Disney+ Serves Up Japanese Food and Culture With New “Food Samurai” Series

There are plenty of ways to explore another culture. You can read about its history, learn its language, visit its landmarks or discover the stories generations have passed down.

Sometimes, however, the best place to start is with the food.

Disney+ is inviting families on a culinary journey through Japan with “Food Samurai,” a new six-episode documentary series following Michelin-starred chef Mory Sacko as he experiences the country—and its food—for the first time. The series is heading to Disney+ in the United States and Canada, with its U.S. debut set for September 30.

Accompanied by pastry chef and friend Theó Segretin, Sacko sets out with a deceptively simple goal: discovering what it takes to create the perfect bento. Getting there, however, means going considerably deeper than simply following a recipe. Sacko travels through Japan tasting food, meeting people and experiencing centuries-old traditions as he tries to better understand the culture behind the cuisine. Guests joining the journey include “Lupin” star Omar Sy, chef Pierre Gagnaire and writer Chihiro Masui.

That makes “Food Samurai” particularly interesting as a potential family co-viewing series. Food is something kids already encounter every day, making it an incredibly accessible doorway into conversations about geography, traditions, history and why families around the world eat what they do. A bento can consequently become considerably more than lunch when you begin asking where each ingredient came from, how it is prepared and what those traditions tell us about the people who created them.

There is another personal layer to Sacko’s journey as well. “Food Samurai” marks his first visit to Japan despite Japanese cuisine being something he has admired since childhood. His own culinary career has become known for bringing together French techniques, African flavors and Japanese influences, with Sacko earning a Michelin star in 2021 for his Paris restaurant MoSuke.

The series takes that curiosity from restaurants and street food into the traditions surrounding them, exploring the details that can easily disappear when a dish becomes familiar outside its home country. Created, produced and directed by Eric Nebot, “Food Samurai” is partly inspired by Yasuke, the African man who became a samurai in 16th-century Japan, adding another cultural and historical connection to Sacko’s journey.

For families, that combination of travel, food, history and discovery might be where “Food Samurai” finds its sweetest spot. Younger viewers don’t necessarily need to know the difference between every cooking technique to become fascinated by a bustling food stall, an unfamiliar dish or the careful process behind something they may have eaten before. Parents get a travel and culinary documentary, while kids get an opportunity to discover just how much history and culture can be hiding on a plate.

And who knows? By the end, everyone might be looking at tomorrow’s lunch a little differently.

“Food Samurai” premieres September 30 on Disney+ in the United States, with the six-episode series also heading to Disney+ in Canada.