The Importance of Food in Wind Breaker
It's unfinished but this is just my analysis of the show and manga so far (SPOILERS AHEAD)
Food is very often shown in Wind Breaker, appearing in almost every scene after a fight. This is my speculation on its importance and its metaphor for acceptance.
Starting with our main character, Sakura. After he saves Kotoha from some thugs, she treats him to an omurice at her cafĂŠ, Pothos. Sakura is reluctant at first, thinking that sheâs crazy for acting kind, mainly due to his past experience and trauma. However, once he tastes the food, he is instantly taken aback with how delicious it is. He then asks if he could do take out to which Kotoha says no. This one scene shows Kotohaâs thanks for Sakura saving her, and how Sakura begins to like something in this town. Kotoha was the first person to accept him by cooking him a meal, as Sakura was new to town and she didnât know him. In Sakuraâs bio page, his likes are of omurice which was ânewly discoveredâ. Later on in the series we learn that the only thing Sakura wants to eat when given the option is Kotohaâs omurice. This is probably because it was one of the first positive experiences he had in Makochi (their town). When he fights with Furin, the boys there are often given gifts by the townsfolk, like breads and snacks to show their appreciation for the Furin boys. Sakura isnât used to the kindness so he rejects it on his first day. But when he complies and actually tries a bread that someone gave him on his way to school, itâs a familiar feeling to when he had Kotohaâs omurice for the first time. He says that the bread tastes wonderful even when itâs cold. The town shows its love by providing food as a gift for the boys that protect the town. Restaurants are also used as places to bond and connect with others, specifically CafĂŠ Pothos (due to its history with Bofurin) but they are others as well.
He is incredibly tied to food especially with his friends. One time after KEEL, he was shown drinking tea and coffee with Kaji (not really food i guess but it counts). It was used an example but it also compared Sakura to a food item. He is shown to be more open and secure with his relationships after he talk with Kaji because he accepts help, and doesn't close people off even he struggles anymore. In recent chapters (Kiryu's backstory), we can see him open up more and more by noticing how he's trying new foods (frappucino). With him, his growth and connection with people can be examined by how he eats.
Moving onto Sakuraâs vice-captain, Suo. Suo is mainly noted as a mysterious character because there is very little information about his personal life. For example, we had room tours of class 1âs first years, including Kiryu, Sakura, Nirei, Sugishita, and Tsugeura. However, Suo was missing from this cast even though he is an important character in the series. We know almost nothing about his backstory except that he was a powerful fighter in middle school. His mystery can be shown through his relationship with food in Wind Breaker. When the first years are given fresh taiyaki from a store, Suo is seen giving his uneaten share to Nirei.
He also is never shown consuming anything besides tea. In every restaurant scene he only orders tea and says that he isnât hungry. In the manga, it is said that he is on a diet but thatâs just an odd statement in general coming from a teen boy who exerts a lot of energy from fighting constantly. It doesnât make sense for him to not eat on screen with others.
His lack of shown eating explains why we know so little about his character. Him not eating may symbolize how he does not form connections with any of his classmates or allies. He stays secretive and closed off with clashes with Umemiya's philosophy. There was also a post I saw talking about how Suo mainly evades as a fighting style, to which Umemiya says "fighting is like a conversation." stating that Suo doesn't communicate with anyone really (he quickly ends those conversations if he does land a punch or kick which is the only real contact we see). Said previously, food is a sort of acceptance in Wind Breaker and it gets people to open up more, especially after fights (like the Shishitoren Fight after Bofurin wins) and mainly in Sakura and Umemiya. Because we donât see him eat, we never really see him become immersed in conversations with the other boys. Yes, he does have input when he talks with the others but his personal experience in topics is never brought up by himself. People talk about him more than he talks about himself. He is one of the most interesting characters when we ponder his relationship with food, and I hope to learn more about his backstory and why he doesnât eat later on in the manga if it is ever revealed.
Umemiyaâs entire backstory and actions are heavily based around food. He has a garden full of vegetables on the top of the Bofurin School. Because food is so important in this work, we can understand that Umemiya wants to make sure everyone under him gets along well, which is seen by his actions. Him growing food shows that he wants acceptance and love to bloom within each of his underclassmen. He also provides food to Kotohaâs CafĂŠ Pothos, which is later used to feed people. When Umemiya uses food, it seems to be in a cycle of love; where he can indirectly contribute to the Furin students and even their opponents. After their fight with Shishitoren, he invited them to eat takeout on top of the roof. He brings people together with food and he always wholeheartedly enjoys it. His backstory explains why he holds food so highly but Iâm going explain that later on. Choji and Togame are both confused with why they are eating together after the fight (Sakura too!) but Umemiya explains that it's because he can enjoy food to the fullest that way, when everyone is happy and together. This must be because of his past and how he refused to eat and was suicidal. He now feels love with his community and wants to preserve and create with with new members or previous enemies. He builds connections through fights and food.
Food plays a main role in Umemiyaâs backstory. Even in the chapter cover of his backstory, there is an inverted, black and white photo of omurice. When he is first sent to the orphanage he doesnât eat with the other children, showing how he does not want to connect with others and he isolates himself in his room. And then after he almost kills himself and is carried back to the orphanage, he reminisces about how his late parents ate with him. After blaming himself so much for their death, he remembers how happy they once were eating together as a family.
His family is at Furin (and Kotoha included) so he is always shown providing for the people of Makochi whether it be by eating with his fellow underclassmen or by doing chores for the senior citizens. He healed his past with food and it's evident that he carries that policy (Umemiya Family Way) with Furin as well.
I'll make a part 2 whenever i have time (it'll include Suzuri and Togame probably)
