Taste, memory and cooking recipes in fictional TV series: The case of Samurai Gourmet (2017).

This article analyzes the Japanese hybrid television genre known as Gourmet TV dramas, focusing on the 2017 Netflix series *Samurai Gourmet*, which blends fictional narrative with cooking shows. The series follows a retired man, Takeshi Kasumi, whose culinary experiences are interwoven with his imaginative encounters with a samurai alter ego, exploring themes of memory, social values, and cultural identity through food. The show employs audiovisual techniques to evoke taste and smell, while also addressing Japan's demographic shifts and evolving food culture, including openness to global cuisines and changing gender roles. *Samurai Gourmet* exemplifies a shift from a domestically focused format to one designed for international audiences, promoting Japanese cuisine alongside universal themes of nostalgia and personal growth.