The challenger is the chief instructor of culinary skills at Hattori Nutrition College and was recommended by Dr. Hattori to be the new Iron Chef Japanese after Michiba retired.
Because of the theme involved, the Noodle Rule is invoked for this battle. The Iron Chef must retire from the kitchen after 50 minutes as the challenger completes his dishes and presents to the judges first. As that occurs, the Iron Chef returns to complete his final ten minutes of preparation just before presenting to the judges.
