Shoku no Gunshi (literally “Food Strategists”) is a manga by
Masayuki Kusumi and Haruki Izumi that began running in Weekly Manga
Goraku in 2009. It chronicles the adventures of self-described “food
strategist” Ban Hongo, who travels in search of the ultimate gourmet
experience.
Because that premise isn't unusual enough, Shoku no Gunshi
also draws parallels between meals and famous battles from the Three
Kingdoms period of Chinese history, and the famed military strategist
Zhuge Liang (aka Kongming, aka Shokatsuryo Komei) exists as a literal
character within Ban Hongo's imagination.
Shoku no Gunshi has been adapted into a live-action
television drama that will air on Tokyo MX beginning in April, 2015. It
stars Kanji Tsuda as Ban Hongo, Sosuke Takaoka as Hongo's rival, Kaoru
Rikiishi, and Eisuke Sasai as Kongming.
