Food Fight

"Food Fight" is from the scriptwriter Shinji Nojima (Miseinen, Koko Kyoushi, Ningen Shikkaku) which stars Kusanagi Tsuyoshi who plays the character of Ihara Mitsuru.  A drama about a man who enters "all you can eat" contests to support the orphanage that he grew up.  He volunteers in an orphanage along with Fukada Kyoko. A girl that Mitsuru is attracted to.  Anyway, Mitsuru works for a large food manufacturer and wears a suit which leads you to believe he has succeeded in life as a hardworking businessman but the truth is that Mitsuru is actually a custodian for the company.  The main premise of this drama is how Japanese society can be very judgmental on people who have parents and those who don't.  This drama also stars Miyazawa Rie who plays the wife of the president.  The president has combined gourmet eating and gambling and runs these "all you can eat" contests in the building's basement.  Mitsuru is the reigning champion.  He wins millions but always turns it over to the orphanage.  Also, part of the storyline is the relationship of Mitsuru and 8-year old Yuta.  A child whose mother is dead and his father is in prison.  Yuta is very much like how Mitsuru used to be and Mitsuru tries to help the young child.  As for the ability to eat a lot, Mitsuru's life sheds a clue that since he was deprived of love, he has an appetite that will never be satisfied.  One day Yuta is caught for shoplifting and is slapped in the mouth by a police officer.  Mitsuru comes to the boy's defense and the police officer tells Mitsuru that the boy is like the way he is because he doesn't have any parents.

STARRING: Kusanagi Tsuyoshi, Fukada Kyoko, Miyazawa Rie, Yachigusa Kaoru, Sano Shiro, Manato Akiba and more.  Voice of crow is Kimura Takuya.  Finale episode featuring Morning Musume.
THEME SONG:  "Lion Heart" by SMAP
NETWORK: NTV
DURATION: July 1, 2000 through September 2000.  Final episode is two hours.  The first hour is the "Food Fight" Special recapping all the episodes and then the finale.  
REVIEWS: 

"Food Fight" was probably the light hearted drama of the season.  It's an interesting story but it's not one of Kusanagi's best.  But I find it interesting how they take on the situation of children judged because they have no parents.  But after watching all the drama episodes, I felt disappointed.  The hyped Morning Musume appearance is very small in the final episode with them talking to the talking crow.  The finale will probably leave you questioning the ending and may bum you out BUT here is the important part about this drama which many people turned off their TV set when the credits ran.  After the credits ran, you must watch until it truly ends, wait for the commercials and then it will show one more last scene from the drama which is the final setting, the diner and then a close shot of the bowl which is empty.-KNDY  

[From anonymous]: I find the show really silly and unrealistic. The ending was not what I expected and all the characters go really upsetting endings.