Ei Aoki directing a cooking anime is unexpected—his work on Fate/Zero and Aldnoah.Zero shows he excels at intense action, which could translate perfectly to cooking battles. The "most brutal" cooking manga sounds intense; framing cooking as warfare rather than gentle competition creates a unique tone. 30th anniversary is perfect timing for an adaptation; bringing this classic back for a new generation while celebrating its legacy makes sense. Cooking battle anime are always entertaining; the combination of strategy, passion, and competition never gets old.

"Tetsunabe no Jan!" (Iron Pot Jan!), the Chinese cooking manga by Shinji Saijo, will be adapted into a TV anime in 2026. Director Ei Aoki will helm the project, with animation production by TROYCA.

WATCH THE SUPER TEASER PV: Iron Wok Jan Super Teaser Trailer

Iron Wok Jan Illustration

Production Details

Director: Ei Aoki (Fate/Zero, Aldnoah.Zero)

Animation Studio: TROYCA

About the Series

"Tetsunabe no Jan!" is described as the "most brutal" Chinese cooking manga, depicting unconventional cooking battles between Akiyama Ryo (Jan), a young chef with strong self-belief, and his unique rivals. The series' tagline: "Cooking is a battle!"

The manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Champion (Akita Shoten) from 1995 to 2000, and 2025 marks its 30th anniversary. The digital version is currently published in 13 volumes.

Sequel and Spin-off Series:

• "Tetsu Nabe no Jan! R Summit Strategy"

• "Iron Pot Jan!! 2nd"

• Gaiden "Tetsunabe no Jan! The Five Elements Kun's Fun Life in Hong Kong"

Total circulation: Over 10 million copies

Voice Preview

The super teaser PV reveals the voices of:

• Ryo (main character)

• Gobancho Kiriko (heroine)

• Okonogi Takao (the only person who understands Ryo)

• Narrator

Campaign

The anime's official X account is holding a campaign where four people will win a script signed by the cast featuring the voices of Jan, Kiriko, Okonogi, and the narrator from the PV.

Campaign Period: December 15, 2025 - January 31, 2026

Creator Comments

To commemorate the anime adaptation, Shinji Saijo provided comments and original visuals, while director Ei Aoki also provided comments.

Are you excited for this cooking battle anime? What do you think of Ei Aoki directing? Which cooking anime is your favorite? Will you participate in the signed script campaign? Share your thoughts in the comments below!