Japan was ahead of its time, and Japanese style was misunderstood.
What was a brilliant social statement about the morality and consequences of the existence and use of nuclear weapons, and which featured a giant antihero that would go on to become a timeless pop culture icon, was lost on a self-centered Western film industry. It is something a viewer feels, and it’s a delight for viewers to watch.
The touches of formality and propriety, the sincere belief that this show is serious business of the utmost importance, and the honor and respect for rank and accomplishment - all these cultural qualities saturate Iron Chef and give it a style that no other production can achieve. In many ways, the Japanese flair is a cultural heritage. When was floor reporter Ohta going to break into the broadcast with his urgent-but-extremely-polite “Fukui-san?” and then be commanded to “Go!” with his report? Where was the silky voice dubbing which unfailingly translated what was said with a mesmerizing blend of serous drama and chill richness? Without these things, Iron Chef turns out to be like sushi without wasabi. Those who loved Iron Chef and were looking forward to Iron Chef America weren’t disappointed with the new Kitchen Stadium, its new talent, or the new dramatic competitions instead, they found themselves waiting for things that no longer happened. That same flair is found in abundance in the original Japanese Iron Chef, and just as in gaming and other forms of entertainment, this flair was a missing ingredient in the American iterations that followed. Related: The Best Cooking Competition Shows, Ranked
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