It’s time for another pre-Food Network episode for your viewing pleasure.
The challenger, Kiyoshi Miyashiro, is the owner/chef at a restaurant known as a favorite of Japanese author Shusaku Endo. He trained in France for five years before returning to Japan. He was unhappy with the direction of French cuisine in Japan, so he opened his own restaurant, K-M. (Click Here, Here, or Here to see pictures and information about K-M. The last two links are in Japanese.) Surprisingly, the challenger chooses to take on Iron Chef Japanese Nakamura, who is riding a 4 battle winning streak into Kitchen Stadium. Enjoy. (Want to make your own Beef Tongue dishes? Go here for some recipes.)
What makes this episode a rare and special treat for current Iron Chef fans is that it comes from the time before Iron Chef was aired on Food Network. It was recorded from one of the local stations broadcasting the show. (In fact, it still has some local commercials intact.) It is in Japanese WITH English subtitles. I know you will enjoy being able to experience this rare episode not shown in North America in over 10 years.
There are two options for viewing this episode. The pop-up player will use the usual divx encoded file. This smaller, lower quality file can also be downloaded directly using the “Download File” option. Also in the download menu this time is an option to download a higher quality VOB file (approx. 1.3GB). (You can play the vob file in VLC Player.)
New in the video database this week: 448s – Beef Tongue – Nakamura vs. Miyashiro (subbed)
This is the last pre-Food Network subtitled episode from the first batch. I hope to have another announcement soon, though. 
And while looking for a link to the challenger’s restaurant, I found two incredible blog posts that you must read: Allez Cuisiner! and My Dinner with Matsuo-san.
UPDATE 12/4: I know there is a problem with the zipped VOB file. I am working on getting a working version uploaded as soon as possible. I’m sorry everybody. It has been fixed and it should work now. Thanks for being patient.
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:08 am
Thanks a bunch! I hope you’ll be able to get your hands on more of these. Also, those blog posts you found are very informative.
December 3rd, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Just want to say – THANK YOU SO MUCH for your good work! Great Video for Iron Chef Fan like me! Your website is very well designed in an organized way! Awesome!!
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Tuthead,
Thank you and your source for sharing these rare episodes – they’ve been a real treat (especially anglerfish).
December 4th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Hi, I’ve been trying to download the first few episodes of the Abalone Battle, but it kept loading up the online streaming. I know this is somewhat unrelated to the topic above, I’d just like to get some assistance.
Thank you for putting up such a great site. I love Iron Chef Japan (so much more than the American combative approach of Iron Chef American). Thanks again!!!
December 4th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Have you looked on the FAQ page? There are some solutions you can try to help with downloading.
December 4th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Its been a better part of a year since I’ve commented. However, these are the best videos you’ve gotten yet. Great work!
December 4th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Hi Tuthead
I did click on the correct sequence of links/clicks to get to the download page. I get this message:
“Thank you for downloading the file. If the download does not begin shortly, please click below to begin your download.
Click here if you are not redirected automatically.”
But there is no file to be downloaded, only the “waiting for video”, then the online streaming video appears.
The FAQ page instructed to click the download button, then click on the option to download, but that also gave me the online streaming video
Is anyone else experiencing the same issue? or is it simply my luck :~( *hic*
December 9th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Still having the same problems with the downloading
The video(s) always load(s) even if I chose to download. :~~~~(
December 10th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Tuthead,
Great work…simply put, you are the authority when it comes to Iron Chef. Keep up the great work and hope to see more videos soon!!!