'The Solitary Gourmet' explores Korean flavors Japanese cuisine can’t replicate
Yutaka Matsushige, who directed and stars in "The Solitary Gourmet," poses during a press conference and screening event held at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
Popular Japanese drama “The Solitary Gourmet,” which has gained international popularity, is making its big-screen debut with its first feature film of the same name, set to release on Mar. 19.
The long-running drama, based on a manga series, first aired in 2012 and has continued for 13 years, capturing viewers with its quiet but mouthwatering premise, middle-aged interior designer Goro Inogashira, played by Yutaka Matsushige, visits neighborhood eateries alone during his work trips and enjoys their food in silence.
Matsushige, who not only stars in but also directed the new film, attended a press conference in Seoul on Thursday at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall to share his thoughts on the movie and his love of food.
In the film, Inogashira embarks on a journey to uncover the secret behind a nostalgic broth flavor, prompted by a request from the father of an old flame who now lives in France.
His culinary adventure starts in Japan’s Goto Islands, detours through Korea’s Nampoong and Geoje islands due to a typhoon, and concludes in Tokyo. Along the way, he forms bonds with people he meets while in search of the taste. Korean dishes such as chicken bossam (boiled chicken wraps) and dried pollack soup play key roles in the storyline.
The film "The Solitary Gourmet" follows protagonist Inogashira as he drifts to Korea in search of the secret behind a broth flavor. Korean actor Yoo Jae-myung plays an immigration officer. Courtesy of Media Castle
“I wanted to shift the focus slightly from a solitary diner to the stories of the people around him,” Matsushige said. “While thinking about the theme of searching for a broth flavor, I came across a dried pollack soup restaurant in Tokyo’s Ginza. Since this dish doesn’t exist in Japan, I decided to center the story around it.”
“The Solitary Gourmet” was previously invited to the 29th Busan International Film Festival last year. At the time, Matsushige made headlines by revealing that he had written a letter asking director Bong Joon-ho to direct the film. The two had worked together in the 2008 omnibus film “Tokyo!”
“I thought Director Bong would cook up this story in a fun way,” he said. “Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts prevented the collaboration, so I decided to direct it myself.”
Coincidentally, the film’s release overlaps with the box office run of Bong Joon-ho’s latest Hollywood film “Mickey 17,” which opened on Feb. 28. Matsushige’s other project, the Japanese film “Last Mile,” is also set to open on Mar. 26.
“I didn’t anticipate this kind of lineup,” Matsushige said with a laugh. “But I’m honored that multiple films featuring me are being released in Korea.”
Matsushige has also recently caught the attention of Korean viewers through the Netflix variety show “Crazy Tasty: Gourmet Friends,” in which he appears alongside popular singer and foodie Sung Si-kyung. The show features the two introducing favorite restaurants to each other while traveling between Korea and Japan.
“I was born and raised in northern Kyushu, which is close to Busan,” he said. “Even though the fish and seaweed caught in both regions are similar, Korea has flavors that Japanese cuisine simply cannot replicate.”
He added, “Japanese cuisine traditionally lacks spicy flavors and dishes using chili peppers, that’s the biggest difference. I love spicy food, so Korean cuisine is something I deeply admire.”
Despite his recent appearance on Korean television, Matsushige clarified that he has no plans to formally enter the Korean entertainment industry.
The Netflix variety show "K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie" (2025) features singer and foodie Sung Si-kyung, left, and actor Yutaka Matsushige introducing their favorite restaurants and sharing conversations about food. Courtesy of Netflix
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.