The conflict of the Second Phase of the exam is predicated on a clash of values. Menchi’s co-examiner, Buhara, represents the primal, survivalist aspect of eating. His test is simple: catch and cook a giant pig. It is a test of strength and satiety. Menchi, however, represents civilization, culture, and refinement. Her test—making sushi—is a test of observation, dexterity, and respect for tradition. The mass failure of the examinees is not due to a lack of cooking skill, but a lack of mindset. The examinees treat the food as fuel, a means to an end. Menchi demands they treat it as an art form.
In most shonen, examiners are wise, stoic, and fair. Menchi is emotional, impulsive, and seemingly unfair. Yet, she isn’t wrong. Her lesson—“Read the unspoken rules”—is a harsh but essential filter. The candidates who survive her phase are those who listen, adapt, and respect expertise.
Fans often discuss the stark differences in Menchi's design across adaptations:
: In the 2011 anime, she tasked applicants with roasting a "Great Stamp" pig, while in the 1999 version and the manga, she demanded they make sushi .
Menchi’s role in the story is short but unforgettable. When the applicants arrive for the second phase, the task seems simple: