To celebrate the setting loose of Okami HD on the PSN, five restaurants in Tokyo, Japan have each added a distinctly Okami-themed dish to their menu for thirty days. The dishes will be available throughout all of November, and anyone who purchases one of these dishes will receive a free Okami-themed coaster.
A sampling of the dishes was held for the press. Five chefs were each given a character from the game and Okami HD’s producer, Natsuki Shiozawa, expressed the characters’ feelings and themes so the chefs could incorporate those into their dishes. Each of these dishes will be accompanied by a Celestial Brush-themed cocktail. It was also noted that because cocktails have been added to the menu, one must be sure not to over drink (yes, this was actually said).
The first dish is a collaborated effort from the five culinary masters, and is an Amaterasu-themed cheesecake. It contains a sweet and sour marmalade sauce intertwined with a berry sauce to mix the flavour. It will cost 600円and can be served with Glory’s Cocktail, which will cost 680円. Glory’s Cocktail is also known as “The Shining Sun of Heaven and Earth” and is composed of Japanese sake and orange juice. It will come with red syrup to be poured into the drink to symbolise the brightness and glory of the sun and was inspired by the Sunrise brush technique. A non-alcoholic version is also available. This dish will be served at all five participating restaurants.
The second dish takes its inspiration from Kushi’s feelings as she leaves Kamiki Village to meet Orochi. The chef took into consideration the bags of rice Kushi often carries to make her sake, and so he decided to make it a Gomokuzushi dish, which is sushi rice mixed with vegetables. It also features a comb-like decoration to reflect her hairstyle. It will cost 880円 and be accompanied by a Moonlight Cocktail. Priced at 650円, this Crescent-inspired drink features violet-coloured liquor to recreate the evening’s crescent moon. This dish will be found at the Yozakurabijin restaurant.
The bond between Issun and Amaterasu can be seen in the third dish. For 980円, one can enjoy sushi designed to emulate the way Issun would jump on Amaterasu’s back throughout the game. A fun dish, the taste is bound to be enjoyable. The accompanying Mans Cocktail is blue and resembling the Milky Way galaxy; showing the stars in the same way the River of the Heavens did. The lemon is the bridge that Amaterasu draws to cross it, and as such, this drink is Rejuvination. It will cost 650円 at the Boshi restaurant.
Kaguya was raised by Mr. and Ms. Bamboo, so her corresponding dish is a sushi roll made from bamboo. The main feature of this dish is its representation of the twelve-layered kimono Kaguya wears and will be 880円. Her Brandish Cocktail is served in a bamboo-like cup which looks as if Amaterasu has taken to it with a Power Slash. It will cost 680円 at the Taketori hyaku mono gatari restaurant.
The dish for my favourite character, Waka, is truly spectacular. A sushi roll filled with salmon, avocado and cream cheese, all sitting on a sheet of seaweed and carefully moulded into the shape of a flute. Caressing the sushi is a sheet of dried tofu to represent the Galestorm technique. All of this, plus a moon-shaped pickled egg, will cost 880円. Waka’s Gale Cocktail is mostly comprised of milk, which is then decorated using chocolate to represent the swirl of a gale. A stick of pocky can be seen, which as it rises out of the drink, symbolises the rising of the gale. Banana liquor is added. This will cost 680円 at a restaurant known as Shibuya.
Finally, we have the beautiful tree spirit Konohana Sakuya, in seabream sushi form. Its shape is based on her appearance and will be 880円. Her cocktail is, as one would expect, based on the Bloom brush technique. A mixture of ginger ale and jasmine tea with a base of mint, the mere image of the cocktail beings to mind the blooming of a cherry blossom. This refreshing beverage will cost 680円 at Tsubomi.
Okami is a game that means a lot to me personally. In two weeks time, expect to see my very own entry in our Oprainfall Origins series on this very game.
Thank you to Jodie Langford lending her translating skills to this article.
