How to Grill Our Love is a romance manga by Shiori Hanatsuka about a couple bonding over cooking meat. It’s published digitally by Kodansha, and nine volumes have been translated into English so far.
Kenta is 30 and keeps getting stood up, until he meets Yamaguchi. He’s a bit nerdy, she’s a tad aloof, but they get along well, and then his job transfers him. So they get married after knowing each other for three months.
They’re still living separately, in a long-distance commuter marriage, but she visits him regularly, where they barbecue in the backyard such items as spare ribs and lamb chops or even elaborate dishes such as octopus al ajillo over spaghetti. They drink, enjoy the meals, sometimes go on dates, and get to know each other.
He loves watching the flames and thinks “meat is tastier when cooked over a charcoal fire.” He waxes rhapsodic about spice mixes and seasoning. He even makes them breakfast outdoors, with eggs, bacon, and pancakes.
The way they got together is not a life choice many of us would consider, but it’s charming. They don’t know some basic things about each other, but they’re learning slowly — although the pace does sometimes allow for some drama, as he worries over what he doesn’t know.
Still, that’s when it’s time for what could be this series’ slogan: “When in doubt, eat some meat!” I was rooting for the two while I enjoyed a vision of a rare ribeye steak. Their decision, to be open and honest with each other, committed to their relationship, is encouraging, and I look forward to seeing how this series continues and what else they cook.
There’s a sample chapter available at the publisher’s website, with a live-action TV version out now in Japan.
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