Hinako Sakurai: "Gohoubi Gohan" drama, episode ten 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 ten 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 .... Episode eight

 Briefly mentioned in the above post that there was a problem once again in getting the proper video, this time with the eleventh episode. Hopefully can get it to finish off the recaps but if not it's not the end of the world. Up to this point would give this series a rating of 8.7/10 which would be a grade of B+. That's a decent rating for me and will say this has been one of the most enjoyable shows of the year. So many food dramas can fall into a rut, most have been decent ones though and in a way wouldn't be surprised if there was a second season for this show. Though food is always the main topic the stories have all been different and at 23 minutes a show there's not enough time for a lot of filler. One other positive have been the characters which are all regular people. Ones that you would work side by side with or see at a restaurant, to me that's a big positive. Let's get to this recap, unlike the nine previous shows our 'heroine' Sakiko didn't enjoy a meal at a new eatery.

 You will notice that sometimes the screenshots aren't so easy to read, it's not so bad when you're watching the show but a different font color would have been better. Also need to add in the person subbing the show has done a solid job. One other note has to deal with that bottom screenshot. That man's name is Honda who we don't see too much of but a few seconds after he made a reference about the "Yuru Camp" drama which was such a fun show. Like this drama it aired on TV-Tokyo so guess that's why it was mentioned. On with this show's story and though we've seen Sakiko go out to eat in every show she's not made of money. She's only been working for about five months in Tokyo after moving there from Nagano.

 Sakiko was telling us viewers in the opening scene that she usually eats a very cheap meal at home, one that often costs only 100 yen or 88 cents! But she's a creative cook and you can see above some of the yummy dishes she whipped up from scratch despite her low budget. Sumzume Stationary is the company where Sakiko works, it's her first ever job and the company had a very good year sales wise. She works in the distribution department and Sakiko was overjoyed that she's received her first ever bonus! So didn't her new best friend Kaede who is right above but the pair were less enthused once they saw how much was taken out for taxes! So what to do with the sudden windfall is the question, for Kaede it's taking a mini weekend trip to an inn with her boyfriend. He was mentioned once back in the fifth episode and that's been the only time so had forgotten about that unnamed man. That man Honda above will be taking a camping trip, hence the reference to "Yuru Camp".

 There was no doubt to us viewers that Sakiko's bonus would be going towards.... Food! And that's what happened, she really wanted to have a massive feast with her family but with them living in Nagano that was out of the question. Sakiko did obtain a very interesting catalog where you could order any kind of local dish from an area and her co-workers above were amazed that such a catalog exists. So what Sakiko ended up doing was sending a copy of the catalog back to her family and told them to order whatever they want, it's her treat! Sakiko did have a pair of phone conversations with her younger sister Momoko, we just saw her in person once during the sixth show and shame we didn't see more of her. So now that Sakiko's family is taken care of what will she do with the rest of her bonus money?

 Of course that was to treat herself to a sumptuous meal, you'd think Sakiko would have gone out to a fancy restaurant but seems she prefers making her own meals. So for the first time in an episode no visit to an eatery took place and Sakiko's extravagant meal will be.... Sukiyaki! Not just your every day creation either as from that catalog Sakiko ordered the best of everything from around Japan from the top of the line beef to onions, mushrooms and her fave part.... a bottle of Sake! As mentioned Sakiko is so skilled in the kitchen, even with inexpensive ingredients she can whip up something that's yummy but to Sakiko this may be the best meal she's ever created or eaten.

 An episode is 23 minutes in length, would say this feast at home took up the final 14 minutes. You can see above what took place, Sakiko enjoys eating at home more than going to a restaurant but the best episodes have been when when she does go out to eat, especially with Kaede. Many variations of Sukiyaki were created by Sakiko, lot of them have been a Ikeda family tradition for many centuries(?). Extremely tasty food will always send Sakiko into seventh heaven and this meal was no different though I've noticed she actually may enjoy the spirits a bit more. Sakiko loves her beer and Sake, she can also handle it very well as we've never seen her drunk to date unlike her co-workers.

 Can't let the juices of the elite beef go to waste so Udon was another dish prepared and devoured by Sakiko, for the amount of food she eats she hasn't gained much wait though that was a topic in the fifth show. Stretched things out long enough, watching Sakiko make and consume her own meals is interesting but it's much more enjoyable when she visits a restaurant. That concludes this recap, Hinako is not that popular of a person here but she's one of my fave current actresses so if you like her too highly recommend this drama. The final episode airs this Sunday, hopefully will be back in about a week with the final two recaps.