Hinako Sakurai: "Gohoubi Gohan" drama, episode one 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 two 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.

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.

Yuuki Furukawa as Makoto Isogai.... We just met him at the end of the second episode so will edit this bio, he's in the planning department and think his role will be important.

Hinako promo video for the drama

 Don't think I'll be recapping every show but at least the first six but then again if it's a good series may do them all. Nice to see Sae in this series as I really like her and so don't many viewers, she hasn't had a post for a while so will be working on one or hopefully more. Of course Hinako is my main reason for watching this drama and she does so well in playing off the wall quirky or dark characters. The theme to this show is Food and hasn't there been so many of these shows the past decade? Most I've viewed have been good but seldom has one been a must watch. So far this has been a semi wacky show, serious enough but Sakiko is one odd yet very enjoyable character. Let's get to the first recap and there doesn't appear to be an ongoing storyline which is why I may not recap the entire series.

 As you may notice being in light white means the subs aren't always easy to read when the background isn't too dark. Hinako is 24 in real life but plays the 22 year old Sakiko Ikeda who has moved from Nagano to Tokyo. She's working her first ever job in the distribution department at Suzume Stationary and at first seemed to really love her position. Sakiko certainly doesn't hate it as she enjoys working there so much but does suffer from a lack of confidence. The office assistant, the goofy Honda, really likes Sakiko's work but what about the others. In the middle screenshot that man is Morigasaki who is one of the company's directors, he seems pleased with Sakiko's work.

 However next to him is the office manager Aoyagi, unknown if she's happy with Sakiko's work as she's such a stern woman. We didn't see much of her in this episode but she has a huge role in he next show. Sitting across from Sakiko is the woman in the fourth screenshot, her name is Kaede. She's been with the Suzume company a bit longer than Sakiko but is still a bit green. To Sakiko she's the most efficient worker in the office who seemingly knows everything, that's not the case but Sakiko at first was so intimidated by Kaede. Most of the action though takes place outside the office as this is a Food drama, think food is Sakiko's main reason for living! After a tough morning at work lunch was on her mind, curry to be exact and to her dismay the restaurant Sakiko was about to enter sold out of their curry already, time then to prepare her own for dinner.

 Dramas with a food theme aren't ever exciting shows but they're usually interesting and you do learn so many recipes. So curry is the dish Sakiko will be preparing for dinner, at first thought she wasn't adept at cooking but she's quite good. Not just a regular curry dinner but a Lobster curry as you can see above, being a drama you don't see how it's entirely prepared so wonder if it takes hours? When Sakiko eats something she truly treasures she tends to go off in her own world, it's okay when she's alone but at restaurants others shake their heads at her. This scene making and eating the curry didn't last all that long, but as you can see above Sakiko was in seventh heaven after the repast.

 No chance for Sakiko to prepare another masterpiece the next day as she had to work overtime and it was too late to create a meal at home. Sakiko passed by a kind of upscale hamburger shop and thought to herself it's been ages since she's had one. The shop was called Umami's and the screenshots don't do the burgers justice as I'd like to try a few things off their menu. Everything looked so tasty to Sakiko who didn't know what to order, the server suggested the Ultimate Bacon Burger meal which you can see below and how does that fit into your mouth?! Sakiko also ordered a beer and we learn over these two shows she's does enjoy the spirits. For the second time time in two days Sakiko is in seventh heaven with a meal and she is an hilarious woman to watch while eating. However could trouble be on the horizon as a figure loomed over her table, it was her ultra perfect office mate Kaede!

 Sakiko was a bit reluctant but invited Kaede to join her, Kaede did have a chuckle watching her office mate eat and so didn't the other customers. A vegan burger was Kaede's decision and as you can see above that looks pretty yummy too, bet those burgers must cost over a thousand yen. This turned out to be such an enjoyable evening for Sakiko, not just because of her tasty bacon burger but for getting to know Kaede so much better. The two are quite alike, Kaede too has problems at the office and she's covered her insecurities but her attitude. As you can see above Sakiko was telling her what a different person she is out of the office.

 The waiter overheard the two women taking and gave them such a fancy colored looking drink on the house which they both enjoyed immensely. So after a rocky start at the office Sakiko and Kaede quickly became best friends at their dinner and that friendship grew even more in the next show. However the pair didn't partake in another meal together but it was still a very fun episode, recap for that is the next post and more screenshots from this show.