Eizan, Etsuya

叡山枝津也

He is a student at Tootsuki Culinary Academy and the current ninth seat of the Elite Ten Council. Having become a food consultant as a teenager, Eizan boasts many past accomplishments and often measures the success of the food industry by his self-proclaimed accurate consultations, which he claims guarantee success for all clients. Renowned for his sharp mind and cautious personality, Eizan has earned respect not only from academy staff and students but also from small culinary businesses he helped flourish, having handled nearly 500 similar cases alone. After learning from his client, Nakamozu Kinu, owner of Mozuya Karaage, that the karaage specialty shop was defeated by local hero Souma Yukihira, Eizan supposedly persuaded Souma to join his side. When Souma declined the offer, Eizan attempted to humble the Yukihira genius through his "consultation," making the Tootsuki Alchemist one of Souma’s antagonistic arch-rivals at the academy.
As a professional food consultant, Eizan is calculating and cautious in any situation. Being an astute and intelligent figure in both internal and external academy affairs, Eizan is often aware of all possibilities so that everything unfolds according to his plan, which has never failed him or his clients in achieving victory. With deep pockets and close relationships with various companies he has encountered (usually affluent franchise shops), most of his income derives from his counseling and his strong ties with culinary businesses, as he often acts as a benefactor to his clients. Through his uncanny profession, Eizan has handled nearly 500 cases involving restaurant issues.
Despite his wise-cracking and caution regarding any possible situation, the Tootsuki Alchemist is a grudging egomaniac whose pride is so high that he makes anyone suffer for their insolence, particularly Souma, who is responsible for the loss of his client’s business—a significant blow for someone tasked with pushing the karaage shop to nationwide fame. Like many other privileged and gifted students at the academy, Eizan believes that only successful culinary businesses arise from privilege and fame. Due to his background as a young delinquent during his teens, Eizan has a notorious reputation as a ruthless gang leader; he demands that everyone who loses to him submit to him and mercilessly crushes anyone who goes against him. It is also said that Eizan’s service as an advisor is not cheap, as most of his consultation fees are too expensive, costing a fortune for the restaurant.