Iron Chef began as Ryori no Tetsujin, a Japanese television cooking competition broadcast by Fuji TV from 1993 to 1999. In each episode a challenger faced one of the resident Iron Chefs in a timed battle built around a secret ingredient. Its theatrical presentation, dramatic music and serious commentary made it a cult hit when dubbed versions spread internationally, leading to adaptations including Iron Chef America. The music and presentation style are now shorthand online for treating any cooking moment as a high stakes contest.