Lost Masterpiece Drama Food Fight Starring Kusanagi Finally Released With Kimura Takuya Also Featured on New Chizu Site

The Seal on a Classic Is Lifted

It has been announced that the drama series Food Fight (Nippon TV, aired 2000–2001), starring former SMAP member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (51), will be available for early streaming on Hulu starting March 6. Loved by many viewers but considered a phantom work due to various circumstances, the news has sparked excitement among internet users.

The series is an unusual drama depicting Kusanagi’s character, Mitsuru Ihara, as a food fighter engaged in intense eating battles. While working as a janitor at a food company, he participates in high-stakes eating competitions called “Food Fights” to earn money to donate to the orphanage that helped raise him.

Regular cast members included Kyoko Fukada (43), Rie Miyazawa (52), Toshio Kakei (63), and Shirō Sano (71), with extravagant guest appearances during the eating battles. The project was planned by screenwriter Shinji Nojima (63), and catchphrases like “My stomach is the universe!” became a talking point. The series’ popularity even led to two special dramas being produced after the 2000 broadcast.

“SMAP’s Lion Heart, with lyrics written by Nojima, was used as the theme song, and the track became a million-seller hit. The drama’s popularity helped spread the appeal of the song. However, after a 2002 accident in which a middle school student died during a bread-eating contest, the series was placed under a sealed status. It was never released on VHS, DVD, or Blu-ray, and had never been available online, which earned it the reputation of a phantom classic,” explained an entertainment writer.

Despite its large fanbase, Food Fight had been largely inaccessible. However, in September 2024, when Kusanagi, Goro Inagaki (52), and Shingo Katori (49) appeared as guests on the Nippon TV music program with MUSIC, footage of the drama was shown, surprising many SMAP fans.

Now, it has been announced that all 11 episodes of the drama series, along with the specials Food Fight: Hong Kong Deathmatch and Food Fight: Midnight Express Deathmatch, will be released for streaming. Both SMAP fans and internet users familiar with Food Fight are excitedly saying, “We need to subscribe to Hulu!”

Fans Rejoice!

The X (formerly Twitter) account under the name “Hulu Customer Support” replied to accounts that had previously posted requests to stream Food Fight, saying, “Hulu has started streaming the Food Fight series you requested earlier. Happy Watching!” The release may have been realized thanks in part to these user requests (source: previously cited).

Following the streaming launch, lead actor Tsuyoshi Kusanagi commented, “I’m really happy that this work is finally being streamed!” and “This drama is packed with charm that doesn’t fade even with time. Every part is a highlight! Please enjoy watching it!”

Additionally, the voice of the protagonist Mitsuru’s pet mynah bird, “Kutarō,” is performed by former SMAP member Takuya Kimura (53). On the official “Atarashii Chizu” website reporting the news of the streaming, the cast list includes “Takuya Kimura (voice).” Since the group’s disbandment in 2016, Kusanagi and Kimura have gone their separate ways, making fans react with:

〈“I can’t believe Kimura Takuya’s name is on the ‘Atarashii Chizu’ site”〉

〈“It’s so moving that the ‘Atarashii Chizu’ site casually mentions ‘Kimura Takuya-san’ and the theme song is SMAP”〉

〈“The streaming of ‘Food Fight’ is such great news, and seeing Kimura-kun’s name on the ‘Atarashii Chizu’ HP makes me cry”〉

“By the way, regarding Tsuyoshi Kusanagi’s video works, Netflix’s Shinkansen Daibakuha seems to be drawing attention again. The streaming started in April ’25, but recently, with the exclusive streaming of the baseball WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC 2026 (opening March 5), the number of people joining Netflix has increased. Along with this, multiple posts from new users who watched Kusanagi’s Shinkansen Daibakuha have appeared. It seems that actor Tsuyoshi Kusanagi’s acting resonates with various generations” (same source as above).

Taking advantage of the Hulu streaming, there are also voices on social media hoping for a sequel to Food Fight. We look forward to future developments.