Kinou Nani Tabeta? (2019)

so happy that I re-watched this slice of life series

Overall: when I first watched this series, I was irritated by the lack of verbal and physical affection. However, upon re-watching it, my view changed a bit. Something to note is that just because we don't see much physical romance doesn't mean that it didn't happen with this couple. Both actors are A-list actors and this is one of the first series to feature m/m romance in Japan (Ossan's Love was the first the year prior in 2018). Watched officially on GagaOOLala (which also has the 2020 New Year's special and hopefully the 2023 season 2).

Content Warnings: homophobia (mainly internal)

What I Liked
- a realistic portrayal of flawed characters who learn and grow
- support characters, they weren't tossed in and had reasons for being part of the story
- some really funny parts like the shaking in ep 3
- amazing acting especially the emotional scene in ep 11
- that Kenji had effeminate mannerisms but they weren't mocked in the series

Room For Improvement
- the cooking bogged down the pacing a bit for me, though the food looked delicious
- I was so angry at Shiro at times, especially in episode 8, however it is made clear that he has deep internal homophobia and we did see him working on this towards the end of the series
- their lack of communication really frustrated me when I first watched it, but I've heard that not having deep conversations could be realistic even for a couple of 3 years in Japan (added with the fact that they are a gay couple and one is mostly closeted/has internalized homophobia)

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A Mature BL

While the story revolves around the relationship of an older couple, it is so so much more than that. Kakei Shiro (Nishijima Hidetoshi) and Yabuki Kenji (Uchino Seiyou) are both well into their 40s and are steep in Japanese culture. Shiro is an uptight lawyer, rigid in his thinking, terrified of being overtly gay, certainly closeted, although his family knows. He is frugal to the point of being labeled a ‘penny-pincher’ and sticks rigidly to sets of rules and budgets. Kenji, on the other hand, is a bit more extravagant and sort of ‘open’ in his gayness. He is a hairdresser. Never hiding it and yet does try to fit into the societal norms and desperately tries to fit in with what Shiro wants to keep things orderly. Over the course of their relationship, we see that Shiro changes more so. Sometimes, more subtlety but steadily, into how Kenji thinks and behaves. The two begin to mesh and blend and honestly act more like a married couple than most married couples.

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One in a million

If you watched a lot of romance in your life, a longggg list, you will really appriciate this drama, so much that will not forget it ever, this is one of those drama that giving you tears just to think it's over, it is so good, so lovable.

the reviews didn't make it a justice, because probably they are teens that didn't watched a lot of drama, some of them looking for a skin ship, others look for fast meal, it is not a fast meal, it is a traditional japanese tv drama, but now with gay theme. it's is something very very new.

there were gay drams before it, I've watched them all for years. but not like this one. they were more for fluffy love, for a girl young audience, those with the bl mangas , like in "OSANAS love" If you like Osana's I guess you will not like it, it is more older couple , ordinary, real life, with hardship and not so likable things, for example when one side is passive and appologising all the time, the other one is tough and doesn't want to get out of the closet,
IT IS -R_E_AL.. its the deal here.

You can watch it even 3-10 times, every year or 2 you want rewatch it and find another level of understanding. because like the reviews here are not mature to understand things, most reviews are from teens that doesn't get it.

The colture are different, and you can not compare Japanese drama to the Thai dramas, They are just differente and yes you need to be connected to their mind or their thing. Japanese like Art, beauty, they are very clean in thinking and down to earth, for example they doesn't even miss one spot that isn't in the right place, the angles the colors, the food they are showing, It is very pricice, second, they trying very hard not to follow other styles, like South Korean they have their own game.

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Like a good meal you will want to sample this more than once

The actors are very experienced and are able to convey their thoughts and feelings in a realistic and believable fashion.
This gay couple in their 40's, at first, seemed mismatched and in one internal dialogue Shiro has he admits Kenji would not normally be someone he is attracted to but for a life partner he is his ideal. The internal dialogues are scattered through the episodes and give further insight to their relationship.
Like most couples (they have been together for around 3 years), there are some doubts and insecurities that help us, the audience, to appreciate the extra societal restrictions, as a gay couple, they have to navigate.
A very telling scene towards the end is when Kenji explains to Shiro's father the career options faced by men when they realise they are gay and will not be marrying and having children. It is very poignant.
The every day actions of work, domesticity, shopping and cooking that this couple share demonstrate the love and care they feel for each other. Other gay couples are introduced and highlight different aspects of how Shiro and Kenji relate to each other. Shiro's respect and diffidence towards his parents and their gradual opening up to how his sexual orientation will impact their future is handled sensitively.

So excited to find there is a follow up movie of the same name - now on my PTW list

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Good Enough

Japanese Drama "Kinou Nani Tabeta? " is a slice of life that combines food and romance.

The story moves on a slow tempo, with each episode dealing most of the time with small cases that happen during the daily routine of the couple. The drama includes romance, everyday drama, but, above all, comedy so greatly that this drama can be enjoyed even by those who don't really pick up slice of life dramas.

The comedy, moreover, is to the point, without exaggerating and using realistic situations that enhance the humor in the story. The romance as well as original, realistic, with some sweet moments that appear here and there but not often, exactly like it would have happened for a real couple.

But the real treat here is the performances. The two main leads were excellent, not only as well written characters, but performance-wise as well. The rest of the characters were pretty interesting too.

Moreover, the food scenes were made masterfully and presented in a fun way.

So, overall, 8.5 out of 10.

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a great representation on a surpressed gay community in Japan

When I watch this around 2019, I think this series represented a surpressed gay community in Japan. Since many asian countries are known for their hate towards the community (esp Japan because they're very reserved and don't like it if something that considered "not normal" occurs), I could say that this drama portrays it perfectly, even without any skinship. When I watch BL nowdays, I hate it when they abandoned the story just for the spicy NC's. I think it's better to focused on the story more than the NC's. I really really like the main couple, even though Shiro is a bit a$$ sometimes, but I really liked them. Esp that episode when Shiro introduced Kenji to his parents (via call). The 2nd couple were so funny, esp when I see kohinata simping over gilbert, lol. I'M EXCITED FOR 2ND SEASON!

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Um prato no ponto certo!

A melhor sensação que você tem enquanto assiste esse jdrama é notar que não é um BL, mas uma verdadeira obra LGBTQIA+. Não se enganem, não é uma série no patamar de obras ocidentais que tratam esse assunto de maneira mais aberta e crua.

A sociedade japonesa é conservadora. Esse tipo de assunto é tratado em nichos. Então apresentar um relacionamento homossexual ao público exige sensibilidade, ensino e paciência. Kinou Nani Tabeta integrou esses elementos ao humor e à gastronomia e trouxe um verdadeiro comfort series sobre o dia a dia de um casa gay que tem a culinária como hobby.

A série aborda diversas situações comumente vividas por grupos LGBT+ de modo sensível e bem-humorado, trazendo o antiquado senso comum para ser derrubado. Shiro esconde sua orientação sexual no trabalho, sua vizinha só aceita ficar no apartamento sozinha com ele quando descobre que ele é gay, seus pais o aceitam, mas tem dúvidas absurdas sobre seu estilo de vida. Há diversas reflexões realistas sobre ser gay na sociedade japonesa e vemos isso refletido no ambiente familiar, no trabalho e entre amigos. Sem contar que não é apenas sobre o fato de ser gay, mas gay na casa dos 40 anos. Então a questão da idade também vem à tona. Através desses tipos de situações, tabus são quebrados (conseguiu ouvir?) sempre de modo leve, acompanhado de um trilha que remete aos anos 1940/50.

Parece uma produção com estética caseira. Não há muito movimentos de câmera, nem trabalho de iluminação e, às vezes, as atuações são um pouco teatrais, com pouca naturalidade e muitos monólogos. A linguagem do amor nesse jdrama são os atos de serviço, principalmente através dos pratos cozinhados por Shiro. Senti falta do toque físico (que é quase inexistente) e a sensação que tive é que estava vendo um casal de amigos e não namorados. Outro incômodo foram as extensas cenas deles cozinhando que, por muitas vezes, ocupavam metade do episódio de meia hora.

É um série engraçada, leve e reflexiva que vale a pena conhecer!

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