When you get enough books electronically out of the library, the system starts making recommendations. Which is how I got to learn Kukariyo exists. Apparently because I read Demon Slayer. I guess manga = manga to the system.
Kukariyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits is a manga based on a series of light novels. Aoi is kidnapped to the spirit lands by an ogre because her late grandfather promised the ogre her hand in marriage. Instead of marrying the ogre… Aoi starts a restaurant at the resort the ogre runs. (The whole marriage thing is to pay for the time her grandfather wrecked the resort)
If I were asked to describe Kukariyo, I would say it’s Spirited Away as food porn with some romance thrown in. Will she marry the ogre Odanna, whose actually a handsome and nice guy, or fall for Ginji, the sweet fox spirit? Who cares, let’s talk about food and cooking!
Kukariyo is foodie Heaven first, fantastic spirit land second and romance last.
There’s an amazing lack of tension in the work. Will Aoi manage to win over the latest troublesome spirit with her amazing food? Of course she will! Was there any question? The real question is what tantalizing dish will she spend three pages lovingly making.
The part of the manga that has been the most fascinating for me is Aoi’s late grandfather, Shiro. He’s dead from the beginning but Shiro casts a shadow over seemingly everything.
Shiro apparently had the ability to see spirits, travel between worlds and had vast undefined power. He could be a scoundrel and a trickster but he was also capable of great kindness as well. The dead grandad is the most complex character in the entire work.
And he’s the reason everything happens. Not only did he promise Aoi’s hand in marriage, he’s the one who taught her how to cook. And her mastery of the kitchen is literally a super power since apparently her spiritual energy is a part of it.
Kukariyo isn’t flawless but it does stick in my head.
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