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Post by ironnut77 on Nov 13, 2016 20:49:08 GMT -5
Hello everyone:
The few faithful long-term posters here may remember me from some years ago, when Iron Chef Japan was popular and more sites existed.
My interest in watching the episodes of this show has (for the moment) been rekindled. I went to the "Iron Chef Collection" and it looks like they have accumulated quite a stockpile now!
However, they are still missing some long-sought-after episodes. Does anyone know where (if anywhere) one can find, for example, "Mr. Iron Chef 1994," "Battle Bread (1994)," "Battle Avocado (1995)," "Hong Kong Special (1995)," among other gems that have yet to be seen by most of the fan base?
Thanks!
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Post by herringchoker on Nov 14, 2016 14:16:57 GMT -5
Great to see you, Ironnut!!!! Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to your question, but I just had to say hi, as one of the "faithful long term posters".
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Post by ironnut77 on Nov 14, 2016 14:52:09 GMT -5
Thanks herringchoker - nice to see you still hanging around!
I didn't expect an answer really - just reaching out, in blind hope :-)
The Iron Chef Collection does have ALMOST all of the episodes available by now (something we thought we never would see), although the quality of many of the un-dubbed episodes are (understandably) pretty rough. Still, Keith's dedication cannot be understated. I only wish the following was more like it used to be...
How many "regular" members do we have left here? From the looks of things, not that many?
For myself, I know I have bounced on and off since Ironfansonline went under...but I will "try" and stick around a bit longer, unless things really are dead. :-(
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Post by herringchoker on Nov 15, 2016 14:29:54 GMT -5
I hate to say it, but it's pretty dead around here. MA, ICM, Tets and achen pop in once in a while; KK once in a blue moon. Mickster was back for a little while but dropped off the face of the earth again. Sadly, most of the "new members" appear to be robo-spam (so to speak).
I still pop in pretty routinely; occasionally we get a genuine newbie who has a question about some aspect of the show. The latest one (perhaps you have some knowledge on this point?) is asking about the chef's uniforms and Kaga's wardrobe - who designed/made/provided it all.
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Post by ironnut77 on Nov 15, 2016 14:52:09 GMT -5
Yeah, I saw that post regarding the wardrobe. It appears that Tetsujin answered accordingly - good thing, because I don't have those particular answers. :-) I think, sadly, that Iron Chef Japan is becoming a far-off memory. There is still exposure, but I think that it has become a super-niche thing. There were never any DVDs released, although we do have the book (which no one but us hardcore fans know about). The "new" show was a glimmer of hope (haven't seen it yet), as it allowed re-broadcasts of the original...but apparently it was not a success, and with its failure went our last hope of "Iron Chef as it 'should' be." I fear that even with the American show on (something that does not appear to be going anywhere), there just isn't any interest in Iron Chef Japan, like there used to be. So I guess the question is, how long will these last two refuges (this forum, and the Iron Chef Collection) be around? I e-mailed Tuthead as I saw that the site may be up for renewal again. I haven't received a response, and I see he hasn't been on here since around 2013... I will maintain the faith, but I really do miss the "good old days." I don't know what it is about the show, but it just made me happy in a way that few mainstream television shows did. It had a charm all to itself. Side note - I was looking at archived Web sites and came across Stephanie M's old Iron Chef Compendium. That made me smile. I found an "Iron Stef" and e-mailed her, thinking I would say hi to an older fan. Sadly, I think I e-mailed the wrong person
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Post by tetsujin070561 on Nov 17, 2016 2:20:35 GMT -5
Yeah, I saw that post regarding the wardrobe. It appears that Tetsujin answered accordingly - good thing, because I don't have those particular answers. :-) I think, sadly, that Iron Chef Japan is becoming a far-off memory. There is still exposure, but I think that it has become a super-niche thing. There were never any DVDs released, although we do have the book (which no one but us hardcore fans know about). The "new" show was a glimmer of hope (haven't seen it yet), as it allowed re-broadcasts of the original...but apparently it was not a success, and with its failure went our last hope of "Iron Chef as it 'should' be." I fear that even with the American show on (something that does not appear to be going anywhere), there just isn't any interest in Iron Chef Japan, like there used to be. So I guess the question is, how long will these last two refuges (this forum, and the Iron Chef Collection) be around? I e-mailed Tuthead as I saw that the site may be up for renewal again. I haven't received a response, and I see he hasn't been on here since around 2013... I will maintain the faith, but I really do miss the "good old days." I don't know what it is about the show, but it just made me happy in a way that few mainstream television shows did. It had a charm all to itself. Side note - I was looking at archived Web sites and came across Stephanie M's old Iron Chef Compendium. That made me smile. I found an "Iron Stef" and e-mailed her, thinking I would say hi to an older fan. Sadly, I think I e-mailed the wrong person Hello Ironnut77. Nice to see that there are still some old-timers around. I was a member of the old Yahoo! mailing list that Stephanie maintained, but she moved from the Bay Area to Iowa and stopped having any connection whatsoever with the fanbase of the show. I doubt you will get any response from her, as I believe she made a conscious decision not to be involved any further. Can't comment on Tuthead or his site, as he has been largely incommunicado for several years. I stopped receiving responses to my e-mails to him years ago, even though I supplied half of the videos on his site. In fairness, he has an incredibly busy and demanding job and has already given so much to our community. If you're reading this, Keith, thanks again for your fantastic efforts. For what it's worth, I called Fuji TV 20 years ago to inquire as to the possibility of any DVD release, but their response was that it was practically and financially impossible to ever do so. This was no surprise. The episodes mentioned in your first post are, of course, impossible to find. Someone in Japan did post a snippet of the Mr. IC 1994 on YouTube a few years ago, but I never found anything more. My understanding is that the Hong Kong and Beijing specials are unlikely to ever be shown in USA because the government of PRC would not allow it. Battle Bread, in edited form, is availble on one of the Mr. Sakai Pony Canyon VHS tapes available in the 1990's. I purchased copies of these six videotapes and can provide copies if desired. The format of them is quite different from the original official broadcasts. For me, Battle Avocado is like the Holy Grail, as I love the theme and Mr. Ishinabe's cuisine (see my avatar!). However, I have never been able to find copies of these battles: Swordfish, Avocado, Soft-Shelled Turtle, Garlic, Orange, Wild Duck and Mochi, which have been my priorities in searching for "lost" IC episodes. If you're interested, I have been uploading my battles (converted from original VHS master copies) in 480p to YouTube. Here is my YouTube page: www.youtube.com/channel/UCgix1SrrqvRXCEp_txSA2KgYou will find a couple of unedited 85 minute rebroadcasts from SkyPerfect 721/739 back in the early noughties; I believe I have ten such episodes, all of which will be uploaded to my YouTube page in time.
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Post by ironnut77 on Nov 17, 2016 9:15:35 GMT -5
Thanks Tetsujin - I have subscribed to your Youtube channel. I do remember the dialog on ironcheffans.info a while ago between you and tuthead, and I thank you very much for supplying us with what had been a far-off dream for a very long time. I personally am going back through the episodes, from first to last (or as long as my endurance will last). I don't care too much if they are un-dubbed and lack subtitles; I can figure out for myself enough of what is going on, and I can mostly figure out the background on the challenger as well via other sources. I will say that I wish the quality of the videos was more even when it comes to video and sound - but we will take what we can get! FYI, the Beijing Special IS available on Keith's site. Nice to see some maintaining the faith! PS - hope you are well Tetsujin. I remember reading that you were sick at one point, so I am hoping that is in the past
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Post by reaperg on Nov 20, 2016 9:26:16 GMT -5
I was never really a regular, but I still check this board once a week. And I still download an episode a week from the IC Collection. I got to thank Morimoto for his show making me a foodie in the first place at his Las Vegas opening, for what that's worth.
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Post by Man Alive! on Nov 29, 2016 0:32:34 GMT -5
Reading through this thread has brought forth a huge wave of nostalgia in me. Oh, how I miss the good old days of Iron Chef discussion. Food Network's decision to stop broadcasting Iron Chef Japan really killed the enthusiasm of a good portion of the show's fan base. It's a shame, because at one point this site and it's spiritual predecessor, Iron Fans, had such active communities. ICJ was so charming, and it's sad that it has largely faded out of the public consciousness. Hopefully, there will be either a home media release or reruns broadcast on TV to fuel interest again, though I know there are behind the scenes legal issues involved that make both of those options unlikely in the near future. The music, in particular, seems to be a problem. The Backdraft score was such an integral part of the ICJ experience that when the Cooking Channel removed the music to broadcast reruns, the show just wasn't the same. Thanks for stopping by to say hello and for getting us talking again, ironnut77!
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Post by ironnut77 on Nov 29, 2016 9:14:10 GMT -5
Reading through this thread has brought forth a huge wave of nostalgia in me. Oh, how I miss the good old days of Iron Chef discussion. Food Network's decision to stop broadcasting Iron Chef Japan really killed the enthusiasm of a good portion of the show's fan base. It's a shame, because at one point this site and it's spiritual predecessor, Iron Fans, had such active communities. ICJ was so charming, and it's sad that it has largely faded out of the public consciousness. Hopefully, there will be either a home media release or reruns broadcast on TV to fuel interest again, though I know there are behind the scenes legal issues involved that make both of those options unlikely in the near future. The music, in particular, seems to be a problem. The Backdraft score was such an integral part of the ICJ experience that when the Cooking Channel removed the music to broadcast reruns, the show just wasn't the same. Thanks for stopping by to say hello and for getting us talking again, ironnut77! Thanks Man Alive! I wouldn't hold my breath for a home media release - that dream died while the show was still on the Food Network, and I never had much hope for it. The cost to release even a DVD set would be insane. If it were an American production, they could probably cut corners (I picked up the entire set of "Roseanne" a few years back for something like $30!) - but being as this would be an import, it would not be worth it for the producers to invest in. I suppose re-runs are possible as the Iron Chef America show is still on, but I honestly think that ship has more or less sailed as well. We certainly won't see anyone dub the previously un-dubbed episodes. Now, all this said, certain gleams of hope remain. Since I came back (again - I know I come and go) into the fold, I noticed that there are multiple users on Youtube posting episodes, and fairly recently at that. This not only means that there are still fans out there (including a doctor I work with, whom I was discussing the show with just yesterday!) - but it also means that the show gets some re-exposure. Youtube is still a very popular venue, and I can only hope that those looking on there will come across our little world on the few Web sites that remain. In the meantime, we should focus on the bright spots - we have access to almost the entire collection now (I think I counted only 20 episodes I cannot find yet?), which is something we never thought we would ever see.
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Post by tetsujin070561 on Dec 2, 2016 23:47:36 GMT -5
Reading through this thread has brought forth a huge wave of nostalgia in me. Oh, how I miss the good old days of Iron Chef discussion. Food Network's decision to stop broadcasting Iron Chef Japan really killed the enthusiasm of a good portion of the show's fan base. It's a shame, because at one point this site and it's spiritual predecessor, Iron Fans, had such active communities. ICJ was so charming, and it's sad that it has largely faded out of the public consciousness. Hopefully, there will be either a home media release or reruns broadcast on TV to fuel interest again, though I know there are behind the scenes legal issues involved that make both of those options unlikely in the near future. The music, in particular, seems to be a problem. The Backdraft score was such an integral part of the ICJ experience that when the Cooking Channel removed the music to broadcast reruns, the show just wasn't the same. Thanks for stopping by to say hello and for getting us talking again, ironnut77 ! Thanks Man Alive! I wouldn't hold my breath for a home media release - that dream died while the show was still on the Food Network, and I never had much hope for it. The cost to release even a DVD set would be insane. If it were an American production, they could probably cut corners (I picked up the entire set of "Roseanne" a few years back for something like $30!) - but being as this would be an import, it would not be worth it for the producers to invest in. I suppose re-runs are possible as the Iron Chef America show is still on, but I honestly think that ship has more or less sailed as well. We certainly won't see anyone dub the previously un-dubbed episodes. Now, all this said, certain gleams of hope remain. Since I came back (again - I know I come and go) into the fold, I noticed that there are multiple users on Youtube posting episodes, and fairly recently at that. This not only means that there are still fans out there (including a doctor I work with, whom I was discussing the show with just yesterday!) - but it also means that the show gets some re-exposure. Youtube is still a very popular venue, and I can only hope that those looking on there will come across our little world on the few Web sites that remain. In the meantime, we should focus on the bright spots - we have access to almost the entire collection now (I think I counted only 20 episodes I cannot find yet?), which is something we never thought we would ever see. Hello Ironnut. I hope that the recent spate of uploads (especially mine!) will spur fans in Japan to post some of the regular battles and the two specials we've never had access to.
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Post by ironnut77 on Dec 3, 2016 10:55:51 GMT -5
Indeed sir - that is a glimmer of hope. Do we know how popular the show still is with the Japanese these days?
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Post by tetsujin070561 on Dec 4, 2016 7:01:35 GMT -5
Indeed sir - that is a glimmer of hope. Do we know how popular the show still is with the Japanese these days? Based on the ratings for the 2012-3 version, not very! I'm sure the old fans of the original series will always love it, but it ended 17 years ago, and time has a way of eroding memories, slowly, if inexorably.
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