Iron Chef

Iron Chef is a televised cooking competition made by Fuji Television in Japan, with one of the three chefs facing their opponents.

Kitchen Stadium is the setting for Iron Chef, and the Gourmet Academy organizes the venue.

Takeshi Kaga acts as the chairman of the Gourmet Academy in Kitchen Stadium, known as Chairman Kaga.

Chen Kenichi and Hiroyuki Sakai are the longest-serving of all the Iron Chefs.

Komei Nakamura, Masaharu Morimoto and Masahiko Kobe are the most recent Iron Chefs, the latter being the youngest.

Michiba became the first ever Iron Chef Japanese when it made its debut in 1993.

Komei Nakamura, endorsed by Michiba, was the second Iron Chef Japanese in March 1996.

Yutaka Ishinabe had become the first ever Iron Chef French when it made its debut in 1993.

Masaharu Morimoto, coming from Hollywood star Robert de Niro's Japanese restaurant Nobu in New York, became the third Iron Chef Japanese in 1998, but also the most recent overall.

Chen Kenichi is "the Sezchuan Sage," Hiroyuki Sakai as "the Delacroix of French cuisine," Masahiko Kobe "the Prince of Pasta," and Masaharu Morimoto as the neo-Japanese leader, all on Iron Chef.

Toshiro Kandagawa positions himself as a recurring villain on Iron Chef, described as "the Don of the Kansai."

Having been a fierce enemy of the Gourmet Academy, Toshiro Kandagawa's role is the same as a pro wrestling heel, an aggressive persona for the Iron Chefs to contend with.

Kenji Fukui and Dr. Yukio Hattori are the primary announcers on Iron Chef, with Shinchiro Otha as its floor reporter.

One or two guest announcers (who are also judges) also made frequent appearances on Iron Chef.

Shinchiro Otha is the Iron Chef floor reporter, known for his rapid-fire reporting style.

Each Iron Chef battle lasts 60 minutes to tackle the day's theme ingredient and prepare artistic dishes.

In case of overtime when total points in the scores are tied, a battle lasts 30 minutes.

Most Iron Chef episodes start with Chairman Kaga's words "If memory serves me right...", taken from Arthur Rimbaud.

Plus, Chairman Kaga starts each Iron Chef cooking time with "Allez cuisine!", followed by the gong.

At the end of the visitor's profile at the start of each Iron Chef episode (before the title sequence), the Chairman urges him/her/them to do his/her/their best, accompanied by a slow-motion shot.

In Iron Chef's original US-dubbed version, a specially-made prologue starts with a quotation coming from Brillat-Savarin: "Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you what you are."

Plus, in its specially-made prologue for its original US dub, Fukui's pre-recorded narration describes Kitchen Stadium and the Iron Chefs.

Also in Iron Chef's original US dub, Fukui narrates a specially-made pre-tasting review.

For this pre-tasting review specially-made for Iron Chef's original US-dubbed iteration, a footage from Chairman Kaga's introduction of the opponent is used.

Plus, a slow-motion shot of the Iron Chef being selected by the opponent is used during the pre-tasting review on Iron Chef's US dub.

In addition, a slow-motion shot of the theme ingredient being unveiled by Chairman Kaga is also used during the pre-tasting review on Iron Chef's US-dubbed version.

The presentation of dishes by both the Iron Chef and the opponent are also used during the pre-tasting review on Iron Chef's US dub.

For its original pre-2001 US dub, Chairman Kaga's introduction of the opposing chefs on Iron Chef is likewise subtitled in English, but the actor's real voice is heard in Japanese.

Iron Chef's post-2001 dub has Chairman Kaga's introduction of the opposing chefs spoken in English.

Black and white segments in which the opposing chefs are interviewed are on Iron Chef.

Plus, in Iron Chef's original US incarnation, interviews are conducted in the English language during Chairman Kaga's introduction of the opposing chefs

Shinchiro Otha's famous quotation is "Fukui-san?", which is said several times per episode, when he interrupts Fukui's commentary with a report from the field.

During Iron Chef's first two years starting in 1993, one celebrity guest is in the commentary booth and three judges are on the tasting panel.

Each and every battle on Iron Chef starts with Fukui introducing one guest, plus Dr. Yukio Hattori and Chairman Kaga during its first two years starting in 1993.

In the mid-1990's or before 1996, Kitchen Stadium underwent some major changes.

Some of the changes involving Kitchen Stadium on Iron Chef are the addition of a fourth judge and the addition of the half-hour overtime sessions, paving the way for the scoring system.

With Kitchen Stadium completing major upgrades, two guests are in the booth, with four judges on the tasting panel, both on Iron Chef.

Plus, with Kitchen Stadium's upgrades, after the gong signalling the beginning of each and every battle held on Iron Chef, Fukui introduces two guests and Dr. Yukio Hattori.

In addition, with Kitchen Stadium completing major changes, each and every battle on Iron Chef starts with Chairman Kaga walking to the ingredient stand amid applause to introduce the visiting chef.

The tasting panel during Iron Chef's first two years consists of three separate tables, but with Kitchen Stadium's upgrades, one single table is used with four chairs on this panel.

Several events precluded Michiba's 1996 retirement:

Michiba suffered an illness that left him briefly hospitalized, interrupting his Iron Chef tenure.

Afterwards, Michiba started getting tired from the stress of appearing on Iron Chef and running three Japanese restaurants.

Plus, Kitchen Stadium's upgrades led to the overtime battles on Iron Chef, the first of which Michiba emerged victorious.

In the final round of the second Mr. Iron Chef Tournament, which is also his last one, Michiba won the title over Chen Kenichi with beef and left Kitchen Stadium in January 1996.

The King of Iron Chefs Tournament serves as the grand finale of the original Iron Chef series, which Hiroyuki Sakai wins over Chen Kenichi.

Whilst a success in Japan, Iron Chef became a sleeper hit in the United States in the late-1990's or after 1998, when it was picked up by cable's Food Network and dubbed into English.

For Iron Chef's original US dubbed version, the cooking competition was given a campy charm, which evoked English-dubbed Chinese kung fu films.

In fact, Iron Chef's original US dub makes references to Western pop culture.

When Chairman Kaga speaks on-screen for Iron Chef's original US-dubbed iteration, his words are in English subtitles, but the actor's real voice is heard in Japanese.

The segments being used to introduce the opposing chefs on Iron Chef are being spoken by Chairman Kaga in Japanese, both in its original version and its original pre-2001 US dub.

Plus, Iron Chef's US version ends with a slow-motion shot of the victor before the end credits roll.

Bill Bickard does the voice for Kenji Fukui, Scott Morris for Dr. Yukio Hattori and Jeff Manning for Shinchiro Otha in Iron Chef's original US-dubbed version.

Repeated quotes for Iron Chef include:

• Kenji Fukui: Five years ago/nearly a deacde ago, a man's fantasy became reality in a form never seen before: Kitchen Stadium, a giant cooking arena.

• The motivation for spending his fortune to create Kitchen Stadium was to encounter new original cuisines which could be called true artistic creations. 

• To realize his dream, he secretly started choosing the top chefs of various styles of cooking, and he named his men, the Iron Chefs, the invincible men of culinary skills. Iron Chef Japanese is [name]. Iron Chef French is Hiroyuki Sakai. Iron Chef Chinese is Chen Kenichi. And Masahiko Kobe is Iron Chef Italian. 

• Kitchen Stadium is the arena where Iron Chefs await the battles of master chefs from around the world. Both the Iron Chef and opponent have one hour to tackle the theme ingredient of the day. Using all these senses, skills, creativity, they're to prepare artistic dishes never tasted before. 

• And if ever a visitor wins over the Iron Chef, he or she will gain the people's ovation and fame forever. Every batttle, reputations are on the line in Kitchen Stadium where master chefs pit their artistic creations against each other. What inspiration does today's visitor bring? And how will the Iron Chef fight back? The heat will be on!

• Chairman Kaga: Watashi no kioku na tashikanaraba... (subtitled or dubbed by Kent Frick in the post-2001 era): If memory serves me right... 

• Kenji Fukui: Ascending into Kitchen Stadium/Making their ascent 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 [name]. Here they stand: the invincible men of culinary skills!

• Chairman Kaga: Kyo no tema wa, koro des! (subtitle: We unveil the ingredient!)

• Chairman Kaga: Kyo no tema wa... (subtitle: Today's theme is...)

• Kenji Fukui: We are set -- let's get it on!/Let's go for it!

• Chairman Kaga: Allez cuisine!

• Kenji Fukui: Bang a gong, we are on!/Opening gong./The opening gong sounds.

• Kenji Fukui: And now, let's introduce/meet our guests for today's battle. First...

• Kenji Fukui: And our commentator/And of course, our commentator, Dr. Yukio Hattori. Doc?

• Dr. Yukio Hattori: Always a pleasure.

• Shinchiro Otha: Fukui-san? Kenji Fukui: Yes.

• Kenji Fukui: From the floor, Shinchiro Otha. Go!

• Kenji Fukui: Alright.

• Kenji Fukui: FLAME-OLAAH!

• Kenji Fukui: And now, a minute to go; the final 60 seconds.

• Kenji Fukui: And that's it! The cooking's done. The [ingredient] battle is O-VAH!

• Kenji Fukui: [visiting chef/Iron Chef] is offering (number) dishes./The Iron Chef has (number) dishes./The Iron Chef counters with (number) dishes. First...

• Kenji Fukui: Today's visitor... (used in pre-tasting review exclusively for American English dub)

• Kenji Fukui: Chairman Kaga unveils the theme/theme ingredient. (used in pre-tasting review exclusively for American English dub)

• Kenji Fukui: And now, the moment of truth...tasting and judgment. On the panel today are...

• Kenji Fukui: First, the dishes of [visiting chef].

• Kenji Fukui: And now up, the dishes of Iron Chef [name].

• Kenji Fukui: Who takes it? Whose cuisine reigns supreme?

• Kenji Fukui: It's the Iron Chef! [name] has done it!/The Iron Chef wins it!/It's the visitor!

• Kenji Fukui: Alright, let's check the scores/Alright, the scores.

Backdraft's soundtrack are used for most of the original score for Iron Chef in its original Japanese and pre-2001/post-2001 US dubs.

For its original Japanese and pre-2001 US-dubbed iterations, besides Backdraft, music cues from other Western sources are used, notably Glory and Dragon: the Bruce Lee Story.

Show Me Your Firetruck (from Backdraft) is used as the theme tune for Iron Chef, but is also used for post-match interviews and the ending credits.

If an Iron Chef episode uses no post-match interviews, the end credits begin after victory by either the visitor or the Iron Chef.

At the end of the opponent's profile at the start of each Iron Chef battle (before the opening sequence), Show Me Your Firetruck's opening is heard as the Chairman urges him/her/them to do best.

Fighting 17th (also from Backdraft) is used, both in the prologue and the pre-tasting battle review, seen exclusively in Iron Chef's original US dubbed version.

The Arsonist's Waltz (also from Backdraft) is heard over a quote "Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you what you are" by Brillat-Savaran, also seen exclusively in Iron Chef's original US-dubbed version.

Charging Fort Wagner (from Glory) is used when the Iron Chefs are summoned into Kitchen Stadium, both in its original Japanese version and its original pre-2001 US dub. 

Backdraft's sixth track is used to introduce the visiting chef to Kitchen Stadium in Iron Chef, plus the unveiling of the theme ingredient.

You Go, We Go (also from Backdraft) is used as the Iron Chef's profile cue, plus the tale of the tape.

Track 8 of the Backdraft soundtrack is used as the dish description cue, looped and repeated, plus the victory cue used when the Chairman declares the winner of the battle for Iron Chef.

Brothers (also from Backdraft) is used during segments, in which Chairman Kaga described the day's theme ingredient on Iron Chef after unveiling the theme ingredient and before the tale of the tape.

If an Iron Chef episode does not use Chairman Kaga's theme ingredient description, the tale of the tape begins after Chairman Kaga unveils the theme.

Plus, the gong portion used in Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man is used, when the gong marks the start and end of the hour-long battle in the original Iron Chef series.

The gong in Requiem (from Akira) is used after the commercial break before the dishes are presented again and before judgment on Iron Chef's original US-dubbed version.

With the gong in Requiem from Akira, both the Iron Chef and visitor are pictured facing each other.

A cue from Dragon: the Bruce Lee Story is utilized when the members of the week's tasting panel are introduced on Iron Chef, both in its original Japanese version and its pre-2001 US dub.

Michael Nyman's music cues are used to introduce the opposing chefs on Iron Chef, both in its original Japanese version and its original pre-2001 US dub.

Lady in the Red Hat by Michael Nyman is a cue used during the verdict segment on Iron Chef, prior to declaring the winner.

Plus, Yoko Kanno's orchestral music cues, some of which come from Koei games and Brain Powerd, likewise appear on Iron Chef during the introduction of the visiting chef.

For Iron Chef's post-2001 US dubbed version, Track 5 of the Backdraft soundtrack replaces Fanfare for the Common Man for the opening gong.

Cues from Romance of the Three Kingdoms V by Takayuki Hattori are on Iron Chef during Chairman Kaga's opponent intro in its original version and its pre-2001/post-2001 US dubs.