Cooking Papa

Aired: 1992

A cooking-themed anime based on Tochi Ueyama's popular manga, produced by Asahi Broadcasting and aired on the TV Asahi network. Set in Fukuoka, the show follows Kazumi Araiwa, a salaryman with a passion for cooking, as he prepares everything from humble home meals to elaborate dishes for his family, coworkers, and neighbors. Each episode showcases real recipes that home cooks can recreate, making the series a popular family-time staple in the early evening slot. Combining warmhearted slice-of-life storytelling with practical culinary content, Cooking Papa influenced the trajectory of later food-focused anime. YASU's samba-flavored opening Happy Happy Dance and Mari Sasaki's gentle ending Papa wa Nandemo Shitteiru both capture the show's affectionate tone.