Solitary Gourmet - Season 4

First aired: 7/9/2014 12 episodes

Episodes

1. Spicy Fried Meat and Bean Sprouts of Kiyose City, Tokyo

Aired: 7/9/2014

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) arrives in Kiyose, Tokyo for his appointment with an eyewear shop owner (Shiga Kotaro). However, the client is at the moment playing mahjong so Goro goes to the mahjong parlor instead and waits for him to finish. Afterwards, the two proceed with their meeting which ends on a good note, if only the owner had not insisted on making Goro try out some of his flashy sunglasses. Later, Goro aims to satiate his hunger by looking for an eatery near the station. He tries out "Miyuki Shokudo", a simple greasy spoon that offers affordable set meals with hefty amounts. Despite his hunger, Goro is taking a bit of time deciding what to order as he gets lost in the shop's varied menu: written on numerous strips of paper, attached all over one wall...

2. Korean-Style Tempura and Samgyetang Ramen of Ginza, Chuo Ward

Aired: 7/16/2014

Goro goes to the vibrant district of Ginza. He is not on a business trip but to visit a friend of his and offer his support. This friend, Sasagawa Hitomi (Hirooka Yuriko) is holding an exhibit of her photographs she took from her travels in Vietnam. After the visit, he strolls around Ginza, and tries out some soothing sweets and tea at a Taiwanese cafe named "Santokudou". After further strolling, he decides to look for a place to have a "Ginza meal." However, he walked a tad too far, and ends up on the outskirts of Ginza and in what appears to be the district of Shinbashi. Nevertheless, an eatery named "Namiji-Tei", that offers Korean home-cooked meals catches his attention. However, it was narrow inside the small eatery and and is already packed with other customers, all sharing a big table. Since he prefers to dine alone, Goro plans to leave. But somehow, he gets persuaded by the eatery's Omoni (Shibata Rie) to stay and eat...

3. Steak Bowl of Hakone, Ashigarashimo, Kanagawa Prefecture

Aired: 7/23/2014

The lone merchant arrives in Miyanoshita, Hakone to take a look at a gallery/cafe called "Naraya Cafe" as a potential venue for a friend's exhibit. The cafe is managed by a pleasant man (Doi Yoshio) who is secretly nicknamed "Momi-yan" by Goro because of his huge sideburns. The owner also treats Goro to anything he likes and so he orders the cafe's specialty, a unique gourd-shaped monaka with sweet sesame seed paste filling. Afterwards, Goro decides to take a stroll around the village by way of the Miyanoshita Walking Trail. He reaches an old elementary school turned preschool. He reminisces and plays in the schoolyard until his hunger creeps in. He decides to eat at a tavern whose sign he saw a moment ago, during his walk. It took him a bit of moment though, looking for the said tavern. Finally he arrives at "Iroriya", a shop which is being run by two ladies: an elderly one (Onuki Kae) and a younger woman (Aoyama Noriko)...

4. Hire Kalbi and Sukiyaki-Style Sirloin of Komiya, Hachioji, Tokyo

Aired: 7/30/2014

Goro arrives in the quiet suburban area of Komiya, Hachioji to meet with a customer. Being used to meeting with business clients inside their shops in busy commercial centers and shopping districts, he is surprised to see that there was "nothing" there except residential houses. His client, Tanimura Yuya (Nomaguchi Toru), plans to open an Italian restaurant. During their meeting, the client's wife comes to give her husband a bento lunch of grilled beef. Licking his lips at the sight of delicious beef, he resolves to eat yakiniku after work. Thinking it was futile to search for a yakiniku shop in Komiya, Goro is about to head to the city center when a shop's sign catches his eye. It reads, "Yakiniku Daikoen". Smilingly, Goro, gets inside, drawn by the mouth-watering smell of grilled beef. Inside, the proprietress (Enjoji Aya) ushers him to an available table. Goro eagerly chooses from the Yakiniku menu of assorted beef cuts, pork trotters, and other Korean-style dishes...

5. Young Anchovy Tempura and Mixed Rice with Octopus of Himakajima, Chita, Aichi Prefecture

Aired: 8/6/2014

Goro goes out of town to Minamichita, Aichi Prefecture. He is supposed to meet his client, Yamashita (Tokui Yu) at the latter's workplace, the Tourism Center at the Morozaki Port. However, he is told that Yamashita has gone to Himakajima, an island in the Chita Peninsula. Learning that it's just a 10 minute boat ride to the island, Goro rides the ferry over to Himakajima, to look for his client. There, he finds out that his client seems to be dashing off from one place to another. There are no taxis or bus on that island so Goro rents a bicycle. While chasing after Yamashita on his bike to try to pass an item he promised he'd deliver directly, Goro gets lost in the charm of the island's seafood such as the grilled octopus of "Kitchen Barca"... Later, he indulges in a delightful island feast at a dining facility by the beach called "Otohime"...

6. Lamb Mint Curry and Cheese Kulcha of Kiba, Koto Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 8/13/2014

On a slightly rainy day, Goro goes to meet with a client in Kiba, Koto Ward. The client is a hard-working single mom and manager of a flower shop (Fueki Yoko). She is asking Goro for help in finding gifts to be given away to participants of an event for single mothers. Later, Goro walks around Kiba, and notices it's almost dinner time. He comes across "Kamal Pool", a bar and restaurant that offers Indian Tandoor cuisine. Goro reads the menu in front of the shop, picturing its dishes of authentic Indian curry and lamb dishes. Overpowered by the "magic charm of curry", Goro eagerly opens the shop's door...

7. Pollack Roe Cream Pasta and Pork Cutlet Sandwich of Torigoe, Taito Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 8/20/2014

Goro is in Taito Ward to meet with a client at his home in Torigoe. However, for some reason, the client (Tochi Hiroki) who is a model hand gun enthusiast decides to meet somewhere else instead. Goro also checks out the area's old shopping districts: Sakata Shopping Street and Okazu Yokocho. He buys a few food items and eventually feels hungry himself. Luckily, he immediately finds a nice shop along the way. Its name is "Mamezo", a drinking/coffee shop establishment run by a husband (Fumiyo Kohinata) and wife (Nishida Naomi) team. Goro seems torn as he looks at the hodgepodge of a menu that offers a variety of Western and Japanese dishes...

8. Oxtail Soup and Acai Bowl of Asagaya, Suginami Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 8/27/2014

Goro arrives this time at Asagaya Station. On the way to a business appointment, he stops by an old candy store and plays a nostalgic game with a vintage arcade baseball machine. Next he meets with the owner of a nearby pool hall, Ishikawa (Wada Soko), who is asking Goro the necessary goods for installing a new counter bar. Somehow, while watching a game of pool, Goro suddenly is reminded of food and feels hungry. He abruptly ends the meeting and under the glare of the blazing sun, he wander the streets. Soon, he finds a shop sign with the word, "Hawaii" written on it. It belonged to "Yo-Ho's Lanai Cafe", a refreshing eatery that offers Hawaiian themed menu. Inside, Goro is greeted with a Hawaiian blue walls and displays, as well as the cheery greetings of its proprietor (Terajima Susumu) and his wife (Horiuchi Keiko)...

9. Mota Kuto (Mao Zedong) Spareribs and Black Rice of Jingumae, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 9/3/2014

Goro goes to Shinjuku to meet with Takiyama (Murata Takehiro), his friend and business associate. Arriving late at their meeting place, a cafe near Gaienmae, the enigmatic Takiyama apparently has a sweet-tooth. He orders fruit-topped pancakes and cola before giving Goro some prospective job requests. After that, while walking around Jingu Stadium, Goro suddenly remembers one hot day when he went to a baseball stadium to cheer for his nephew Futoshi who is a pitcher for his high school baseball team. The memory as well as what he ate at that time prompt Goro to look for a place to eat. Wanting to try something hot, he chooses a restaurant called "Shanway". It offers Chinese home cooking and Teppan dishes. Curious to see what Chinese teppan is all about, he gets inside, to be met with mild-mannered shop owner (Moro Morooka)...

10. Ham and Egg Set Meal, and Cutlet Plate of Edagawa, Koto Ward

Aired: 9/10/2014

Goro has a sudden order for wine glasses. Not only that, the client wants it delivered in 2 hours. Goro rushes off to his rented warehouse in Edagawa, Koto Ward. He quickly rummages through his stocks and manages to find the items and somehow deliver it in time. He returns to the warehouse to once and for all, organize his stocks and tidy up the place. While putting things in order inside the hot warehouse, the warehouse custodian, Kawamoto (Sasano Takashi) comes in bringing slices of watermelon and invites Goro to a refreshing break... Later for lunch, Goro leaves his clean up for the meantime and walks to a nearby restaurant called "Atom". It has a peculiar sign and exterior but exudes a mysterious charm. Its owner, who is a beefy old guy (Fujiwara Yoshiaki) serves set meals of Western and Japanese cuisine...

11. Vietnamese Shrimp Salad Roll and Chicken Glutinous Rice of Kamata, Oda Ward

Aired: 9/17/2014

Goro is waiting for a client, Santanda (Namba Keiichi), the head of an accounting company, at his office in Kamata, Oda Ward. While waiting, a uniformed middle-aged office clerk, Shiratori Mirei (Isayama Hiroko), brings him a glass of tea. Instead of leaving, the clerk stays and tries to make small talk. She even gives unsolicited advice to Goro regarding work, making him feel uncomfortable. Later, Goro, irked by what happened at that meeting, goes off in search of a restaurant that could soothe his raging stomach, as well as his foul mood. The place he chooses is "Thi Thi", a shop that serves delicious and aromatic Vietnamese home-style dishes...

12. Shrimp Dumplings and Grilled Onigiri of Ebisu, Shibuya Ward

Aired: 9/24/2014

When Goro arrives in Ebisu, he stops by a shrine. There, he picks up a lighter dropped by an older man (Ishibashi Renji) and gives it to him. Then, he goes to see a client, a barista (Kobayashi Kentaro) owner of a coffee shop. He is having a hard time understanding this client's strange description of his request. The barista even treats Goro to an impromptu magic trick. Later, Goro again chances upon the man from the shrine. To show his appreciation for Goro's deed earlier, the man invites him to his shop, an izakaya called "Saiki" that also serves delicious seasonal dishes, elegant appetizers, and yummy rice balls...