Wild vegetable tempura made with shell ginger petals and native grasses. Bamboo mackerel wrapped in shiso leaves and grilled in the mountain style. A tamago-rolled omelet seasoned with prickly ash.
During World War II, a brilliant young girl named Panay, gifted in cooking, works as a housemaid for the Ikegami family. Panay is Amis, one of Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples, while the Ikegamis are Japanese and have relocated to Hualien Harbor. In an age of scarcity, Panay blends local ingredients with tribal culinary traditions, creating distinctive Japanese-style dishes. Her food awakens the palate and comforts the homesick hearts of the Ikegami family. Meanwhile, her friendship with Shinsuke, a Japanese policeman and the family’s eldest son, slowly blossoms.
Rising comics artist Nananrih portrays the everyday food culture of the wartime period and, through these humble meals, evokes the longing and nostalgia of ordinary lives.