The Yorozuya's Donburi Arc

This episode is a hilarious and heartwarming ode to the classic Japanese dish of donburi. The episode begins with Gintoki, Shinpachi, and Kagura deciding to have a donburi eating contest. They each order a different type of donburi, and the first one to finish their bowl wins.

Gintoki orders a gyudon (beef bowl), Shinpachi orders an oyakodon (chicken and egg bowl), and Kagura orders a tendon (tempura bowl). The three of them start eating ravenously, and it's not long before they're all neck-and-neck.

However, the contest is interrupted when a group of bandits suddenly attacks the restaurant. Gintoki, Shinpachi, and Kagura put aside their donburi bowls and fight off the bandits. Once the bandits are defeated, the three of them return to their donburi eating contest.

In the end, it's Kagura who wins the contest. She finishes her tendon bowl in record time, and Gintoki and Shinpachi are left in awe. The episode ends with the three of them enjoying a delicious meal of donburi together.

This episode is one of the best episodes of Gintama because it is both funny and heartwarming. The donburi eating contest is a great example of the show's signature absurdist humor, but the episode also has a lot of heart. The scene where Gintoki, Shinpachi, and Kagura put aside their donburi to fight off the bandits shows how much they care about each other.

If you're a fan of Gintama, or if you just love donburi, then I highly recommend checking out this episode. It's sure to leave you with a smile on your face.

Donburi is a popular Japanese dish consisting of a bowl of steamed rice topped with various ingredients, often simmered together in a flavorful sauce. One of the most well-known varieties is Gyudon, made with thinly sliced beef. Here's a simple recipe for Gyudon:

**Ingredients:**

- 1 cup of short-grain Japanese rice

- 1/2 pound (225g) thinly sliced beef (such as ribeye or sirloin)

- 1 onion, thinly sliced

- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

- 2 cups dashi stock (or substitute with beef or chicken broth)

- 1/4 cup soy sauce

- 2 tablespoons mirin (sweet rice wine)

- 2 tablespoons sugar

- 2-3 green onions, thinly sliced

- Pickled ginger (optional, for garnish)

- Furikake (optional, for extra flavor)

- Shichimi Togarashi (optional, for spice)

**Instructions:**

1. **Prepare the Rice:**

- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear.

- Cook the rice according to the package instructions or using a rice cooker. Set it aside and keep it warm.

2. **Prepare the Sauce:**

- In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, mirin, and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. This will be your sauce for the Gyudon.

3. **Cook the Onions:**

- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat.

- Add the thinly sliced onions and sauté them until they become translucent and slightly caramelized, which should take about 5 minutes.

4. **Cook the Beef:**

- Add the thinly sliced beef to the skillet with the onions. Stir-fry for a few minutes until the beef changes color and is almost cooked through.

5. **Add the Sauce:**

- Pour the sauce mixture over the beef and onions in the skillet.

6. **Simmer:**

- Add the dashi stock to the skillet and bring it to a simmer. Allow it to simmer for a few minutes, letting the flavors meld together and the beef to cook completely. This should take about 3-5 minutes.

7. **Assemble the Gyudon:**

- Spoon a generous amount of the beef, onions, and sauce over a bowl of hot steamed rice.

8. **Garnish:**

- Sprinkle the sliced green onions on top of the Gyudon for freshness and color.

- If you like, add a small pile of pickled ginger and a sprinkle of furikake for extra flavor.

9. **Serve:**

- Gyudon is traditionally served hot, and you can add a pinch of Shichimi Togarashi for some extra spice if you like.

Enjoy your homemade Gyudon! It's a delicious and comforting Japanese dish that's easy to prepare at home.