Based on the manga of the same name, the Japanese drama "The Solitary Gourmet," starring Yutaka Matsushige as protagonist Goro Inogashira, has graced our screens with a new season almost every year from 2012 to 2024. This year even saw the release of the series' first-ever movie, which also performed well.
And this year is no exception! Today (12/11), TV Tokyo announced that "The Solitary Gourmet 2025 New Year's Eve Special" will air on the evening of December 31st. This marks the ninth consecutive year for the series' special, and for the first time in five years, it will include live segments! Get ready to count down to the New Year with Goro!
This time, Goro is tasked with preparing the rice and fillings for rice balls at a New Year's Eve countdown event. Accompanied by a special little partner, he'll be hustling through rice-producing regions like Niigata, Sado Island, and Yamagata Yonezawa.
Of course, Goro inevitably gets caught up in all sorts of shenanigans every year, and this year will be no different. Along his journey, he'll meet many different people, savor local delicacies, and race back to the event venue before the countdown. Can Goro make it back in time for the live broadcast, craft piping hot rice balls from freshly harvested rice on camera, and wrap up 2025 with a bang?
This year will also feature a host of interesting and distinct guest characters:
Yua Shinkawa: Plays Aki Hozumi, the project manager for the New Year's Eve countdown event.
Yuki Morinaga: Appears as "Onigiri Kotaro," a rice ball expert with 1.2 million SNS followers, responsible for distributing rice balls at the event (Yuki Morinaga will also participate in the live broadcast!).
Takashi Tsukamoto: Portrays the owner of a diner Goro visits in Niigata's Sado Island.
Shigefumi Fukuzawa: Plays Tadaaki Aida, a farmer Goro encounters in Sado.
Kina Yazaki: Appears as Kurumi, a waitress at a yakiniku restaurant Goro visits in Yamagata's Yonezawa.
Reiko Tajima: Plays the proprietress of a Chinese restaurant Goro stops by.
The story woven by these diverse guests is sure to be a major highlight of this special episode.
Yutaka Matsushige also commented on this special:
"I hear it's been nine consecutive years, and with all the reruns, it's become a New Year's tradition for many. As a kid, I'd be glued to the TV watching New Year's Eve shows; it was a magic box that made my heart pound.
New Year's Eve TV feels a bit different now... or maybe I'm just getting old. As a small act of defiance, I decided to take on a live broadcast after five years. While the anticipation is a bit daunting... who knows, it might even be more exciting than Kohaku."
Fans of the series are undoubtedly eager to see what kind of fun experience Goro's live New Year's Eve special will bring. If you have a way to tune in, it might just be the perfect choice for your New Year's Eve viewing!
via： 東京電視台