“Hiroshi Nohara’s Lunchtime Style” is one of the strangest yet most charming anime spin-offs I’ve ever seen. Trying to explain why it’s so amusing is surprisingly difficult. Crayon Shin-chan is one of the most popular anime in Japan—virtually everyone here knows it—yet this spin-off looks hilariously low-budget. Even the opening sets the tone perfectly: a clunky, awkward-looking 3D animation paired with an oddly catchy theme song that somehow gets stuck in your head.
Episode 1 is divided into two short stories: one about Indian curry and another about a tuna rice bowl. Each segment highlights a different side of Hiroshi’s “lunchtime philosophy.” It’s nothing grand or dramatic, yet strangely exciting. I don’t even know why—but before I realized it, I kept watching episode after episode.
Part 1 — The Indian Curry Episode
In the first half of Episode 1, Hiroshi heads to an Indian curry restaurant, planning to order a mild curry. However, when he notices some women nearby, he feels pressured to look brave and ends up choosing the spiciest option instead. Predictably, chaos ensues as he struggles with the heat. Yet, surprisingly, even the hottest curry initially seems manageable—a small but very relatable “foodie moment” for anyone who has overestimated their spice tolerance.
The restaurant offers four levels of spiciness, a system familiar to many Japanese diners but potentially unusual for viewers abroad. Large chains like CoCo Ichibanya often use the same system, giving customers precise control over how fiery their meal will be.
The humor is classic yet charming: Hiroshi’s decision to pick a spicier curry just to impress strangers feels both ridiculous.Interestingly, the curry itself is shown in live-action shots, not animation, making the dish look incredibly real.
Overall, this curry segment perfectly sets the tone for Hiroshi’s meticulous yet quirky approach to lunch. Even a simple decision like choosing a spice level becomes a personal ritual, highlighting how seriously he takes these seemingly mundane moments.
Part 2 — The Tuna Bowl Episode
In the second half of Episode 1, Hiroshi and his junior, Kawaguchi, visit a restaurant serving tuna rice bowls. Unlike the curry segment, this story revolves less around taste and more around social rules. In Japan, it’s a common (if somewhat old-fashioned) practice for a senior to treat a junior at lunch, and the junior is expected to act accordingly.
Traditionally, the junior either follows the senior’s suggestion or, if they don’t speak up, orders the cheapest item on the menu. While this custom still exists, it’s less common today. For viewers unfamiliar with Japanese culture, these unspoken rules might seem unusual or overly formal.
Kawaguchi, however, breaks the unspoken rules and orders what he truly wants. This independence might seem admirable in theory, but it also makes him slightly irritating to watch. To put it in Western terms, he’s like someone who refuses to tip at a restaurant—someone who simply doesn’t follow social expectations, even if harmlessly.
This segment offers a small but fascinating glimpse into Japanese culture, from the senior-junior relationship to subtle dining etiquette.
Combined with the earlier curry story, the tuna bowl segment completes a well-rounded introduction to Hiroshi’s lunchtime philosophy. Every meal, no matter how ordinary, becomes an event shaped by taste, social expectations, and personal quirks.
Conclusion
Episode 1 of Hiroshi Nohara’s Lunchtime Style look cheap on the surface, but its charm lies in turning everyday meals into oddly relatable moments. I’m already looking forward to exploring the next episodes.
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