Yutaka Matsushige, star of Japan's beloved culinary series, introduces his directorial debut to Korean fans
There is a certain epicurean joy in eating alone. The right to dine without anyone bothering you applies equally to all, especially to those who work hard to make ends meet.
"The Solitary Gourmet" is a work that embodies precisely that ethos. At Thursday's press conference at CGV Yongsan in Seoul, Yutaka Matsushige — star of the beloved Japanese TV franchise that has run for 11 seasons since 2012 — sat before Korean reporters to discuss the film adaptation, his directorial debut.
"I can feel how much Koreans love this work even when walking the streets here," Matsushige told reporters. "Young people in Korea seem to enjoy it much more than in Japan."
The show's premise has remained disarmingly simple: Middle-aged businessman Goro Inogashira (played by Matsushige), in suit and tie, wanders city streets until his stomach growls. He then enters random local restaurants, typically modest mom-and-pop establishments, and enjoys a meal all by himself.
"What's so captivating about watching a middle-aged man eating alone?" one might ask. There are no frills — no company, no Instagram posts, no talking (the narration consists entirely of internal monologues), no theatrical displays of delight. He simply sits and savors his food. The show maintains an almost religious contemplation of the act of solitary dining, letting food take center stage against the protagonist's stoic observations and musings.
Inogashira's modest journeys preceded — perhaps even heralded — the explosive rise of mukbang in Korea and its eventual global spread. Even as food porn went on to produce its own excesses, he became an unlikely icon for lone diners, amassing a considerable Korean fanbase well before the food-content hype.
This time, the film moves beyond one man's solitude and offers a sweeping romp through varied locales and characters. Here, Goro's culinary odyssey begins in Paris, where an elderly friend of his — the father of his late ex-girlfriend — asks him to find the ingredients for a nostalgic soup from his childhood. This curious errand leads him to Japan's Goto Islands and onward to Korea, a journey fraught with unexpected detours and mishaps.
For many familiar with the show's trademark realism, seeing Goro jump headfirst into such a grandiose quest on a whim might seem out of character. Matsushige shared a personal story that inspired this imaginative leap.
"Recently, I found a painting from my late grandfather and asked about restoration," he said. "When I inquired about payment, the specialist said they only charge transportation costs and accept whatever clients feel like giving. They follow their heart— just like Goro, who undertakes this journey with no material reward in mind."
"I wanted to convey joy and surprise through this film," Matsushige added. "Though it might seem impossible in reality, creating a believable fiction is the mission of filmmaking. You could say I'm boldly playing with the medium."
Setting aside its far-fetched premise, the film is first and foremost a love letter to Korean viewers. It features extensive shootings on Geojedo, Gyeongsang Province, and incorporates a uniquely Korean ingredient as a key plot element. Veteran Korean actor Yoo Jae-myung features prominently in a supporting role.
"I saw Yoo in 'Voice of Silence' (2022) and thought, he's the one," Matsushige said. "So I sent him an invitation, and he accepted. He understood our creative intentions even better than we expected."
Matsushige, who said he was deeply moved by the warm reception at last year's Busan International Film Festival, revealed he initially asked "Mickey 17" director Bong Joon-ho to helm the film before taking it up himself.
"I wanted to make something that transcends being just a Japanese film," he said. "I thought Bong could bring something special to this material. Our schedules didn't align, but he sent a warm message wishing us success."
Food brings people together, and Matsushige seemed a true believer in its uniting force. He recently appeared on Netflix's reality show "K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie" with Korean singer Sung Si-kyung to explore cuisines from both countries.
"Japan and Korea must cooperate as neighbors," Matsushige said. "We don't know what challenges the future holds, so we need to face them together. If this film helps maintain that connection, I'll happily consider it my life's mission."
"I'm not just trying to show food tasting good," he added. "I want to share those delicious moments with viewers. Eating connects people across cultures with shared emotions. That's why a show about an old guy eating alone somehow clicks with so many different people."
"The Solitary Gourmet" opens in theaters in Korea on March 19.
moonkihoon@heraldcorp.com
