Based on the popular manga of the same name, the hit Japanese drama "The Solitary Gourmet," starring Yutaka Matsushige as protagonist Goro Inogashira, has become a household name, with new seasons airing almost every year from 2012 to 2024.
This year marks a new milestone with the series' first-ever movie adaptation, also titled "The Solitary Gourmet," which Matsushige both directed and starred in. The film premiered on January 10, and in a recent interview, Matsushige discussed his dedication to the project and his self-deprecating take on its success, quipping, "If it flops, I can finally retire!" His comments quickly grabbed fans' attention.
The day before the premiere, Matsushige posted on X, revealing that it had been two and a half years since the initial proposal. During that time, his sole focus was ensuring the film's smooth completion. Now, with the release finally here, he expressed no regrets or lingering wishes, simply hoping the work would bring joy to many viewers!
Fans familiar with "The Solitary Gourmet" series have likely heard Matsushige repeatedly joke in interviews, "I don't understand what's so interesting about watching an old man eat," admitting he's baffled by the series' enduring popularity. When he first took on the role, he famously declared, "Who would watch a show like this?" He even once suggested making a certain season the final one, only to have the proposal rejected. When he asked the producer how long they planned to continue, the response—"Until no one watches it anymore"—reportedly left Matsushige utterly despondent.
Adding to his woes, Matsushige is incredibly demanding of himself during filming, requiring himself to finish every meal completely and even fasting before recording. He has mentioned multiple times how challenging the series is to shoot, once even claiming the stress of the job was shortening his lifespan.
So, with the movie's recent release, he's back with similar remarks: if the film's box office performance isn't up to par, he'll have all those Goro Inogashira billboards taken down, and he can finally retire from this gig.
However, the film's opening day box office exceeded 60 million yen, trailing only Takuya Kimura's "Grand Maison Tokyo: The Movie." Looks like retirement isn't happening anytime soon!
The series' enduring popularity is undeniable, with many Japanese viewers tuning in for almost every season. It even airs New Year's Eve specials, competing with the likes of Kohaku Uta Gassen, making "The Solitary Gourmet" a series truly in a league of its own. The movie version has been well-received by Japanese audiences, so perhaps we can look forward to seeing it in theaters internationally as well.
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via： togetter