Dungeon Meshi would have been born from a trauma from the past

The acclaimed manga series "Dungeon Meshi," created by Ryoko Kui, follows a group of characters who discover the world of food and cooking in a universe inspired by role-playing games and Western fantasy. Despite the fact that the gourmet, often strange but appetizing dishes are the center of attention in both the manga and its successful anime adaptation, its author is not a foodie enthusiast, quite the opposite.

In an interview with Denfaminicogamer, Kui revealed that although "Dungeon Meshi" is influenced by some of his passions, such as video games and Western fantasy, the main theme of the series is more linked to his personal struggles with food and interpersonal relationships. Although Kui had previously mentioned in Western media that she is more of a picky eater, the story behind it goes much deeper.

Kui explained that from the beginning he decided that "Dungeon Meshi" would revolve around "shokuiku," which translates to "food education." Although at that time there were several mangas focused on gastronomy, few focused on the educational aspect, something that for Kui had a special meaning. "I have a strong resentment towards food," the author confessed. "Ever since I was a child, I've always been extremely picky about what I ate, and mealtimes were a battle for me. I hated eating in front of others, and for a while, I even resented watching other people eat. I used to look for places where there were no people, such as unfrequented bathrooms, so I could eat there."

This last confession probably refers to the practice of eating in school bathrooms, an experience that the author relates to the concept of "benjo meshi" or "food in the bathroom". Kui mentioned that she was relieved to discover that she was not the only one going through this situation, as she had always felt deep discomfort about it.

Returning to the topic of food education, Kui shared that, although her parents did everything possible to instill in her knowledge about nutrition and eating techniques, such as the "nutritional pyramid", she never managed to put these learnings into practice. This generated in her a deep sense of guilt in relation to food and the act of eating. Kui's editor commented that in a sense, "Dungeon Meshi" came out of a very negative place. Fortunately, the author seems to be learning to enjoy food, although her ability to write and draw about something she dislikes so much is intriguing.

Kui noted that, as with things he's passionate about, he also spends a lot of time thinking about the things he doesn't like. "There are a lot of things I draw precisely because I don't like them," she said, adding interpersonal relationships, clothes and "modern times" to the list. In addition, exploring the aspects he doesn't like in his sleeve allows him to "look for the positive in them" and, sometimes, make new discoveries.

In this sense, the author of "Dungeon Meshi" even mentioned that she is "afraid" to focus only on what she likes. He summed up these sentiments with a powerful message about creative work: "What you decide to capture with your camera is important, and, of course, you don't need to focus on something unpleasant. But if you want to expand your world, I think it's important to stay aware of all the uncomfortable, dirty, and unpleasant things that are outside your field of vision."

Source: DenfaminicoGamer