Shoku no Gunshi (literally “Food Strategists”) is a manga by Masayuki Kusumi and Haruki Izumi that began running in Weekly Manga Goraku in 2009. It chronicles the adventures of self-described “food strategist” Ban Hongo, who travels in search of the ultimate gourmet experience.
Because that premise isn't unusual enough, Shoku no Gunshi also draws parallels between meals and famous battles from the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history, and the famed military strategist Zhuge Liang (aka Kongming, aka Shokatsuryo Komei) exists as a literal character within Ban Hongo's imagination.
Shoku no Gunshi has been adapted into a live-action television drama that will air on Tokyo MX beginning in April, 2015. It stars Kanji Tsuda as Ban Hongo, Sosuke Takaoka as Hongo's rival, Kaoru Rikiishi, and Eisuke Sasai as Kongming.
