"Lunch is Samgyeopsal, No Thoughts of Japanese Food" 'Kodokuna Misoka' Visits Busan [BIFF]

The 29th Busan International Film Festival On Site
Theatrical Version of 'Kodokuna Mishokuga' Actor Matsushige Yutaka
"Unexpected Popularity of Uncle's Mukbang... Filmed Like a Documentary"

Actor Matsushige Yutaka attended a press conference held on the 3rd at the Busan Haeundae-gu Video Industry Center.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

"Since coming to Korea, I haven't thought about Japanese food for even a moment. For lunch today, I'm thinking of having one of samgyeopsal, samgyetang, or buchujeon."

'Kodokuna Gourmet' Goro-san came to Busan. Yutaka Matsushige, the actor who has stimulated the salivary glands of many viewers for 12 years, said this while swallowing his saliva at a press conference held on the morning of the 3rd at the Busan Film Industry Center in U-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan. The day before, he walked the red carpet at the 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opening ceremony while eating dried natto. It was a witty performance imitating a scene from the movie.

The Japanese drama 'Kodokuna Gourmet' first aired in January 2012 and has been popular as a late-night drama for over 10 years. The story follows the protagonist, Nogashira Goro, who desperately chooses restaurants for a satisfying meal and eats alone ('honbap'). Goro visits actual operating restaurants to eat, and after the broadcast, reservations were overwhelmed. The line from the drama, "I'm hungry (Hara ga hetta)," became a popular catchphrase.

At first, he admitted he did not expect the popularity. Matsushige said, "I wondered, 'What's fun about a drama where a middle-aged man eats alone?' I think viewers who were tired of existing dramas and had resistance found the delicious appearance of food attractive as if it were a documentary." He added, "Mukbang (eating broadcast) reflects the food culture and lifestyle of the times," and said, "It was filmed like a documentary."

Many viewers in Korea also enthusiastically watch Goro-san's 'mukbang.' Matsushige said, "I was surprised that it was loved in Korea, China, and Taiwan." He said, "In Japan, 'honbap' is not a lonely or sad thing, but I heard it is taboo in Korea. I thought it might be because small plates of kimchi and various side dishes are served separately and eaten together. I was happy with the Korean viewers' reaction that thanks to the drama, it has become something not to be ashamed of."

Actor Matsushige Yutaka is walking the red carpet at the opening ceremony of the 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) held on the afternoon of the 2nd at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Movie Still from 'The Solitary Gourmet The Movie'
[Photo by Media Castle]

The movie version of 'Kodokuna Gourmet,' titled 'Kodokuna Gourmet The Movie,' was invited to the Open Cinema section of the 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). Matsushige took on both the lead role and directing. When asked why he made the drama into a movie, he answered quite honestly. He said, "The drama market in Japan is not good, so I decided to make a movie." He continued, "At first, I sent a letter to director Bong Joon-ho proposing to work together. Unfortunately, he replied that the schedule didn't match and that he would wait for the work. I thought, 'If another Japanese director does it, then I'll do it myself,' and 'If I'm going to do it, I'll take leadership and do it properly,' so I took on the director role."

He has affection for Korea enough to send a love call to Director Bong. Matsushige said, "If the connection between Korea and Japan continues through works, maybe someday the relationship will improve. Asia is a community of destiny. We must walk hand in hand together in industry and culture."

Matsushige also loves Korean food. In the movie 'Kodokuna Gourmet The Movie,' he eats dried pollack hangover soup, grilled mackerel, and chicken bossam. This time in Busan, he rushed to a Haeundae gopchang (grilled intestines) restaurant. He was born in Fukuoka, Japan, and grew up listening to Korean radio since childhood. He said, "Japan and Busan have similar climates, so fish is the main ingredient and the taste of vegetables is similar. The way of seasoning is different. When I first ate Busan food, I realized 'the taste changes after crossing the sea.'"

Director and actor Matsushige Yutaka of the movie 'The Solitary Gourmet The Movie' is attending a press conference held on the morning of the 3rd at the Busan Haeundae-gu Film Industry Center.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Matsushige started acting on the theater stage and gained popularity through dramas. Having passed his sixtieth birthday and becoming a film director, he said, "I always just had to eat at a prepared table, but directing a movie meant I had to think about everything. It was a much harder task than I imagined, but I was happy." He added, "I'm 61 this year, and although I don't have a long life ahead, I will enjoy challenges."

Despite the tremendous mukbang, Matsushige maintains a slender figure and said, "I do 'walking' every day." He said, "Today, I woke up at 6 a.m. and walked about 6 km along Haeundae beach. My heart rate went up, and I felt good."