It’s only taken three decades but Shinji Saijyo’s classic and infamous cooking manga Iron Wok Jan! is finally getting an anime adaptation.

A new teaser website was launched to announce the new Iron Wok Jan! anime, which has been greenlit by TROYCA studio with Ei Aoki directing (Fate/Zero, Aldnoah.Zero, Re:Creators, etc) and Makoto Uezu handling the script. A premiere is set for sometime in 2026.

Originally serialized way back in 1995 through 2000, the manga centers on the titular, brilliant, yet brutal young chef Jan Akiyama, who starts working at a top class restaurant Gobanchou, a rival of his grandfather, Kaiichiro Akiyama. A rivalry equal to the founders of each restaurant starts between Jan and Kiriko Gobanchou, daughter of his family’s rival. While Jan believes cooking is all about competition, Kiriko believes food should be made with heart and for customers.

Saijyo ran the original manga through Akita Shoten’s Weekly Shonen Champion magazine, after which it was published in 27 volumes. ComicsOne published the original 13 volumes in English from 2002 through 2005 and DrMaster picked up the license after with the remaining volumes. A sequel manga, Iron Wok Jan 2nd, was run from 2017 through 2019.

Here’s comments from the original creator and the director, plus the first teaser trailer:

Shinji Saijo (Original Author)

I am Shinji Saijo, author of “Jan! The Iron Pot Chef.” I would like to express my gratitude on the occasion of “Jan!” being adapted into an anime. Above all, I extend my deepest thanks to Ms. Keiko Koyama, who served as culinary supervisor, and to the chefs from top-tier restaurants who collaborated with Ms. Koyama to create the dishes featured in the work. Thank you. And thank you to the staff at NBCUniversal and Troika who are actually bringing this anime to life.

Also, thank you to Mr. Imai and Mr. Matsuoka at Akita Shoten, and Mr. Maki and Mr. Endo at KADOKAWA, who handled “Jan!” for us. Furthermore, thank you to the staff at Saijo Productions who worked alongside me.

And to my family and cats who shared both the joys and hardships with Saijo—thank you. Finally, I extend my deepest gratitude to all the readers who loved “Jan! The Iron Pot Chef.” Thank you.

Now, please join Saijo in eagerly awaiting the actual broadcast of “Jan! The Iron Pot Chef!” And please continue to support “Jan! The Iron Pot Chef!” going forward. With that, I’ll take my leave with this hastily written message.

Aoki Ei (Anime Director)

Why “Iron Pot Jan!” now? Ah, some might think, “Oh, just another one of those Showa-era reboot anime that’s popular lately, right?” But no!

Because this is the very first anime adaptation of “Iron Pot Jan!” It’s an incredibly entertaining, yet somehow never-animated masterpiece—that’s “Iron Pot Jan!” Thirty years after its serialization began, you could say the times have finally caught up!

As the director, and as a representative of the fans who followed the serialization back then, I’m pouring my all into this anime production. I’d be thrilled if viewers rediscover the appeal of Chinese cuisine and the original work through this adaptation.

Huh? You haven’t read the original? What a waste! Go buy it right now. Don’t worry, there’s still time before broadcast. Finish the original series and please look forward to the anime!