Jdrama Review: What Did You Eat Yesterday? (Kinou Nani Tabeta?)
Original Title: きのう何食べた？ (Kinou Nani Tabeta?)
Network: TV TokyoNo. of Episodes: 12
Release Date: April 5 - June 28, 2019
Cast: Nishijima Hidetoshi, Uchino Seiyo, Tanaka Misako, Yamamoto Koji, Isomura Hayato
Genre: Food, BL, slice of life
Notes: Based on a manga, 30 minutes per episode
the lead characters from the original manga
Review:
I've become aware of the existence of this drama because I've read somewhere on Twitter that it was really good. I later found out that it is a live action of a critically acclaimed manga which also bagged a Kodansha Manga Award. The drama also amassed several awards namely: the Galaxy Award, Best Drama, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Director in the recent 101st Television Drama Academy Awards (Spring 2019).
All the more reason to watch it, I thought. So, after I downloaded a couple of episodes, I watched it and immediately got hooked I want more.
All the more reason to watch it, I thought. So, after I downloaded a couple of episodes, I watched it and immediately got hooked I want more.
What Did You Eat Yesterday? is a slice of life, food, and Boys Love (BL), or Yaoi, rolled into one delicious and domestic plot. It's about the life of a middle aged gay couple, Kakei Shiro, a serious and closeted gay lawyer, and Yabuki Kenji, a lively and openly gay hairdresser, in modern day Japan. It's honestly the first time I watched a BL drama within which the relationship of the gay characters were so realistically portrayed and handled perfectly by their respective actors (and its not just about looking absolutely like the original manga characters, the acting is on point like they are the characters themselves!) that I cried my heart out with all the feels it gave me.
Though there are already plenty of LGBT themed plots in manga and other similar media in Japan, there are relatively few in Japanese TV dramas. Probably because it's still a theme not widely accepted in Japan.
Some of the Jdramas I've watched that has this theme are:
Some of the Jdramas I've watched that has this theme are:
- Last Friends (2008) - portrays several issues, and one of them is gender identity disorder, which, in my opinion, was handled really well
- Transit Girls (2015) - considered to be the first lesbian themed drama in the history of Japanese television, this is a love story between step sisters
- Ossan's Love (2016 & 2018) - this drama became immensely popular inside and outside of Japan that a sequel movie has been released this year. It's about an unpopular straight guy who received two love confessions: one from his elderly boss at work and one from his male co-worker who he happens to live with him
- Kataomoi (2017) - a murder mystery story which heavily deals with gender identity disorder
- Joshi-teki Seikatsu (2018) - story about a transgender who moved from the countryside to the city to live as a girl.
This drama involves various issues faced by gay couples and being gay in general, such as society's expectations regarding gender roles, marriage, fidelity, filial piety, old age, etc. Their perspectives as a person considered 'not normal' by society and the perspectives of people in their lives about these topics will really stir your emotions. I honestly love every bits of this drama. So intricately weaved. Not to mention the generous amount of the scenes where the characters, mainly Shiro-san, cook their meals. The dishes don't just look mouth-watering, the procedure on how they are done are also calming and satisfying. If this drama is not a food for the soul, I don't know what is.
some of the food Shiro-san cooked for Kenji
With a good mixture of humor and drama, good food, and gay relationships, whether you are a fan of BL or not, this drama will absolutely not let you down. Trust me! (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ❤
Rating: ★★★★★
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