O•M•C•S

The O•M•C•S' logo

The Organic Material Cycle System (O•M•C•S) or (O.M.C.S.), also nicknamed "omshis," is the food processing system used aboard the battleship Yamato. O•M•C•S units placed along a wall of the ship's mess hall take in all substances emitted during human life, especially organic substances including waste products, break them down to the atomic level, and convert them into safe, recognizable dishes. The O•M•C•S can create a wide variety of offerings, including rolls, cake, curry, fried rice, kabayaki, soup, protein bars, and parfaits. Alcoholic beverages are also available.

Generally, the O•M•C•S allows the Yamato crew to make the long intergalactic voyage to Iscandar without having to keep massive supplies aboard. However, a breakdown of the O•M•C•S several months into the mission forces the crew to temporarily rely on limited and not entirely desirable standard rations, and to divert to the Earth-like world Beemela 4 to build up the ship's food stores.

The O•M•C•S was not used during Yamato's diplomatic trip toward the Salezar system in 2205, and the battleship instead relied on its Accounting Department to cook for the crew and the Peace Corps delegation.

Notes

• Among others, the O•M•C•S serves Asteroid donburi and synthetic sanma, kabayaki, solar-wind-burned fried rice, and Magellanic Parfait. The recomandation for Fridays is the Cosmo Navy Curry Set.

Behind the scenes

The O•M•C•S is based on Star Trek’s food replicator concept, as admitted by writer Yutaka Izubuchi at Yamatalk Night 2. According to Masanori Nishii, everyone on the staff of Space Battleship Yamato 2199 came up with a name for a dish for the O•M•C•S. The Cosmo Navy Curry Set's name comes from the Navy Curry Set, a tradition in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. In the JMSDF, it has become a custom to eat curry rice every Friday, which inspired making Cosmo Navy Curry Set, the recommended meal for Fridays.

Japanese language information

オムシス Omushisu