Solitary Gourmet - Season 5

First aired: 10/3/2015 12 episodes

Episodes

1. Garlic Skirt Steak and Samgyeopsal of Inadazutsumi, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Aired: 10/3/2015

Upon exiting from Inadazutsumi Station, Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) is met by a slight rain. He also gets startled when a heavy-set woman (Yoristune Akiko) seems to be charging towards him... Later, he arrives safely at a futon shop, to meet with the owner Sakoda (Terada Minori). Sakoda wanted to present his daughter with a bridal gift: a dining table made in Europe, so Goro gives him a list to choose from. Then, Sakoda shows Goro a picture of his daughter... After the meeting, Goro feels hungry and goes in search of an eatery. A signboard catches his attention. It says, "Charcoal Yakiniku, Juen". Entering inside, Goro is ushered to a table by the shop's proprietress (Nishio Mari), who later on teaches him the shop's varied and interesting styles of eating grilled meats and offals.

2. Popeye Bacon and Raw Smoked Saury of Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, Koto Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 10/10/2015

Arriving at Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station in Koto Ward, Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) receives some bad news on the phone. It seems some business deal did not push through. He goes to buy a handkerchief at a souvenir shop and chooses one with a Daruma design on it. He hopes it will bring him good luck. Then, he meets with Tajima (Satoi Kenta) at the Fukagawa Edo Museum for a business meeting. To his delight, Goro is able to have a successful outcome with this deal. He goes out into the streets to celebrate and have a Fukagawa rice meal. But instead, he chooses an izakaya because of its name: "Daruma". Feeling that luck brought him to this place, Goro goes inside the crowded tavern, to be greeted cheerfully by the attendant, Suu-san (Asano Atsuko). Goro is also awed by the varied menu displayed on the walls, boasting a hodgepodge of Japanese and Western snacks and dishes.

3. Lamb Hamburger and Vegetable Couscous of Nishi-Ogikubo, Suginami Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 10/17/2015

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) arrives in Nishi-Ogikubo to meet with a senior colleague (Kokuta Nobuaki) from his schooldays. He finds him drinking at his usual haunt, the grilled skewer alley... His senior is getting married and wants Goro to choose a carpet for his and his future wife's new house. However, fiancee Sachiko (Kai Marie) is not happy about it for some reason. Goro, sensing a couple's quarrel, leaves immediately. The awkward and tense atmosphere made him feel hungry. He goes around the neighborhood looking for a shop. He decides to try something new and unfamiliar: "Moroccan Cuisine, Tam Tamu". Inside the cramped small eatery, the proprietress (Ito Kazue) tells him that it is fine to use a table for four. He surveys the menu that teems with foreign yet delectable-sounding North African terms and dishes: "Tajine", "Harissa", "Harira", "Brik, "Berber omelet"...

4. Sauteed Samxing Green Onions with Meat and Deep Fried Pork with Red Yeast of Luodong, Yilan County, Taiwan

Aired: 10/24/2015

Goro meets with one of his regular clients, Yamamura (Ryu Raita) who has gotten wind of his upcoming business trip to Taiwan. Yamamura asks him to deliver an item to his granddaughter, Takako (Okubo Mariko) who is studying and working in Yilan County, Taiwan. Goro reluctantly says yes... Sometime later, Goro arrives in Taipei. He goes straight to Sanxing, Yilan to deliver the said item which turns out to be... Afterwards, he goes around Luodong in search of a shop where he could eat. He chooses an eatery named Quántái Xiǎochībù, which offers seafood and stir-fried dishes. However, Goro feels intimidated when confronted with the menu completely written in Chinese text. Nevertheless, despite the language barrier, the friendly proprietress (Yang Yunyu) and local girl (NueNue) help him out by recommending what dishes to try out...

5. Chicken Rice and Soupless Noodles of Yongle Market, Taipei, Taiwan

Aired: 10/31/2015

It is Goro's (Matsushige Yutaka) second day in Taiwan. On this day, he will research on Taiwanese products for the upcoming trade exhibition in Paris. He goes to the National Traditional Arts Center in Yilan County. There, he finds all sorts of good ideas for the exhibition: glassware, tea utensils, brushes. He also tries candy-coated tomatoes being sold there. At a tea house, Goro encounters a young entrepreneur Liu Shinichi (Mizuma Ron) who gives him a tip on where to go and find more Taiwanese goods. "Go to Dinghua Street". Goro takes his advice and visits the old warehouse district at Dihua Street in Taipei. The exotic items there made Goro hungry, so he goes on a food-hopping adventure around Yongle Market. He chooses an eatery called "Yǒnglè Xiǎochī" and asks for a meal of Taiwanese street food. Next he tries a stall called "YuanWei LuRou Fan"...

6. Kue Set Meal and Namero Cold Chazuke of Ookayama, Meguro Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 11/7/2015

"Somehow, I have a good feeling about today..." Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) comes out of Ōokayama Station, feeling optimistic about today's business deal. "If it pushes through, it's going to be a huge deal.". He meets with company director Yashiro Keisuke (Horibe Keisuke) who wants Goro to take care of changing the over-all interiors of their main branch and in their upcoming Roponggi branch. It does seem quite a profitable deal. However, Goro is perturbed by Yashiro's lackadaisical attitude towards the matter... Later on, Goro is in a foul mood. Feeling hungry, he wants to eat delicious food that will placate his anger. He finds what he was looking for in an eatery called "Kue", that serves "fishermen's cuisine": delicious sashimi set meals, simmered fish, seafood donburi and kabayaki dishes, and namerou. Plus, it serves unlimited refills of rice and miso soup! Goro steps inside, and is welcomed by the proprietress (Washio Machiko)...

7. Lamb Shoulder Roast and Lamb Chop of Chitose-Funabashi, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 11/14/2015

Goro has been busy lately. Although he is thankful for the work, he has been feeling a bit tired. He goes to Sakuragaoka via Chitose-Funabashi Station to visit the younger sister of a friend. She is yoga instructor, Saito Rei (Asami Reina), who wants to consult Goro regarding changing the interiors of her own new yoga studio where she is planning to move into soon. She also taught Goro a yoga technique that could help him relax in case he is feeling tired. After the meeting, Goro tries the yoga technique in the middle of the street to see if it works. However, he feels hunger instead of relaxation, and so he goes in search of an eatery. While walking in a residential area, on his way back to the station, he comes upon a small sliver-type of building, which has two entrances. It is a yakiniku shop and bar, called "Maasan", that serves "Jingisukan (Genghis Khan)", or grilling of lamb meat and mutton. Goro enters inside and is greeted by the owner (Kawano Naoki)...

8. Ema Datshi and Phagshapa of Yoyogi-Uehara, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 11/21/2015

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) visits a client in Yoyogi-Uehara referred to him by his associate Takiyama. The client who owns a sign shop is not at home so Goro meets with the wife instead (Yokoyama Megumi). Alone with the wife, Goro looks at her eyes and senses a strange atmosphere. Unnerved, he hurries up and finishes the meeting and leaves. Before he goes, the wife hands him a letter in a pink envelope. Fearing that it is a love letter, Goro nervously opens the envelope and reads it... Later, in a foul mood, Goro goes in search of another client, a tatami shop owned by Ozaki (Ishii Kenichi) who was looking for a foreign-made bike. After the meeting, the smell of dried rush used for the tatami relaxes him and soon, he feels hungry. He walks down a narrow alley and finds a shop with dried chilies in front. At the entrance, the signboard says "Gatemo Tabun, Bhutanese cuisine". Without any idea what kind of dishes are being served, Goro takes a plunge and goes inside...

9. Pork Shioyaki Rice and Mixed Fry of Ohara, Isumi City, Chiba Prefecture

Aired: 11/28/2015

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) arrives in Ohara's fishing port in Chiba Prefecture. He is enticed to taste the lobsters and turban shells being sold at a shop but alas, he has work to do first. He promises to eat after he attends to business. Riding the local train towards Isumi City, he enjoys a frozen orange. Arriving at the Kuniyoshi Station, he is greeted by a city hall employee, Yamazaki (Tsukaji Muga). Yamazaki takes him to a "trial house" meant to attract outsiders to settle in the area. Goro is tasked to handle the procurement of materials for the interiors. As Goro sets about measuring the interiors, he suddenly remembers the lobsters at the port. Unable to control his hunger, Goro abruptly concludes his task and asks to be driven back to the Ohara station. Knowing his hunger cannot stand the trip back to the port, he tries to find a shop that sells lobsters near the station. Unfortunately, he cannot find one...

10. Jun (Chicken) Liver Bowl of Kameido, Koto Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 12/5/2015

At a time when Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) is busy, his lower back hurts once again. The doctor (Kitamura Yukiya) suggests he be hospitalized so he could make thorough examinationof his health. Goro hesitantly obliges. Three days later, Goro is in his hospital bed being served dinner by a nurse (Sudou Atsuko). Goro is looking forward to the hospital meals, which he deemed "has improved considerably lately". However, his meal this time was disappointing, and describes the flavor as "thin". Then, the doctor comes to check on his progress. He says Goro is ready to be discharged the next day. However, for no particular reason, he nonchalantly asks Goro about gyoza. As a result, Goro who is yearning to eat something salty and savory, cannot stop thinking about gyoza, and had trouble sleeping. The next day, he gets discharged and decides to reward himself with a hearty meal. He chooses a ramen shop called "Saien", which of course serves his much longed-for gyoza...

11. Omurice with American Sauce and Oysters Meuniere of Sengendai, Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture

Aired: 12/12/2015

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) arrives in Sengendai, Saitama Prefecture where he notices there are plenty of bicycles around. He is supposed to go to his next client, but gets lost temporarily in a residential complex area. Along the way, he spots a stew shop located in a building with a very nondescript facade. Finally, he has found his client (You), a proprietress of a karaoke/snack bar. It was a strange meeting. The proprietress, boasting that she has sharp intuition, correctly guesses Goro's thoughts and even his state of health... After the meeting, Goro feels famished. He remembers the stew shop he spotted a while ago, and goes back to it. It is called, "Kuriya Sawa", a restaurant that serves warm, western-style meals. Goro goes in and is greeted by the mother and son owners (Shigeta Chihoko, Maena Tomoya). Goro looks at the menu, and licks his lips at the delectable choices of rich and hearty stews, omurice, doria, and other sauce-based dishes...

12. One-Person Sukiyaki of Nishi-Sugamo, Toshima Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 12/19/2015

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) arrives at real estate company in Nishi-Sugamo in Toshima Ward. At the request of his client Morita (Keiichi Noda), he has come to preview a shop his client is eyeing to rent. While he is filling in an entry form, the company president (Tsuchiya Nobuyuki) and employees (Hanawa Nobuyuki, Hosono Kyoko) are all trying to read his last name, and somehow pronouncing it wrong. Goro is bewildered since he assumes his last name is pretty easy to read... Then, later on, after previewing the shop, Goro feels hungry. He hurries and finds a shabu-shabu and sukiyaki shop called "Shabu Tatsu" along an old-fashioned, quaint shopping street. Inside, there is a rarely seen U-shaped counter. Goro finds the set meals quite tempting. When asked by the proprietress (Yasuko Tomita) what his order is, Goro chooses a luxurious solo order of sukiyaki set meal with prime beef cuts. What a fitting choice for an advanced year-end banquet!