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Tōtsuki Tea Ceremony and Cooking Academy (遠月茶寮料理學園 Tōtsuki Saryō Ryōri Gakuen), or Tōtsuki Culinary Academy for short, is a famous culinary school located in Tokyo, Japan. Tōtsuki boasts the best and harshest culinary education in the world.

The academy is the main setting of Shokugeki no Soma, where the main protagonist, Sōma Yukihira, embarks on his journey to become the best chef in the world.

Description[]

Sōma arrives at Totuski (anime)

Sōma standing just outside of the academy gates

Tōtsuki Culinary Academy is an illustrious cooking academy that is well-known in the culinary industry. Due to the caliber and notoriety of the school, nearly all aspiring junior chefs seek to attend the school in order to become high world-class chefs. The academy has been directed by the Nakiri family since its founding almost a century ago, who have held a very high standing in the culinary world of Japan, with every director being a member of the Nakiri family.

The main focus at Tōtsuki Academy is on culinary studies, ranging from international cuisine styles to culinary theories. Students are expected to learn the technical side of cooking through bookwork and the practical side through hands on cooking assignments and events. However, in terms of actual end goals, students are encouraged to develop their own style or cooking forte and push it to the maximum limits. Thus, most students who graduate are masters of their specialty. While cooking is the primary focus for the Tōtuski curriculum, students are still taught standard subjects, like math and writing.

Chapelle starts the class (anime)

A Tōtsuki classroom.

Entrance into Tōtsuki is considered a great honor and an even greater opportunity for aspiring chefs; parents have even been known to beg officials to accept their children, even offering their life savings to have their child attend, though all offers are turned down. Students are only accepted after passing an entrance exam, requiring them to prepare a dish under a specific theme and pass the exam proctor's judgment.

The academy accepts students starting from the middle school section. If they show acceptable merit in their school work, they will move on to the high school section. As a privately owned academy, the school board has the authority and the freedom to expel any student at any time, and may expel students if their work does not meet their expectations, though it is uncommon for a student to be expelled in middle school. The last opportunity for a student to enter the academy is right before the first semester of the first year of High School in spring, after which no new applicants for a class will be accepted.

The alumni cooking for the passed students (anime)

The finest chefs in the world: The elite Tōtsuki graduates.

The high school section of Tōtsuki is much more rigorous and cutthroat, as the expulsion rate for inadequacy raises exponentially. Nearly every failing grade is almost guaranteed to result in immediate expulsion, and there are numerous mandatory class events that are designed to whittle down the number of students, leaving only the best of the best and eliminating any students without great potential. Every year, roughly 1,000 students start their first year of high school at Tōtsuki, and of that original 1,000, only about 100 will remain to advance to the second year, and less than 10 will be left to graduate by the end of their third year.

Since less than 1% of the students usually manage to successfully complete all three years of culinary education at Tōtsuki and graduate, the Tōtsuki Academy Alumni are the most skilled and sought after chefs in the world. Many of them go on to become the owner and head chef of their own gourmet restaurant, or become a major authority in the culinary world, some of whom are world famous.

Tōtsuki also has extra-curricular activities for students, such as the Newspaper Club, as well as numerous Research Societies (RS) whose members experiment with their dishes in an effort to improve their cooking. The most notable club in all of Tōtsuki is the Elite Ten Council, the Tōtsuki academy student council, made up of only the ten best young chefs in the entirety of Tōtsuki's student body, regardless of what grade they are in. Entry into the Elite Ten is highly coveted, but is extremely difficult to join. The members of the Elite Ten have a very high level of authority within the academy, even the teachers have to do as they say. The only person with greater authority is the principal/director.

Ikumi defeats Mea

The result of a Shokugeki.

The last and most notable feature of the academy is their tradition of formal cooking duels, the Shokugeki. These are intense cooking battles between two parties, usually in the form of a single match of one vs. one. The Shokugeki are made to settle an issue, with the winner having all conditions they declared for their victory immediately met. The conditions and results of a Shokugeki are absolute.

New Curriculum[]

During the time period that Azami Nakiri took over the position of Director of Tōtsuki, the curriculum was overhauled. Believing that the old cutthroat style of education of Tōtsuki was unfit to truly bring out the best in the student chefs, Azami restyled the school to become focused on giving everyone an equal education, rather than a more-specialized one that only a select few can keep up with.

Azami teaches a class

Azami changing the curriculum.

Azami and The Elite Ten selected members of the school to become a part of Central, a group who decides what dishes the students of the academy should learn to cook. This allows all students to potentially learn how to cook Elite Ten level dishes. After a short demo, Azami showed that his new curriculum was able to have multiple Tōtsuki Middle School students prepare an Elite Ten level dish. However, these dishes showed no sense of creativity or originality, only the visage and presence of Azami's influence on it. As a result, creativity was suppressed and students were not allowed to cook anything or prepare an assigned dish in any way that was not dictated by Central.

To further reinforce this, all of the Research Societies and Seminar classes were dissolved. However, the clubs who managed to defeat a member of Central in a Shokugeki were allowed to continue to operate.

Though students were not expelled from school for poor performances, they would be expelled should they choose not to participate, attempt to ad lib or modify the dishes they are assigned to make, or if they lost a Shokugeki with expulsion as a condition of losing.

The curriculum was later mostly reverted back to its original standard after the conclusion of the grueling Régiment de Cuisine between the Azami Administration and the Rebelling Totsuki Students, but there were modifications. It became more forgiving when it came to failure, so long as the students did what the administration wanted to see from them. The middle school curriculum was modified as well, in a form that Azami instituted because it would help middle schoolers survive the high school division after they transfer over. Also alumni were allowed to be involved in more of the activities of the academy if they so wished, such as the Shokugeki's. They also encourage less cut throat behavior because it was going to fair for awhile.

Entrance Exam[]

Sōma meets Erina and Hisako

The exam room after Erina's reputation scared away almost all the applicants.

The high school division of Tōtsuki has an entrance exam in which potential students are assigned to cook a single dish under specific guidelines, such as making a dish that uses a specific ingredient.

If the exam proctor approves of the quality of the dish, the applicant will be granted enrollment. Although, even if the proctor fails an applicant, the school principal can overrule their decision and grant the applicant enrollment. The proctor is usually a member of the Elite Ten Council.

It is currently unknown if the middle school division also has an entrance exam, and if it does, it is unknown if that exam follows the same criteria.

Uniform[]

The standard school uniform consists of a navy blue blazer that has white borders on its pockets and lapels, and a white-collared shirt that is generally worn underneath. The plaid short skirt worn by females are dark and light brown with white outlines, while the pants worn by males are navy blue. They wear a diagonally striated red violet and blue bow and tie, respectively. Finally, most of the students also wear black loafers with socks or tights. During the summer, students tend to wear the white-colored shirts without the blazer. The school is not too strict with the uniforms as some students wear their own undershirts such as Sōma Yukihira and Rindō Kobayashi.

The majority of the students wear the same cooking uniforms, made up of a white chef shirt and pants, presumably for the sake of hygiene. As for gym uniforms, the students wear a loose white t-shirt with dark borders around their collar and the rim of their sleeves, as well as a tag bearing their surname across the chest. They also wear dark-colored gym shorts, for ease of movement, and sneakers. For both uniforms, there are no apparent difference between genders.

Additionally, given the situation or class, there are some students who either wear distinct variants of their uniform or sport a completely different outfit, implying that Tōtsuki Academy is lenient with their uniform regulations.

Facilities[]

Most of the school facilities have various workplaces as one for the practices for the students to cook the meals as a part of their homework, some of them are also served as the decoration of the academy. As a school, they naturally have classrooms and lecture halls, but they also possess several kitchens on the complex. Any student can use these kitchens, as long as they fill in an application and bring their own ingredients.

  • Shokugeki Arena - This building is used solely for cooking duels, including most Shokugekis and the Autumn Elections. It is a large square performance facility that can house well over a thousand people in the stands with the cooking floor and judging area in the center of the stands.
  • The Chandra's Room - A Shokugeki Arena specifically for the members of the Elite Ten Council to challenge each other. Near the ceiling the walls are lined with portraits of former Tōtsuki students who managed to earn the rank of first seat of the Ten. The ceiling opens up to bath the chefs in a purifying moonlight as the walk forward to present their dishes.
  • Elite Ten Council Building - The Elite Ten Council uses this building to conduct their internal affairs evaluation. Each Elite Ten member has their own office to do their own private affairs as well.
  • Shiomi Seminar - As a lecturer of her own seminar on spices, Jun was given a small annex building for her to research spices as well as teach her class. She cultures almost all known spices with her assistant, Akira Hayama. However, this seminar was abolished, as a result of Azami's new curriculum.
  • Tōtsuki Library - Tōtsuki has a library filled with numerous academic and scientific books as well as cooking novels. It is the base for the Miyazato Seminar.

Residences[]

  • Polar Star Dormitory - The only on campus dormitory. It is home to the main protagonist of the story, Sōma Yukihira, and some of his friends.
  • Nakiri Mansion - The mansion owned by the Nakiri family. It is home to all Nakiri relatives on campus and any of their assistants.

Events[]

  • Shokugeki - A Shokugeki is a formal cooking duel held by the school. These are done to settle disagreements between students, where victory means that all conditions set are immediately carried out.
  • Tōtsuki Friendship and Rapport Training Camp - The first class whittling event that all Tōtsuki first year students participate in during the spring. The event takes place at the Tōtsuki Resort. The Tōtsuki Academy Alumni are brought in to teach and supervise the event, and to help whittle down the students.
  • Tōtsuki Autumn Election - The Tōtsuki Board selects 40 first year students while the Elite Ten Council selects 20 more to participate in this event. The students selected participate in a tournament-style election where the winner of the event has the opportunity to enter the Elite Ten Council at some point in the future.
  • Stagiaire - Each of the first years spend a month at several culinary locations, a week at each place, including restaurants, food suppliers, and cafeterias, working as interns at these locations. Students are required to make visible accomplishments at the locations they are assigned to or face expulsion.
  • Autumn Leaf Viewing - A Tōtsuki Culinary Academy social event. The first year students mingle with and receive tutoring from the second and third year students. The most prominent first years, the ones who made it to the finals of the Autumn Election, are formally introduced to and receive tutoring from the current Elite Ten Council members.
  • Moon Banquet Festival - The annual Tōtsuki Culinary Academy school festival. Students from all grades are invited to set up a booth to demonstrate their cooking to customers for a period of five days. The school is divided into three sections for the festival: the street level for snack food, the central level for restaurant foods, and the mountaintop for fancy foods.
  • Promotion Exams - A series of tests given to the first year students and their final hurdle before advancing to the second year. These exams were designed to reduce the number of students before Azami Nakiri revised the formula.

Anthem[]

The following is the official anthem of Tōtsuki Culinary Academy:[3]

In the land of Rising Sun's bosom, in high spirits, tusks gather.
Looking up at the summit of food, alas, it's time to rouse yourself.
Hone yourself, hone yourself. The holy land of gourmet food Tōtsuki Academy is here.
Under the moon far away in the sky, it's time for the true ordeal.
Oh youngsters, serve meals on the table. Alas, it's time to fire up.
Make them yield, make them yield. The military rule of gourmet food, Tōtsuki Academy is here.

Mascots[]

Tōtsuki Friendship and Rapport Training Camp

Dog-kun and Chef-kun

Tōtsuki Academy has two official mascots, both named Dog-kun and Chef-kun[4] who are dressed in chef's uniform. They were first featured on the guidebook for the Tōtsuki Friendship and Rapport Training Camp,[5] and has subsequently appeared on the Academy's printed matters for several events.[6][3] On the Promotion Exam guidebook, Dog-kun and Chef-kun respectively appeared as a reindeer and snowman [7]

Clubs[]

  • Chan RS (ちゃんこ研究会 Chanko Nabe kenkyū kai) - It was formed to study and perfect the creation of Chankonabe, a traditional Sumo meal. In the past, this club earned numerous awards, but overtime, they lost their former acclaim. This defunct club was an unfortunate target of Erina's Kitchen Expansion project. After losing a Shokugeki to her, the club was disbanded, and the clubroom was demolished. However, the club was shortly reinstated but was abolished again, as a result of Azami's new curriculum. Its leader is Kiyoshi Gōdabayashi.
  • Chinese Cuisine RS (中華料理研究会 Chūkaryōri kenkyū kai) - Originally, this club studied every aspect of Chinese cuisine as the name suggested. However, ever since Terunori Kuga's ascension to presidency, he reshaped the club to only specialize in Sichuan cuisine. It is unknown whether the club was abolished by Azami's new curriculum or not, given Terunori's position in the Elite Ten.
  • Chocolate RS (ショコラ研究会 Shokora kenkyū kai) - As the name suggested, this club specializes in the study of chocolate. Everything from the history, usage, and creation of chocolate are highlighted by this Research Society. However, the club was disbanded due to its leader being defeated by Momo Akanegakubo in a Shokugeki during the Survivor's Purge.
  • Cutting-Edge Cooking RS (最先端研究会 Saisentan kenkyū kai) - This club specializes on cooking methods that utilize high-tech equipment. As Alice Nakiri defeated Kyōichi Makime in a Shokugeki, she became the president of the Cutting-Edge Cooking RS, a fact she was unaware of. It was forced to shut down after Central was founded, but this decision was revoked through Ryō Kurokiba's victory over Rentarō Kusunoki in a Shokugeki.
  • Dairy-Free RS (乳製品フリー研究会 Nyūseihin furī kenkyū kai) - As the name suggests, this club specialized in the use of dairy-free ingredients. It was mentioned in episode 6 of the dub. It was likely abolished under Azami's new curriculum.
  • Don RS (丼物研究会 Donmono kenkyū kai) - A small club that devoted itself to the creation of Donburi. It was another target of Erina's project and was nearly defunct until Sōma Yukihira won a Shokugeki to preserve it. Unfortunately, many of the former members abandoned the club when Erina targeted it, but is slowly reviving thanks to its newest member, Ikumi Mito. The Don RS was abolished, as a result of Azami's new curriculum. However, the ruling was overturned due to Ikumi's victory against Mea Yanai in a Shokugeki. Its leader and founder is Kanichi Konishi.
  • Entomophagy RS (昆虫食研究会 Konchū-shoku kenkyū kai) - Fitting the name, this club's specialty was using insects in their cooking. During the Moon Banquet Festival they had a booth called Entrancing Gourmet Insect Dishes. It was likely abolished under Azami's new curriculum.
  • Fermented Foods RS (発酵食品研究会 Hakkō shokuhin kenkyū kai) - According to the name, it specialized in cooking with fermented food items. It was mentioned when Sōma was looking at the different clubs in episode 6. It was likely abolished under Azami's new curriculum.
  • Grains RS (穀類研究会 Kokurui kenkyū kai) - As the name suggested, this club focused on the research of cooking with different types of grain. It was abolished under Azami's new curriculum. The leader tried to reverse this decision by attempting to defeat Mea in a Shokugeki, but was ultimately unsuccessful.
  • Haute Cuisine RS (高級料理研究会 Kōkyū ryōri kenkyū kai*) - This club specialized in haute cuisine, the cuisine of high-class establishments, resturaunts and hotels. It was likely abolished under Azami's new curriculum.
  • Japanese Cuisine RS (和食研究会 Washoku kenkyū kai) - This club specialized, potentially, in both traditional and modern Japanese cuisine. It, along with others, was mentioned in episode 6. It was likely abolished under Azami's new curriculum.
  • Local Cuisine RS (郷土料理研究会 Kyōdo ryōri kenkyū kai) - This club frequently takes trips to study the ingredients and styles found within the given area that they travel to, which are typically within Japan. Megumi Tadokoro is one of its members. The club was abolished, as a result of Azami's new curriculum. However, the ruling was overturned due to Megumi's victory against Shigemichi Kumai in a Shokugeki.
  • Miyazato Seminar (宮里ゼミ Miyazato Zemi) - A club devoted to uncovering recipes from the past through historical documents and culinary literature. This club values the academic aspect of cooking. The seminar was abolished, due to Azami's new curriculum. However, the decision was revoked as a result of Zenji Marui achieving a 2-1 victory over Rui Kofuru in a Shokugeki. Its leader is Takao Miyazato.
  • Moroccan Cuisine RS (モロッコ料理研究会 Morokko ryōri kenkyū kai) - This club specialized in Moroccan cuisine, naturally. It was abolished under Azami's new curriculum. The leader tried to prevent the disbandment through a Shokugeki, but was defeated by Shigemichi.
  • Preserved Foods RS (保存食研究会 Hozon-shoku kenkyū kai) - This club specialized in cooking with preserved food items. It was likely abolished under Azami's new curriculum.
  • Shiomi Seminar (汐見ゼミ Shiomi Zemi) - Originally known as Hayama seminar until Jun Shiomi succeeded the previous professor, this club specializes in the research of spices and also serves as a residency for Jun and Akira Hayama. The seminar was dissolved due to Azami's new curriculum, but was reinstated after the rebels' victory in the Régiment de Cuisine.
  • Skewer RS (串打ち研究会 Kushi uchi kenkyū kai) - As the name suggested, this club specializes in skewering techniques. However, as a result of Azami's new curriculum, its leader Tetsuji Kabutoyama challenged Etsuya Eizan to a Shokugeki to keep his club intact but ultimately failed.
  • Spanish Cuisine RS (スペイン料理研究会 Supein ryōri kenkyū kai) - This club specialized in Spanish cuisine. During the Moon Festival, it had a booth called El Fuego that did quite well. It was abolished under Azami's new curriculum. The leader, like most, attempted to overturn the decision through Shokugeki but was defeated by Rentarō. After which he was presented with 2 options: Disband his club or face expulsion, choosing the former.
  • Train Bento RS (駅弁研究会 Ekiben kenkyū kai) - This club specialized in the production of train bentos. It was likely abolished under Azami's new curriculum.
  • Udon RS (うどん研究会 Udon kenkyū kai*) - This club specialized in cooking udon. At some point the leader and Kanichi had a Shokugeki, the results of which are unknown. It was likely abolished under Azami's new curriculum.
  • Vegan RS (ビーガン研究会 Bīgan kenkyū kai) - This club specialized in cooking without animal products. It was only mentioned in the dub, in episode 6. It was likely abolished under Azami's new curriculum.
  • Vegetarian RS (菜食研究会 Saishoku kenkyū kai*) - This club specialized in cooking without meat. It was likely abolished under Azami's new curriculum.
  • Western Cuisine RS (洋食研究会 Yōshoku kenkyū kai) - This club specialized in the cooking of western cuisine. During the Moon Festival it had a booth called Yoyo's Resturant, which did quite well. It was abolished under Azami's new curriculum. Though the leader tried keeping his club running, he was beaten in a Shokugeki by Etsuya Eizan which forced him to disband the club.

Non-Cooking Clubs[]

  • Central (formerly) - As a part of Azami Nakiri's reform of Tōtsuki as its new headmaster, Central was created to assist him in his quest to educate all students. Central is comprised of numerous Tōtsuki students whom Azami has chosen and decides what dishes the students are required to make. However, during the Régiment de Cuisine, this group is disbanded after the previous Elite Ten Council were defeated by the Rebels and Azami was ousted from his position as the headmaster.
  • Elite Ten Council - The illustrious student council at Tōtsuki is comprised of the ten best students in the Academy. The council handles school internal affairs and have great power in the Academy, more so than the teachers. The seat in the Elite Ten is coveted throughout the Academy and most successful chefs were former Elite Ten members.
  • Newspaper Club - The Newspaper Club runs the Tōtsuki Sports, an up-to-date newspaper detailing major events happening in the Academy. They tend to get word very quickly and can spread the news of notable upcoming Shokugekis in less than 24 hours of being made. During the Moon Banquet Festival, they are responsible for printing the flyers. Mitsuru Sōtsuda is one of its members. As most clubs were shut down at Tōtsuki, it is unknown if the Newspaper Club was also forced to shut down as a part of Azami's regime.

Trivia[]

  • The highest ever number of students to graduate was 10% percent of the students, until this number was surpassed by the 92nd generation.

References[]

  1. Shokugeki no Soma chapter 135 page 2
  2. Shokugeki no Soma chapter 135 page 7
  3. 3.0 3.1 Shokugeki no Soma chapter 124
  4. Shokugeki no Soma volume 14 extras
  5. Shokugeki no Soma chapter 14
  6. Shokugeki no Soma chapter 117
  7. Shokugeki no Soma chapter 172
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