Hinako Sakurai: "Gohoubi Gohan" drama, episode eight recap

 

 

Air Dates: October 2nd to December 19th Sunday nights at midnight on BS TV-Tokyo

Total of twelve episodes, 23 minutes a show and subs were done by Macthitza at DA

Main Cast: Small cast and all the characters are quite likable, through five episodes Hinako has been in 100% of the scenes.

Hinako Sakura as Sakiko Ikeda.... 22 year old woman who has just moved to Tokyo from Nagano and has begun work as an OL at the Suzume Stationary Company in the distribution department. Sakiko is an efficient worker but doesn't have enough confidence in herself, to make herself feel better Food has become her biggest passion. Doesn't matter if it's eating out or at home as Sakiko has such pleasure in the meals she consumes and it's quite hilarious watching her eat.

Sae Okazaki as Kaede Kominato.... Works at the same office and has been there a little while longer than Sakiko who at first was quite intimidated by Kaede. But at the end of the first show the pair bumped into each other at a ritzy burger shop, they found out they have so much in common and are becoming best friends.

Yuki Furukawa as Maokoto Isogai.... Works in the designing office and though a major character we didn't see much of him until the eighth episode.

Miku as Aoyagi.... Office manager at Suzume Stationary and Sakiko was petrified of her at first but after sharing a meal with her found out Aoyagi is a down to earth, funny woman.

Oolong Yoshida as Morigasaki.... One of the directors of the stationary company.

Kizuki as Honda.... Goofy office worker who became Sakiko's first 'friend' at the company.

Hinako has many behind the scenes videos on her YT channel from the drama, here's the link to it if you want to view a few of them: Hinako's YT channel

Previous recaps, episode four wasn't subbed:

Episode one .... Episode two .... Episode three .... Episode five

Episode six .... Episode seven

 Small gap with the recaps as the last pair were done on November 22nd, no shows had been subbed for a few weeks but don't think it matters all that much. To date these have been stand alone episodes so it's not essential you read the prior recaps but it does help to know about the main characters, to be honest though Hinako has had 97% of the screen time. You'll notice above there's no post for the fourth episode as it was never done and no clue why as my inquiry received no answer. Same problem has arisen as there's no episode nine video done but the tenth show has been subbed, once again asked why and hopefully this time it'll be available. So writing this up on Tuesday, if episode nine isn't done by Friday will have show #10 as today's second recap but hope it doesn't happen.

**** Easier to add on than to edit the above. After writing this up feel strongly that the next episode may be one that needs to be watched but still haven't found a subbed version yet. Probably will get it but in the meantime thought why not just post this by it's lonesome self. So hopefully will be back with two more pairs of recaps which will conclude this series which has been an enjoyable watch.

**** Add on #2.... there was success in finding the ninth episode and hope the quality is just as good. Not that it matters to many but will have the next pair of recaps within the week, it's been subbed up until the tenth show and there's two more episodes after that.

 Every episode has been enjoyable and it's a nice change of pace to view down to earth dramas like this one. However have to say this was just a so-so show compared to the first seven or the six I've viewed. Wasn't all that interesting nor was the food Sakiko created and ate as appetizing as previous dishes. There were only three major scenes, these pics at the top were from one at a restaurant, the second was in Sakiko's apartment and the final was at her place of work which is the Suzume Stationary company. Don't get me wrong as this was a decent episode but not compared to others, wish we saw more of Kaede but did finally meet the company's product designer Isogai a bit more.

 It's lunch time at the company and as mentioned for the first time we finally saw much of Isogai in an episode. He's dining at a restaurant which he frequents and mainly because they specialize in dishes from Nagoya where he hails from. While waiting for his lunch Isogai spotted a woman reading a pamphlet which hid her face. But he was more interested in what the woman was reading which was for an upcoming food exhibition and Isogai was so curious if foods from Nagoya would be featured. No suspense for us viewers who the woman was, she soon pulled that pamphlet away from her face to reveal that is was our heroine Sakiko! That shocked Isogai who nodded in her direction but didn't say anything else, had the impression he was a bit disturbed to see Sakiko. But being lunch the small eatery was filling up fast, seeing as how Isogai was sitting by himself at a table for four he reluctantly invited Sakiko to join him.

 The biggest difference in this episode and the previous ones were that the meals weren't as interesting or uncommon as the others. Perhaps a reason for that is because there was only an hour for lunch. As you can see way above both Sakiko and Isogai had the same dishes which was the miso soup and katsu meal. They seem like basic lunches in Japan but according to Isogai the way they were prepared in Nagoya was so much different than in other parts of the country. After a few bites Sakiko had to agree and once again she was off in her own fantasy world while eating . That drew a chuckle from Isogai but he was kind of the same way when it came to food but he can keep his feelings hidden well. He was kind of quiet and bit coldish towards Sakiko during their lunch which she didn't notice too much. But to me after also viewing the final scene it appears Isogai may have a slight crush on Sakiko, she's never had a boyfriend and have the feeling he's always been single too.

 Sakiko eventually showed him an old clip-on that she bought when she was seventeen, it was a bunny design and was created at the Suzume Stationary company where the pair both work. Over the years it's been a good luck charm for Sakiko. Isogai seemed so uncomfortable when she showed him that and proceeded to slip out of the eatery soon after. It's back to the office and we didn't see enough of Kaede this show. Her role isn't a large one but seems when she hooks up with Sakiko they've been the best scenes of the series. Sakiko was showing Kaede and their supervisor Aoyagi the clip-on and Sakiko thought who ever designed it was a genius. Now we know why Isogai had grown a bit uncomfortable when Sakiko was showing him the clip-on for it was he who designed it!

 Two episodes ago Sakiko was so worried about how much weight she had been gaining. She vowed to go on a diet which lasted all of five minutes and has continued to eat to her heart's delight. Most shows have one scene at a restaurant and another with Sakiko at her tiny apartment preparing a dish. For this episode Eel was the main ingredient and in all honesty have never tried it and have no intention of doing that! However Sakiko really loves the slim fish and prepared two dishes with the main meal being Kabayaki, the second being a Unachazuke style dish and as you can see above eating has sent Sakiko to seventh heaven again.

 The bottom two screenshots above are from the final minute, these episodes are only 23 minutes in length. Sakiko was setting up a meeting room when passing by was Isogai. She rushed up to him to compliment him on his amazing clip-on designs, he was flattered yet felt a it awkward about the compliments. This is the mini scene when I realized that Isogai may have the beginnings of a crush on Sakiko and he came so close to asking her out, not on a date but perhaps lunch. It never happened as he slithered away but is this the start of either's first romance? Who knows which is why I really hope the ninth episode will be available.