What Is One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji?

What is One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji? Explore the details regarding this manga and whether it is worth reading.

What Is One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji?
Sanji as seen in the Shokugeki no Sanji manga (Image via Shueisha)

As one of the most influential series of all time, One Piece serves as a source of inspiration for both its fandom and other manga creators. Resultantly, there have been a variety of separate stories apart from those created by Oda, enriching the series further. One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji is one among these and is beloved by fans. So, what exactly is this manga?

One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji is a manga featuring a collection of short stories made by the creators of Food Wars. It is a tribute piece that stands out in its own way. Here is a closer look at the series.

What Is One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji?   

Young Sanji as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)
Young Sanji as seen in the Shokugeki no Sanji manga (Image via Shueisha)

One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji is a collaborative effort between One Piece and Food Wars. It is made by Yuto Tsukada and Shun Saeki, the renowned writer and artist of the Food Wars manga. 

The series contains one volume of six chapters, each with different short stories surrounding Sanji’s life. It was originally made to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the original One Piece series, published in the Shonen Jump magazine.

What Is the Story of One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji?

As mentioned above, One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji features six total chapters, each with a different short story. These take us across different timelines in One Piece, covering various aspects of Sanji’s life and his relationships.

Zoro helps Sanji as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)
Zoro helps Sanji as seen in the Shokugeki no Sanji manga (Image via Shueisha)

The premise of each short story from chapters one to six respectively is as follows – 

  • The Dawn of Adventure Approaches – Sanji’s time at the Baratie, where he stuns a harsh critic with his cooking skills. This acts as a prelude to Luffy’s introduction and Sanji eventually joining the Straw Hats.
  • Sanji, Banquet Assistant – Sanji cooks a difficult exploding fish and helps a castaway man attend his daughter’s wedding.
  • A Beautiful Dessert – The Straw Hats enjoy a feast at the Arabasta Kingdom, but Luffy’s insatiable hunger causes the cooks to struggle. Sanji steps in to assist them while creating a majestic new dessert.
  • Survival: A Peach Colored Queendom – The Straw Hats’ chef struggles in the Kamabakka Queendom to earn vital recipes that will help perfect his craft. For its sake, he faces all of Ivankov’s allies while stunning them with his cooking.
  • Crooked Cooks, Soba Salvation – Sanji faces a corrupt Wano chef who is cheating customers in a cooking competition.
  • Second-in-Command – Sanji’s early life in the Baratie, where he struggles to keep up with his peers but eventually gains Zeff’s approval to become the second-in-command. 

Is One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji Canon?

Sanji and Zeff as seen in the Shokugeki no Sanji manga (Image via Shueisha)
Sanji and Zeff as seen in the Shokugeki no Sanji manga (Image via Shueisha)

Every subplot in One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji fits into the timeline properly. It refers to scenes from the main series while staying consistent with Sanji’s development. Due to this, it is easy to think of this as canon.

However, One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji is still a spin-off manga whose key moments are never mentioned in Oda’s One Piece. Eiichiro Oda has given the series his nod of approval, but the events of the story are more like filler arcs. They give more screen time for our favorite characters but don’t offer any new information.

Hence, since it is a crossover special made by other creators to honor the original series, One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji is not canon.

Is One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji Worth Reading?

Sanji cooks food as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)
Sanji cooks food as seen in the Shokugeki no Sanji manga (Image via Shueisha)

There is a common misconception among some fans that non-canon or filler content is not worth experiencing. They believe it to be of inferior quality and inconsequential since its plot doesn’t impact the main storyline.

One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji proves this wrong by delivering six short but impactful stories that hold true to the themes of One Piece. They contain the art style and signature flair of Food Wars, with even some of the ecchi scenes. At the same time, the stories give us a deep insight into Sanji’s mindset.

His growth with Zeff, his rivalry with Zoro, and even his flirtatious nature with Nami are incredibly enjoyable parts of this manga. In addition, the original One Piece paid little attention to Sanji’s cooking skills after a point. This manga fills in that void, presenting a detailed view of Sanji’s culinary prowess and his recipes.

Hence, for Sanji fans, Food Wars fans, and One Piece fans who wish for a light but engaging read, this is well worth a try.

Conclusion

One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji is a fantastic crossover that brings together the best of One Piece and Food Wars. It highlights Sanji’s cooking skills in a way that the main One Piece series rarely does. Therefore, it may not be canon, but it is an enjoyable and visually beautiful experience.


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