Nishiogikubo Mitsuboshi Youshudou (2021)

Amamiya, Nakauchi, and Kobayashi were once high school classmates. The former was class president and an honors student, Nakauchi was quiet and reserved with a penchant for cooking, and Kobayashi was a womanizing charmer. Ten years after their graduation, fate reunites them. Nakauchi has gone on to become a budding chef, but he had to quit his job after losing his sense of taste. He runs into Amamiya, works as a bartender in a quiet establishment called the Three Star Bar in Tokyo’s Nishi Ogikubo District.

Kobayashi who became an overnight sensation as a writer with his debut novel, but has been in a slump ever since, was bequeathed the bar from his grandfather, the previous owner, with the agreement that he would keep the place running until he and Amamiya finished all of the canned food that was left stocked in the pantry. Kobayashi and Amamiya convince Nakauchi to join them as their canned food “chef.”

The trio is a great success: Amamiya is always ready to lift the mood with a cocktail, the barfly-like Kobayashi is always on hand with sage words of advice, and Nakauchi cooks up a storm in the kitchen. The place becomes a hit with appreciative customers who come with problems, but usually leave with them solved, thanks to these remarkable men. But what will happen when the canned food begins to run out?

Adapted from the manga series "Nishiogikubo Mitsuboshi Youshudou" (西荻窪 三ツ星洋酒堂) by Asai Sai (浅井西).