Actor Yutaka Matsushige, lead actor in "Solitary Gourmet", speaks with AFP during an interview in Tokyo, on June 5, 2026. Broadcast late at night in Japan, the series had at first very modest ratings before gradually finding its audience, including in Taiwan and South Korea, where some episodes were filmed. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH STORY: Japan-television-food-drink-restaurant-film-heritage-tradition, by Mathias CENA

Japanese actor Yutaka Matsushige performs a dining scene during the filming of an episode of the TV drama series "Solitary Gourmet" at a tuna restaurant in Yokoshibahikari, Chiba prefecture on May 19, 2026. Broadcast late at night in Japan, the series had at first very modest ratings before gradually finding its audience, including in Taiwan and South Korea, where some episodes were filmed. (Photo by Caroline GARDIN / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH STORY: Japan-television-food-drink-restaurant-film-heritage-tradition, by Mathias CENA

A crew member prepares food for a scene for Japanese actor Yutaka Matsushige during the filming of an episode of the TV drama series "Solitary Gourmet" outside a tuna restaurant in Yokoshibahikari, Chiba prefecture on May 19, 2026. Broadcast late at night in Japan, the series had at first very modest ratings before gradually finding its audience, including in Taiwan and South Korea, where some episodes were filmed. (Photo by Caroline GARDIN / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH STORY: Japan-television-food-drink-restaurant-film-heritage-tradition, by Mathias CENA

Japanese actor Yutaka Matsushige speaks with director during a break in the filming of an episode of the TV drama series "Solitary Gourmet"" at a tuna restaurant in Yokoshibahikari, Chiba prefecture on May 19, 2026. Broadcast late at night in Japan, the series had at first very modest ratings before gradually finding its audience, including in Taiwan and South Korea, where some episodes were filmed. (Photo by Caroline GARDIN / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH STORY: Japan-television-food-drink-restaurant-film-heritage-tradition, by Mathias CENA

Actor Yutaka Matsushige, lead actor in Solitary Gourmet, speaks with AFP during an interview in Tokyo, on June 5, 2026. Broadcast late at night in Japan, the series had at first very modest ratings before gradually finding its audience, including in Taiwan and South Korea, where some episodes were filmed. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH STORY: Japan-television-food-drink-restaurant-film-heritage-tradition, by Mathias CENA

Actor Yutaka Matsushige, lead actor in "Solitary Gourmet", speaks with AFP during an interview in Tokyo, on June 5, 2026. Broadcast late at night in Japan, the series had at first very modest ratings before gradually finding its audience, including in Taiwan and South Korea, where some episodes were filmed. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH STORY: Japan-television-food-drink-restaurant-film-heritage-tradition, by Mathias CENA

Japanese actor Yutaka Matsushige performs a dining scene during the filming of an episode of the TV drama series "Solitary Gourmet" at a tuna restaurant in Yokoshibahikari, Chiba prefecture on May 19, 2026. Broadcast late at night in Japan, the series had at first very modest ratings before gradually finding its audience, including in Taiwan and South Korea, where some episodes were filmed. (Photo by Caroline GARDIN / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH STORY: Japan-television-food-drink-restaurant-film-heritage-tradition, by Mathias CENA

Japanese actor Yutaka Matsushige performs a dining scene during the filming of an episode of the TV drama series "Solitary Gourmet" at a tuna restaurant in Yokoshibahikari, Chiba prefecture on May 19, 2026. Broadcast late at night in Japan, the series had at first very modest ratings before gradually finding its audience, including in Taiwan and South Korea, where some episodes were filmed. (Photo by Caroline GARDIN / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH STORY: Japan-television-food-drink-restaurant-film-heritage-tradition, by Mathias CENA