On Finding a Successor

I recently found another gem of a slice-of-life manga titled Sota's Knife (Souta no Houchou) and boy, what a page turner! The manga tells the story of Sota Kitaoka, a young man from Hokkaido, that pursues the art of classical Japanese cuisines at Ginza Tomikyu, a ryotei that is known as one of the best traditional restaurants in Tokyo (all are fictional in case you are wondering). The relationship between Sota and Kyugoro Tomita (his Oyakata a.k.a boss/owner chef/master), his colleagues (including his love interest, Tomita's daughter), his growth from a kitchen helper to the top level, his dream of opening his own restaurant versus continuing the legacy of his boss, the hyper competitive environment of restaurants in Tokyo, and the passion and dedication of a true Shokunin shown throughout the series, are simply beautiful and full of emotions. Not only that they remind me of all the restaurants and chefs in Japan that I love so much (and sadly I could not visit until God knows when), but also the journey of my own career and what I look forward to for my future.