Line #174 WMG/IronChef


1	[[WMG:Chairman Kaga is a DiabolicalMastermind.]]
2	Ever wonder why we never see any of the challengers again? If they win, they are abducted and mind-wiped, and they become a minion of the Gourmet Academy, ready to move against the world with their superior cooking skills. If they lose, they become the next battle's theme ingredient.
3	* And what is the source of Kaga's power? ''Yellow capsicum''. That explains the evil grin when he bites into the capsicum in the opening credits.
4	** OK, then why does it look like he's choking on it several seconds afterward?
5	*** For the same reason Popeye in the Creator/RobinWilliams film of that name dislikes spinach. Just because it's the source of his power doesn't mean Kaga enjoys it in itself.
6	*** No, he's holding back a [[EvilLaugh diabolical laugh.]] Laughing diabolically and eating at the same time can lead to choking.
7	* The Ohta Faction challengers that lose aren't seen again in subsequent Faction-related battles. This is explicitly pointed out by the commentators. Coincidence?
8	** Further note: Morimoto's first Faction challenger was seen again for one further battle. He was in the royal box during the third Faction battle, but he was never seen again in Kitchen Stadium after that. After this was when the commentators started noting the disappearances, with a HandWave that they were "banished" from the Faction for losing. But they couldn't have been "banished" after losing if the first Faction challenger showed up again as a Faction member!
9
10	[[WMG: Chairman Kaga is a vampire]]
11	He likes poofy shirts. He cannot swallow the capsicum, but intstead appears to gag; perhaps he cannot eat solid food at all.
12
13	Losing challengers are never seen again. He drains them dry.
14
15	Also, he gets subtitles instead of being dubbed into English. This is because he hypnotized whoever is in charge of the dubbing so that no one ''spoke'' the BlackSpeech in English.
16
17	He may also very well be a [[Music/{{Versailles}} Descendant of the Rose]].
18
19	[[WMG:Chairman Kaga either swore off drugs or started taking the right ones]]
20	Seriously: Watch some of the early episodes (the ones with Michiba as IC Japanese). The man was seriously tripping off ''something''. The Kaga we know and love is a dignified LargeHam. The early Kaga was a manic-depressive madman who wouldn't sound out of place yelling, "The theme ingredient is... ORPHANS!"
21	* Chairman Mark could take an example from his uncle.
22
23	[[WMG: Yutaka Ishinabe, the original Iron Chef French, was eliminated for trying to rebel against Kaga's mad rule.]]
24	Consider: when he rose into Kitchen Stadium, he was holding a capsicum, Kaga's trademark. Clearly, he was signaling his desire to steal Kaga's power. In his last battle, the only one he ever lost, Kaga "accidentally" gave away the theme ingredient a little early. Kaga was setting TheStarscream up for a fall.
25
26	[[WMG: Yutaka Ishinabe is being [[RetCon retconned]].]]
27	Beyond several 'honorary' cameos and a blink-and-you-miss-it spot in the opening credits (check the wall behind Kaga), Iron Chef Ishinabe has pretty much disappeared from Series/IronChef canon. A highlight special made for American audiences featuring Iron Chefs Hiroyuki Sakai and Chen Kenichi outright claims that Sakai is the ''first'' Iron Chef French. Food Network and Fine Living Network have only shown ''one'' of his matches, the only one that he ''lost'', noted above, as opposed to Food Network showing several of Iron Chef Japanese I Rokusaburo Michiba and Iron Chef Japanese II Koumei Nakamura's battles. (Fine Living, not so much.) This smacks of RetCon.
28	* This WMG and the one above go hand in hand. Kaga set Ishinabe up to fall, and then he tries to erase Ishinabe from Series/IronChef history. This is made easier because Ishinabe only participated in eight battles. But Kaga can't wipe out everything because of that darned portrait, and so a few cameos remain.
29	** Wouldn't it have been easy to complete the RetCon by refilming the small amount of the opener that had Ishinabe's portrait in it, though? Or was Kaga being lazy or wanting to bask in the glory of vanquishing a rival?
30	** Kaga didn't remove Ishinabe from the intro because he is totally inept at Photoshop.
31	* Ishinabe does appear in one episode, filling in for Dr. Hattori when Hattori was a challenger. Kaga did it just to rub Ishinabe's powerlessness in.
32	* Ishinabe appeared in the King Of Iron Chefs Grand Finale, being introduced as Iron Chef the first along with Michiba and Nakamura. So, retconning him theories is kinda moot.
33
34	[[WMG: The real Chairman was the psychic judge they had on, Kazuko Hosoki]]
35	If you think about it, the Chairman should only show up sometimes to test how it's going and wouldn't be on every episode.
36
37	There was no clear reason to have a psychic on a cooking show. There must be something sinister involved!!!!!!1!1!oneoneone
38	* If Hosoki were Chairman, then there would be a mutiny. There were times during tasting when she's been a complete and utter bitch. No...
39	** Psychic/fortune teller is a bit of a misnomer anyway, she's more akin to an astrologer.
40
41	[[WMG: Yukio Hattori, the chairman of a nutrition college, is the real Chairman of the Gourmet Academy.]]
42	Think about it for a bit. The commentary booth is the perfect place to monitor goings-on. And the only time Hattori had to serve in "official" capacity as Chairman was when Kaga "boycotted" proceedings because of a losing streak.
43	** This would also explain why he's on the revival.
44
45	[[WMG: Chairman Kaga faked his death by fugu poisoning.]]
46
47	When the 21st Century battles were held, Sakai and Morimoto lost their battles to their longtime rival and an American upstart respectively. Having lost face so publicly and in such important battles, Kaga faked his death so that he could disappear for good. He was only brought out of his self-imposed exile when his nephew approached him with the plans for Series/IronChef America, and then only to give his blessing (a blessing his other nephew, who tried to continue Iron Chef in Japan, sorely lacked).
48	* [[spoiler: Not ''necessarily'' Jossed. True, the revival showed his grave, but it's entirely plausible that he did fake his death, but sometime between the beginning of ICA and the beginning of the revival he died.]]
49
50	[[WMG: One or more characters is a WMG/TimeLord.]]
51
52	[[WMG: Chairman Mark is also a DiabolicalMastermind, and Alton Brown is TheDragon.]]
53	Okay, this is part RuleOfCool here. But Chairman Mark could have pulled a page from his uncle; perhaps DiabolicalMastermind-ness runs in the Kaga family. And Alton Brown certainly holds a lot more power than Kenji Fukui ever did, and is on equal standing with the Chairman.
54
55	[[WMG: Alton Brown is the true chairman of the American Kitchen Stadium.]]
56	Alton Brown DOES hold a lot more power than his predecessors, and he is credited with hosting duties in the credits. (Mark Dacascos isn't even IN the credits.) It's possible that ''he'' was the one to revive the Gourmet Academy; he placed Mark as a figurehead to give Iron Chef America some credibility.
57
58	More telling evidence: You would think the Chairman would be heavily involved in ''The Next Iron Chef'', since whomever wins becomes his newest [[strike: minion]] Iron Chef. But all the supervising and overseeing is done by Alton Brown. Hell, in the second season, Chairman Mark isn't even ''at'' Kitchen Stadium, having been detoured into the ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' studios; he relays his messages through video.
59
60	[[WMG: One of the American Iron Chefs is leaving.]]
61	The first Next Iron Chef competition was held because Mario Batali had left the Food Network over a contract dispute. The Food Network just announced a second season of The Next Iron Chef. Presumably, this means one of the current Iron Chefs is leaving. We don't know who, but three of them have good reason to:
62	* Bobby Flay is spread too thin among Food Network shows and his restaurants; he may have chosen to quit ICA to prevent burning out. Or possibly there's another contract dispute.
63	* Morimoto may finally be fed up with being an Iron Chef. Remember, he served under Chairman Kaga as well.
64	* Cora has reason: both she and her partner have had their second respective child, and she might be taking a maternity leave to spend time with them.
65
66	It ''isn't'' Michael Symon!
67	* The case for Morimoto has weakened: he's appeared as a guest judge in the most recent episode.
68	* Based on the preview for the final episode of ''The Next Iron Chef'', it looks like Cat Cora will be the one leaving.
69
70	[[WMG: Alton Brown appealed to Chairman Mark's pride or honor to attempt a UriahGambit and gain unquestioned control of the show.]]
71	It has just been announced that Chairman Mark is on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' (American vs.) this season. Anyone who has watched seasons of that show knows that, underneath the heartwarming vignettes and beautiful moves, it's a blood sport -- both contestants and pros get injured frequently. They are encouraged to stay in while injured. (Last season, two "dances" had to be judged via rehearsal footage.) In short, it is one of the few competitions even more dangerous than Series/IronChef.
72
73	So, Alton Brown appealed to Chairman Mark's honor and got him to want to be on that show. The object is to supplant Mark. Ideally, Mark will be so badly injured that he will be unable to do his job ever again. There is also the possibility that he will be kicked out of the Gourmet Academy because he's been away for too long -- ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' takes six weeks plus however many weeks he can stay in the competition (it's '''live!'''). Alton will then seize control, perhaps placing another figurehead in the Chairman slot.
74	* That is awesome. The only way this WMG could get better is if it doesn't go [[MemeticMutation just as planned]] and Chairman Mark comes back and puts Alton in his place.
75	** Oh no, Brown is a TV chef. It's in his nature to always prepare things ahead of time.
76	*** Yeah, but chances are there's some sort of SpannerInTheWorks. No clue what yet, but it's out there.
77	* It appears to have failed so far. Chairman Mark kept taping for Series/IronChef even while he was rehearsing for "Dancing," and he came out unharmed -- though his professional dancer-partner Lacey Schwimmer got hurt twice! The first time was a muscle pull; the second time was, apparently, a KiManipulation attack that Mark deflected that then hit Lacey. (He tells her, "Go home!") Chairman Mark just got voted out, so he may come roaring back to Kitchen Stadium yet.
78	** Alton Brown is accused of being a Time Lord. Chairman Mark is accused of being a Time Lord, albeit a regeneration of Chairman Kaga. Perhaps this was one of many ways Alton tried to get the upper hand against Mark in an ongoing battle between the two of them, and their relationship is less-for lack of a better analogy-[[Series/DoctorWho Doctor and companion]] and more [[TheRival Doctor and Master]].
79	** Oops. Chairman Mark is (as is custom) appearing on the ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' finale. Alton must have done some fine manipulations: Chairman Mark is supposed to face off against Chuck Liddell of the Ultimate Fighting League... <shudder>
80	* You know, in hindsight, it would've probably been easier for Alton to try to get the Chairman's job through KlingonPromotion.
81
82	[[WMG: Chairman Mark [[{{Series/Firefly}} can kill you with his brain.]]]]
83	Or at least he has thought about it. Did you see the look he was giving Alton when Alton was mocking him for not getting brain freeze?
84
85	[[WMG: Kaga is a witch and Game Master a la ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'']]
86	And all of Iron Chef was a game between himself and other witches in what's known as the realm of gods to decide who was superior. Chairman Kaga was an image of himself to allow himself to play. The Iron Chefs were his "furniture" (a term used in Umineko for servants summoned by a witch).
87
88	In the end, the only challenge Kaga had was himself.
89	* He is now playing a second game, using a different image-Chairman Mark-and different furniture-the American Iron Chefs. So far this game has no victor.
90	* In a crossover with a Manga/DeathNote WMG, Kaga could ''possibly'' have been an opponent to the witches Kira and Lawliet in the game that led to the events of Manga/DeathNote (movie canon only). The most telling evidence to that is the fact that Soichiro Yagami greatly resembles Chairman Kaga. If he did, he technically won that game, due to having the last piece standing, but it would have been a PyrrhicVictory.
91	* One of the other (unnamed) witches uses Kandagawa as his image, and the Kandagawa and Ohta Factions as his furniture. The 21st Century battle was both a last grudge match between Kaga and the unnamed witch and a chance for Kaga to fine-tune his newest furniture-Bobby Flay.
92
93	[[WMG: [[{{WesternAnimation/Futurama}} Chairman Koji]] is a descendant of the Kaga family.]]
94	For those that don't watch Futurama, he was the Chairman-{{Expy}} in the AffectionateParody of Iron Chef in "The 30% Iron Chef". And Futurama does take place a millenium in the future. Who's to say that he ''isn't'' a descendant of the Kaga family, somewhere?
95	* Assuming Kaga and his descendants had an average of 2 children around age 30, after a millenium he would end up with about 2^33, or 8,589,934,592, descendants. That makes it incredibly likely.
96
97	[[WMG: Chairman Mark Wants to Return to Japan to Ultimately Usurp Chairman Kaga.]]
98	Chairman Mark's ambition is to return Iron Chef to Japan and reign there as true Chairman. The show may be over in Japan, but Kaga's legendary status as Chair of Chairs still stretches over Mark, who wants to reign under his own steam. He is slowly amassing his own army of Iron Chefs to return and challenge Kaga's chefs.
99
100	An epic clash in Kitchen Stadium will ensue. Morimoto will defect halfway through the battle and sabotage Team America's dishes. The Chairmen will have a Ham off which will end with Mark fracturing his hip. All will seem lost for Iron Chef America until...
101
102	[[WMG: Alton Brown is using the Next Iron Chef competition to get his own Iron Chef and take the show over after the Iron Chef War.]]
103	Going off the "Alton Brown is TheStarscream" theories, Alton Brown initially proposed this competition under the impression that these new Iron Chefs would be wordlessly loyal to the Chairman. (Batali's fallout with Food Network stems from his realizing the horrible truth behind Kitchen Stadium. He will be victim of a tragic umami-related death soon.)
104
105	Alton realizes that Chairman Mark's ambition to usurp Kaga is foolish in its own right, but he sees a possibility in the NIC competition. Unbeknownst to Mark, Symon is already working for Alton; Morimoto will join him soon after. Along with the Next Iron Chef, Morimoto, and Symon, Alton Brown will hang back during the Iron Chef War until Sakai has exhausted himself and Team America is all but depleted. Morimoto will reveal his true allegiance to Alton Brown and, with a unprecedented display of grandiosity, will cast both Kaga and Mark down and reign as the true Chairman with Morimoto, Symon and the Next Iron Chef (who will be Mehta).
106	* ...Pass the popcorn. (No, it will be Garces. Wanna shake on it?)
107	** (Deal.)
108	*** (It is Garces.)
109
110	[[WMG: Bobby Flay is AnIcePerson.]]
111	In the eggnog/ice sculpture battle, someone joked about Old Man Winter looking a lot like Flay. And well...[[RuleOfCool that'd be cool,]] admit it.
112
113	[[WMG: Alton Brown wants to challenge an Iron Chef.]]
114	Maybe it's a part of one of the above [=WMGs,=] maybe not. But seeing how Alton did say, "so this is how it feels," and touted himself (exaggeratedly, but what do you expect?) as a force to be reckoned with. He wants to challenge an Iron Chef.
115
116	It's not like there isn't a precedent. Yukio Hattori had challenged two Iron Chefs before (and lost).
117
118	As for why Mark hasn't accepted Alton's challenge -- depending on how you view him, he either wants to spare Alton the possible agony of defeat or doesn't want to risk Alton ''winning'' and gaining more clout in Kitchen Stadium.
119
120	The substitute commentator should Alton challenge an Iron Chef would be one of three choices:
121	## Ted Allen. He knows as much about food as Alton, and he's experienced in commentating: He had been a floor reporter alongside Kevin Brauch in the Thanksgiving special.
122	## One or more of the Iron Chefs. Who better to talk about a battle than those that have done it before? Plus, there is a precedent: Iron Chef Ishinabe filled in for Hattori during his first battle. (Personally, if it's this, let's hope it's both Flay and Symon. The banter would be hilarious.)
123	## A former challenger. Probably one from Food Network's stable. Again, a precedent: long time Iron Chef rival Toshiro Kandagawa filled in for Hattori during his ''second'' battle.
124
125	[[http://www.wherethehellwasi.com/categories/foodstuff-fluff/good_eats_amazing_feats.html In the first, as-yet-unaired episode of Iron Chef America, Alton Brown single-handedly defeated an all-star team of Bobby Flay, Cat Cora, and Hiroyuki Sakai. The secret ingredient was 'whimsy'.]]
126
127	[[WMG: There is a war going on, but not between Kaga, Mark, and Alton.]]
128	It's between Mark and the Chairman from the Japan Cup.
129
130	The Chairman from the Japan Cup is also one of Kaga's nephews. He tried to carry on his uncle's legacy, but failed spectacularly. Meanwhile, Mark tried elsewhere, in America, where Iron Chef was still a popular show, and succeeded where the Chairman failed.
131
132	The Chairman, bent on revenge against Mark for stealing what he feels is rightfully his, is secretly training the six remaining Iron Chefs for a battle royale against Mark's Iron Chefs. Morimoto will be specifically targeted for 'turning traitor' and going to Mark's side.
133
134	Mark is aware of this; hence, he held the two Next Iron Chef competitions to build his numbers up so he can be evenly matched against the Chairman. Batali leaving threw Mark for a loop, but he has an ace in the hole: Alton Brown. All the supposed antagonism between them is to throw off the Chairman (who might be watching the show). Mark may name ''Alton'' an Iron Chef, either by giving Alton the same wager Kaga gave Hattori (defeat an Iron Chef and you can become one yourself), or by an impromptu "knighting" on the day of reckoning.
135
136	These would be the battle lines:
137	* The Chairman, Sakai, Chen, Kobe, Ishinabe, Michiba, Nakamura
138	* Mark, Alton, Morimoto, Cora, Symon, Flay, [[spoiler: Garces]]
139
140	Admittedly, once any of the older Iron Chefs dies, this immediately goes into the {{Jossed}} pile. But god, it was fun to imagine.
141
142	[[WMG: Mark is grooming Alton to be his successor.]]
143	Why would Alton try to usurp Chairman Mark when he's due to inherit Kitchen Stadium soon anyway?
144
145	For reasons currently unknown, Mark has decided to retire. Rather than close down Kitchen Stadium as his uncle had, he decided to name Alton Brown his successor. The hard time he gives Alton is because he's a believer of 'tough love', unsurprising given his martial arts background.
146
147	This is also why Alton had a big hand in ''The Next Iron Chef'' and filled the Chairman's role in the Super Chef battle: this way, he's not a complete novice when Mark finally hands the reins over.
148
149	[[WMG: Kaga is fluent in French.]]
150	Check the France special. When Kaga is talking to Pierre Gagnaire, and later to the Duc and Duchesse de Brissac, there is no translator in sight.
151
152	Now the question becomes, ''why'' is Kaga fluent in French? Dollars to donuts, he spent many years in France before going back to Japan to found his Kitchen Stadium.
153
154	[[WMG: The Chairman in Iron Chef UK is the black sheep of the family.]]
155	Proof: it was almost a decade before we learned he existed. Family is very important in Japan; he must have lost face. He has even lost the right to use his own name.
156
157	[[WMG: What might happen in the eventual GrandFinale of Iron Chef America]]
158	Because all good things eventually come to an end. One or more of these things might happen, if and when they close KSA down for good:
159	* Alton finally challenges an Iron Chef
160	* Kitchen Stadium America has their own King of Iron Chefs tournament.
161	** If Cat Cora wins, SheIsTheKing comes into play.
162	*** The winner challenges a famous chef.
163	*** The winner challenges Alton Brown
164	*** The winner takes on Sakai to fight for the 'God of Iron Chefs' title.
165	* Stuff Blows Up.
166	* It was all a dream.
167	* Chairman Kaga makes one final appearance for this finale (admittedly unlikely to happen).
168	* A Sopranos-esque ending.
169	* One final Morimoto vs. Flay match, cause if you count the battles where they team up with someone or if you don't, they're still evenly matched, so one last grudge match.
170
171	[[WMG: Chairman Tamaki's relation to Kaga]]
172	* None at all, just like the actors.
173	* Yet another nephew
174	* Cousin
175	* Huge age difference brother
176	* Son
177	* Alternate universe self
178	* Distant descendant
179	* Distant ancestor
180	* Imperfect clone
181	* Robo-son
182
183	...what?
184	* They seem to be no relation at all.
185
186	[[WMG: Legally, Mark inherited Kitchen Stadium Japan and appointed Tamaki as chairman.]]
187	This goes with an above WMG that Kaga was alive during the creation of Kitchen Stadium America but died before the creation of the revival. Mark, as Kaga's sole heir, inherited Kitchen Stadium Japan and everything that went with it upon Kaga's death. However, having already tried to juggle two stadiums (America and Australia) and failing at it (leading to Australia's closure), Mark chose to appoint someone to serve as Japan's chairman. The question now becomes, how did Tamaki come into consideration and why did Mark pick him?
188
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Context WMG / IronChef