During Manga Barcelona 2025, food illustrator Mao Momiji talked with Anime Corner about his artistic career path, influences, and involvement in the Delicious in Dungeon anime. The artist also gave a master class on food illustration, and held various signing sessions for the fans of his mouth-watering works.
A graduate from the Oil Painting Department of Musashino Art University, Momiji-sensei gained more popularity overseas thanks to his food illustrations for Delicious in Dungeon (2024). While the original manga was created by Ryoko Kui, the anime’s production team asked Momiji-sensei to draw the dish illustrations featured in the story.
The illustrator’s dream is to exhibit his works on all five continents, and to taste (and draw) all the delicacies that exist in this world. Currently, Momiji-sensei is uploading a new illustration every day to his Instagram account. By the time this article is published, he will have surpassed more than 2500 food illustrations.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the foodie mind of Mao Momiji!
Portions of this interview have been lightly edited for clarity. This interview was conducted with the assistance of an interpreter.
Q: Momiji-sensei, I would like to start with the key question: why did you choose to specialize in food illustration?
A: First of all, because I love food very much, and secondly, because many people told me I was good at it. Before specializing in food, I tried many different things. In fact, I used to be a mangaka, and when you draw manga, you have to draw everything: landscapes, characters, animals. The readers commented that I was really good at drawing food. This positive feedback is what motivated me.
Q: I am fascinated by your goal of illustrating food every single day on your Instagram, where you have already posted more than 2,400 illustrations [by December 2025]. Has it been difficult to find inspiration for your most recent illustrations? Do you follow a specific routine to get inspired?
A: I have never had any issues with inspiration because there is so much food that I try and would love to draw [laughs]. The difficult part is that a day only has 24 hours, and it is hard to find the time on the days when I am at my busiest.
Q: Do you have any reference artists who have influenced your artistic style?
A: I really like a photographer named Tatsuya Tanaka, who specializes in miniature photography. He is a huge inspiration because he is incredibly consistent and takes a new photo every single day to upload to social media.
Q: In that regard, what are the elements you prioritize when illustrating a dish, and which do you consider indispensable?
A: For me, the most important thing in my illustrations is light. I studied oil painting, and Claude Monet was also an inspiration. I like his way of using light, which influences the colors and the overall atmosphere of a composition.
When illustrating food, what I focus on the most is the light and the highlights. That is what influences how delicious it looks.
Q: One aspect of the anime industry that catches my attention is that, even if there are budget limitations, great value is placed on animating a dish with care. Why do you think this happens? Is it because of the cultural value of Japanese dishes?
A: I am a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki and how he draws food in Studio Ghibli films. It might have been them who started this trend. Whichever Ghibli anime you watch, the food looks incredible. I think other studios used them as a reference. Before them, we had Osamu Tezuka, but he didn’t focus so much on illustrating food. It was from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli that we began to see this trend.
Q: Regarding your work for the anime adaptation of Delicious in Dungeon, did you encounter any difficulties working on an adaptation as opposed to working on an original piece, especially since the dishes were fictional?
A: On the contrary, I was glad to have an original work to base my designs on. I simply took the original mangaka’s idea, applied my own style, and put all my effort into making it look delicious. Perhaps the trickiest part was that I had to consult with the director quite a bit regarding the colors and whether the elements were correct.
Q: Which dish did you enjoy working on the most for the anime, and which one posed the most complex challenge?
A: I drew more than thirty, so it is hard for me to choose just one (laughs). There is a pumpkin soup that has a face on it; I had a wonderful time when I was drawing that. When I showed the illustration to the director and the staff, they laughed a lot. There is also a jelly made out of jewels, which took a lot of effort to get the result I wanted, so it was a real challenge for me. But in the end, I was happy with the outcome.
Q: If you had to try one dish from the Delicious in Dungeon anime, which one would it be?
A: The very first dish of all: the giant scorpion hot pot [scorpion nabe].
Q: Is there any country or region in the world whose cuisine you haven’t tried yet but would love to?
A: I haven’t been to Germany yet, so I would love to try German beers and sausages.
Q: Have you ever tried Peruvian food? [The interviewer is Peruvian]
A: Yes, ceviche. And guinea pig [cuy], when I was at Machu Picchu.
We want to extend our thanks to Momiji-sensei for taking the time to speak with us during the event. His work left an indelible mark on Delicious in Dungeon anime. We’re also keeping track of his daily Instagram posts!
You can also read our interviews with other Delicious in Dungeon anime staff members, such as director Yoshihiro Miyajima, and voice actors Sayaka Sembongi (Marcille) and Kentaro Kumagai (Laios). If you still haven’t watched the anime, you can have a glimpse through one of our team members’ review.
And don’t miss the chance to be part of the next edition of Manga Barcelona! The convention is confirmed for December 5-8 at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via convention center (Barcelona, Spain).
Special thanks to the Manga Barcelona staff for making this interview possible.*
Source: Press Dossier
©Ryoko Kui, KADOKAWA/Delicious in Dungeon PARTNERS
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