Trends End, But Life Goes On: A Discussion on the 'Oedo Seabura-ken' Arc of Ramen Saiyuki

Following the 'Vending Machine Teahouse' arc, which had a very satisfying conclusion depicting one man's failure and comeback, comes the 'Oedo Seabura-ken' arc. As if to dispel the lingering warmth of the previous episode, the story begins with a reunion with Itakura, a fated rival who once subjected Serizawa to a humiliating experience, and the resurfacing of memories of the brutal revenge Serizawa exacted upon him.

While this episode, which starts with a reunion with such a bitter rival and eventually leads to the resolution of their grievances and reconciliation, could be seen as another heartwarming story like the 'Vending Machine Teahouse' arc, the true essence of the 'Oedo Seabura-ken' arc lies not in that well-made ending, but in the process leading up to it.

The main focus of this episode is to shine a light on the all-too-obvious fact that even if a trend ends, the lives of those involved in that past trend continue.

Serizawa had almost completely forgotten the memories of the revenge he once took on Itakura. Furthermore, the rise and fall of 'Seabura-cacha' (back-fat) style ramen, along with Itakura, were also outside of Serizawa's field of vision and memory. The story progresses by having him look back on the reality that his former self had forgotten and failed to see, this time as a participant.

People outside of a trend irresponsibly state that 'such-and-such is over' along with the shifting of trends. It is true that the more intense a trend is, the more certainly it will come to an end. Serizawa was also someone who belonged entirely to that side regarding 'Seabura-cacha' style ramen.

However, even after a trend ends, the lives of those involved continue. As long as customers keep coming, the business of the shop continues as well.

Although 'Seabura-cacha' style ramen took the world by storm in the 90s and eventually declined, its existence did not completely vanish. Even after the boom has passed, shops with their own unique character or those with a good location continue to thrive. 'Oedo Seabura-ken,' managed by Itakura, is a ramen shop that once expanded into a chain but eventually scaled back to just its main branch; nevertheless, it is a shop that has managed to stay in business until the present day.

An important point in the 'Oedo Seabura-ken' arc is the presence of a new character who appears here for the first time: Gluta, or Kazufumi Itakura. Gluta, the son of the fated Itakura and an active ramen YouTuber, meets Serizawa for the first time in this arc and serves as the driving force of the episode. He becomes a regular character in 'Ramen Saiyuki' from then on, and a faint mentor-student relationship begins to form between him, Serizawa, and Arisu.

Gluta, who possesses a critical eye for ramen that even Serizawa respects, views the 'Oedo Seabura-ken' managed by his own father with a harsh gaze. However, Serizawa's words are sharp toward Gluta, whose ideals run ahead of him. Even when it comes to his most hated rival, Serizawa's perspective is always fair when it comes to the management of a ramen shop.

Here, Serizawa affirms the life of Itakura, who manages a 'Seabura-cacha' style ramen shop that is declining as the trend passes. And through his own investigation, he understands through experience that 'Seabura-cacha' style ramen has not been completely eradicated, but has changed its form and survived into the modern day.

What makes 'Ramen Saiyuki' interesting is that it uses ramen as an entry point to develop theories on entertainment, and in this 'Oedo Seabura-ken' arc, it is interesting that the aftermath of entertainment that was once intensely popular but eventually declined is depicted through 'Seabura-cacha' style ramen. And the fact that entertainment that one thought had completely declined after the trend passed is actually surviving steadily is something seen in many genres, not just ramen.

In the game industry to which I belong, 2D shooting games and fighting games are genres that flourished in the 80s and 90s and are often discussed as having declined today. However, this is similar to how they still survive today, with new titles being released periodically and even producing hit titles like 'Street Fighter 6'.

That said, Serizawa's proposal for improving 'Oedo Seabura-ken' is blunt: since it was a shop that became popular by riding the 'Seabura-cacha' trend, it should now just ride the currently popular formats like 'Iekei' or 'Jiro-style.' The manager, Itakura, doesn't have the skill or passion to make ramen to that extent, so that is a perfectly valid argument. Trends grant the fruit of success even to those who have no attachment or passion for the genre. If such a creator wants to succeed again, riding the current trend once more is undoubtedly the most reliable plan.

In the 'Vending Machine Teahouse' arc, the episode preceding the 'Oedo Seabura-ken' arc, Serizawa consistently shows respect for Uzaki, an excellent ramen creator. This is because Uzaki is a genuine creator who possesses both skill and passion. In contrast, Serizawa has no expectations whatsoever for Itakura as a ramen creator. Therefore, his plan to improve the shop is one that expects nothing from his abilities. And that is entirely correct.

Afterward, Serizawa notices that Itakura, who had intended to close the shop before the improvement plan, actually has the skills to make fried rice, having trained seriously as a Chinese cuisine chef rather than a ramen maker. The shop is revived by relaunching as a fried rice shop combined with the 'Seabura-cacha' style. Even if he couldn't evaluate him at all as a ramen maker, Serizawa honestly evaluates Itakura's skill in making fried rice. In that respect, too, Serizawa is fair to the end.

Thus, the 'Oedo Seabura-ken' arc comes to a close. The fated connection with Itakura, which he thought had ended cleanly with a thorough revenge—to the point that he had completely forgotten about it—is resolved, and what remains is the connection with Gluta, Itakura's son.

Itakura is offered a helping hand by the person he once hated most, and succeeds in reviving the shop he intended to close. And Serizawa, too, through his reunion with someone he absolutely could not forgive, meets in an unexpected way someone who seems like a disciple, someone who might inherit his will. Even if a trend ends, life goes on. Even if revenge is achieved, as long as that person is alive, the connection continues.

And so, following the 'Oedo Seabura-ken' arc is the 'Enshodo' arc, an episode involving an even deeper and more bitter connection. Please continue below.