:]

Curtis Stone:

(As an ICA challenger): Skipjack Tuna

(As an Iron Chef): Lamb

Marcus Samuelsson:

(As an ICUSA challenger): Turkey

(As an Iron Chef): Ribs

Dominique Crenn:

(As an ICA challenger): Yogurt

(As an Iron Chef): Milk

Gabriela Cámara: Game birds, Mushrooms, and Grapes

Ming Tsai:

(As an ICA challenger): Duck

(As an Iron Chef): Chocolate

[Iron Chef Australia:]

Neil Perry: Coconuts

Guy Grossi: Duck

Guillaume Brahimi: Chocolate

[Iron Chef Usa:]

Todd English: Dungeness Crab

Alessandro Stratta: Turkey

Released in February 2000, It's called 料理の鉄人 大全, which means The Complete Guide to Iron Chef, and translating the front flap, this is what it has to offer:

◎ Japanese, French, Chinese, Italian, and Fusion—The ultimate course menu selected from the entire *Iron Chef* recipe collection!

◎ A restaurant guide featuring over 200 establishments owned by the Iron Chefs and their challengers.

◎ The seven Iron Chefs—Rokusaburo Michiba (1st Japanese), Yutaka Ishinabe (1st French), Chen Kenichi (Chinese), Hiroyuki Sakai (2nd French) Komei Nakamura (2nd Japanese), Masahiko Kobe (Italian), and Masaharu Morimoto (3rd Japanese)—reveal behind-the-scenes stories they can finally share today!

◎ Analysis of battle data from all 298 broadcast episodes.

◎ Behind-the-scenes production stories revealed by producers, directors, writers, play-by-play announcers, food coordinators, and culinary supervisors.

https://www.fusosha.co.jp/Books/detail/9784594028350

Another 10 episodes have just been uploaded to the Iron Chef HD Collection - https://archive.org/details/theironchefhdcollection

Best of all this upload includes the 2000th Dish Specials Parts 1 and 2. Remastering these episodes in HD and with their original music was absolutely insanely difficult, due to the shear number of songs and the fact that the list of songs used and where were nearly impossible to find/know had it not been for the recent upload of the Japanese versions of these episodes on the Flamola ProBoards Kitchen Stadium forum (special thanks to tetsujin070561).

Both episodes audio were completely remastered with the modern FilmRise version being stripped and seperated from its current bad music, and all original Hi quality songs being individually added back in using Audacity.

Not including common songs used in other episodes, here is a complete list of all unique songs present in the 2000th Dish Special Parts 1 and 2 in chronological order. Video posted above shows most songs.

Unique Songs from 'Iron Chef 2000th Dish Special Part 1'

Introduction (opening statement)
"Hymn to the Fallen" - Saving Private Ryan (Music by John Williams)

Introduction (Kaga Makes Plates)
"Elegance" - Nobunaga's Ambition: Bushou Fuuunroku (Music by Yoko Kanno)

Introduction (forming the French dream team)
"Night Battle" - First Knight (Music by Jerry Goldsmith)

Introduction (forming the Chinese dream team)
"Open the Door" - The Last Emperor (Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto)

Introduction (Kaga decides the ingredients)
"Run" - Brain Powerd (Music by Yoko Kanno)

Introduction (closing statement)
"Promise Me" - First Knight (Music by Jerry Goldsmith)

Brass Instrument Fanfare
"Overture" - Nobunaga's Ambition: Zenkokuban (Music by Yoko Kanno)

Introducing the All French Team
"Klendathu Drop" - Starship Troopers (Music by Basil Poledouris)

Introducing the All Chinese Team
"1945 Day of Destiny" - Super Atragon (Music by Masamichi Amano)

Kaga's Best and Worst Dishes (opening statement)
"Ground Zero" - Brain Powerd (Music by Yoko Kanno)

Kaga's Best and Worst Dishes (first listed best dish)
"Run" - Brain Powerd (Music by Yoko Kanno)

Kaga's Best and Worst Dishes (second listed best dish)
"Promise Me" - First Knight (Music by Jerry Goldsmith)

Kaga's Best and Worst Dishes (first listed worst dish)
"Chemical Dance" - Brain Powerd (Music by Yoko Kanno)

Kaga's Best and Worst Dishes (second listed worst dish)
"Spark" - Brain Powerd (Music by Yoko Kanno)

Kaga's Best and Worst Dishes (third and worst dish)
"Ground Zero" - Brain Powerd (Music by Yoko Kanno)

Kaga's Best and Worst Dishes (third listed best dish)
"Shining Battlefield" - Nobunaga's Ambition: Tenshouki (Music by Yoko Kanno)

Kaga's Best and Worst Dishes (fourth listed best dish)
"Dragon of Shine" - Romance of the Three Kingdoms V (Music by Takayuki Hattori)

Kaga's Best and Worst Dishes (fifth listed and best dish of all time)
"Suite from Mulan" - Mulan (Music by Jerry Goldsmith)

Conclusion (sneak preview of Part 2)
"Night Battle" - First Knight (Music by Jerry Goldsmith)

Unique Songs from 'Iron Chef 2000th Dish Special Part 2'

Introduction (recap of teams):
"The Parachutes" - Air Force One (Music by Jerry Goldsmith)

Introduction (recap of custom plates)
"Night Battle" - First Knight (Music by Jerry Goldsmith)

Digest (Opening Brass)
"Overture" - Nobunaga's Ambition: Zenkokuban (Music by Yoko Kanno)

Digest (Reintroducing the French Team)
"Klendathu Drop" - Starship Troopers (Music by Basil Poledouris)

Digest (Re-revelation of the theme ingredients)
"Battle at Devil's Den" - Gettysburg (Music by Randy Edelman)

Digest (Battle Recap 1)
"Yip man's Kwoon" - Dragon - The Bruce Lee Story (Music by Randy Edelman)

Digest (Battle Recap 2)
"Spending Time in Preparation" - Neon Genesis Evangelion II (Music by Shiro Sagisu)

Digest (Battle Recap 3)
"Dragon of Shine" - Romance of the Three Kingdoms V (Music by Takayuki Hattori)

Presentation of the French Dishes:
"End Titles" - Her Alibi (music by Geroges Delerue)
(Alternate U.S. Release: "Edwardo the Barber" - Edward Scissorshands by Danny Elfman)

Presentation of the Chinese Dishes:
"The Heavenly Peach Land" - Romance of the Three Kingdoms V (Music by Takayuki Hattori)
(Alternate U.S. Release: "The Middle Way" - Little Buddha by Ryuichi Sakamoto)

Tasting (Introducing the Judges):
"From History to Legend" - Gettysburg (Music by Randy Edelman)

I've had requests to start posting things to youtube. I won't post any episodes that FilmRise has the rights to because that has caused issues for others in the past, but I can and will post any original content outside of FilmRise's library... starting with this one. More to come.

From the Egg Battle (3/5/1999) and (3/12/1999). Michiba is given the honor of unveiling the theme ingredient. While it is being revealed, Kaga can be seen grinning and later on laughing. Interestingly, Michiba would be the first person that is not Chairman Kaga to unveil the theme ingredient. Yukio Hattori would 2 months later and then Kaga would be replaced for the Japan Cup 2002 Special.

It's in Page 20 of the Where to Find These Battles thread in the flamola forum. tetsujin070561 just posted it. Enjoy.

Fun fact: Both All French and All Chinese teams were seen cooking for approximately 31 minutes and 52 seconds spanning both parts.

Someone/somebody somewhere has access to the original 2 part US release version of the 2000th plate special.

It was 'not' supposed to be a combined single long episode like the one from Digital Distractions thats been floating around the internet for the past couple of decades (recently uploaded by NAXJUSTICE to Archive.org under Season 6 https://archive.org/details/212-chiufai-tong-vs.-chen-kenichi-black-tiger-prawn-battle-january-30-1998, listed as episode Spare Rib/Snapping Turtle/Banana).

It is supposed to be two distinct episodes, each one with a sizeable introduction sequence. Although the Filmrise release verisions on Youtube/Tubi/Roku/etc... are correct in listing them as the two episodes, they are sorely missing the extensive music collection that was a part of these episodes (seriously its like over 30 songs from movies and video games when you add it up).

Does anyone have or know anyone with access to these original US released episodes?

I've wondered something. Who does a better job of translating the show when it came to Iron Chef airing outside of Japan? The early subtitles (episodes from 1996 to 1998) or the Food Network Version (1993-1996,1998-2001). I will provide some examples below. These will be common phrases from the show. Some names are spelled differently between both versions.

Summoning The Iron Chefs

Early Subtitles: Kaga: Come to life, Iron Chefs!

Food Network: Kaga: I summon the Iron Chefs!

Unveiling The Ingredient

Early Subtitles: Kaga: I would like to introduce today's theme!

Food Network: Kaga: We unveil the Ingredient!

Who Will Win? (Example)

Early Subtitles: Fukui: Will it be the Iron Chef or the hero of Italian Cuisine?

Food Network: Fukui: Who takes it? Whose cuisine reigns supreme?

Tiebreaker Results

Early Subtitles: Kaga: The scores are even! It's a tie!

Food Network: Kaga: A tie!/The scores are tied! (Two different examples)

Overtime Ingredient Reveal

Early Subtitles: Kaga: Let me introduce the theme for the cook-off!

Food Network: Kaga: The theme for overtime is.....this! (Some use the same phrase for a normal ingredient reveal.)

Iron Chef's Ascending into Kitchen Stadium

Early Subtitles: Fukui: They have carved many legends in this Kitchen Stadium...Chinese: Chin Kenichi, French: Sakai Hiroyuki, Japanese: Nakamura Koumei. The whole country will be intently watching as dramatic scenes begin to unfold. (One of many examples)

Food Network: Fukui: Ascending into Kitchen Stadium the nation's culinary leaders, your Iron Chefs! Iron Chef Chinese: Chen Kenichi, Iron Chef French: Hiroyuki Sakai, and Iron Chef Japanese: Komei Nakamura. Here they stand, the invincible men of culinary skills!

Who Do You Choose?

Early Subtitles: Kaga: Who will you challenge?

Food Network: Kaga: Who do you challenge?/Who will it be?

Which do you think did it better?

From the Salted Salmon battle (1/9/98). This theme ingredient takes longer then usual to descend into Kitchen Stadium. So long that there is a buildup of the music before the main theme ingredient reveal music plays. The beginning part of the buildup was used in early episodes in 1993 before Kaga would unveil the theme ingredient. But the middle part is mostly not used and is possibly only used in this battle. Ingredients started to descend into Kitchen Stadium in 1996 up to 1998. This is the last one during the original run of the show as a theme ingredient would later descend for the New York Battle (3/28/00). The first part of the buildup would be used for those battles (when the ingredient descends into Kitchen Stadium) but this is the only time the theme had to be extended even further with a second section of music to play.

Here is a new video series I am working on newly translating/subbing/dubbing called 'The Making of Iron Chef.' This is the first of more to come. If this your first time seeing behind the scenes footage of this show or if you have seen other clips like this, post a comment below and let us know where.

From the Milk Battle (8/1/1997). The theme is revealed to be Milk, Kaga then announces a special addition to this battle. Then 2 cows walk in so you can get milk from the source if you choose. Causing surprise, excitement, and especially laughter from Kaga. I would say this is the only time an animal walks into Kitchen Stadium because all of them either ascend or descend into the Kitchen Stadium from the Ingredient Reveal.