Japanese TV programme 'The Solitary Gourmet' has quietly become a global phenomenon since its late-night debut 14 years ago, featuring a suit-clad, middle-aged man's joy of solitary dining at local eateries after work. Actor Yutaka Matsushige, who plays main character Goro Inogashira, initially expected the show to end quickly, but it has instead gained steady popularity across Japan and beyond, beginning its 11th season this month.
Based on a popular comic by writer Masayuki Kusumi and artist Jiro Taniguchi, the series last year became a film directed and written by Matsushige, who also stars. 'The drama is about a man just eating food,' Matsushige said at a news conference in Tokyo on Thursday. 'But the simple notion of 'delicious' can go beyond the differences of language or ethnicity, something everyone can easily relate to.'
The show has become a phenomenon across Asia, earning Matsushige a huge fan base in South Korea, Taiwan and China. After filming the movie in Japan, South Korea and Paris, he hopes to share the drama with people around the world. Each episode begins with Inogashira visiting a client, then feeling hungry and searching for a local restaurant. His eating scenes are documentary style, with inner monologue describing his happiness and sense of freedom.
'To me, eating is about telling a story,' Matsushige said, adding that his job as an actor is to show the story behind the eatery and highlight the dishes. 'What I intend to do in this drama is to show the audience to watch, imagine and enjoy.' At a time of global friction, the simple act of eating can help understanding between countries, said Matsushige, who is developing ideas for future projects outside Japan.
Asked who would be a good candidate to play his character in a Hollywood remake, Matsushige suggested Nicolas Cage based on his appearance, which he said is closer to the original manga comic than his own. Joking, he added, 'George Clooney could also be a good candidate.'
