It seems to be completely different for each family
For my family, it's the salt-flavoured one.
The salt flavour for me too
It's miso for me
- Me too. Definitely miso. - I know, right?
What are you guys talking about?
Our favourite Sapporo Ichiban ramen flavours
The soy sauce flavour, right?
- No way - No, no, no
Boss, you're in the minority again.
But why?
It's been soy sauce for my family since my father's generation
That's unusual
- No it isn't - Miso, I can understand
Neither endoscopy nor the CT scan has detected any problems
For the moment, there's nothing to worry about.
Thank you very much
I'm truly grateful
It was me who had surgery, not you, Mother.
Thank you so much
Father,
this tea contains a blend of persimmon leaves and fish mint.
I heard on TV that it's very good for the stomach
Try it, ok?
What?
Nothing
You endured surgery, but because of that,
I saw for the first time how good a married couple could be.
Shiro
If that's how you feel, shouldn't you be thinking about it more seriously?
The person you're living with? Yabuki-san, isn't it?
Do you intend to spend the rest of your life with him?
The rest of my life?
Don't you understand?
You're already 45
The ageing process, preparing for your old age...
Have you had a proper discussion about such issues?
No
"Preparing for my old age" is going too far
Shiro!
What?
We need to talk about this seriously
I expect you to be here over the New Year.
All right
I don't want to go
What was all that about preparing for old age?
They're facing ageing issues themselves
She shouldn't project those issues on me
And though I'm no longer in high school, she still prepares so much food.
I'm 45. She's the one who doesn't understand it, not me.
With all that food, I'm going to gain even more weight over the New Year.
And the nagging on top of that. It's going to be torture.
Shiro, you don't know how lucky you are.
You've always criticised your mother
But she has said that there's no shame in being gay
and that she accepts you for who you are.
I think that's amazing
Also, you're an only child,
so your parents know they'll never have grandchildren.
Even if they might not really mean it,
they have said they want to understand you.
Shouldn't you be at least a bit grateful for that?
Anyway, stop grumbling,
visit your parents over the New Year,
and be a good son to them.
He was angry
He hardly ever gets really angry
I renovated the space to achieve my long-cherished dream of an ideal beauty parlour
I'd managed to save just enough money for it
I got the mirrors and chairs and things like that
But when construction began,
I couldn't believe how shoddy the work turned out to be.
Don't you think it's outrageous?
Yes, an authorised builder must examine the interior as soon as possible,
and we must demand damages.
My family and I were going to celebrate the opening of the salon over the New Year. So infuriating!
Too sweet...
My parents were so looking forward to it
though they are very old...
Which reminds me: Kenji might have mentioned
that his mother had a beauty parlour too.
Going anywhere after this?
That's nice
- Nice weather, isn't it? - Yes
Thank you. I'm relying on you.
Sure
Come to think of it, I've never heard Kenji
mention where his parents live.
It was only after I had children that I started
to visit my parents every year.
Before that, I drifted aimlessly for a long time.
Is that so
It's normal to visit one's parents, but it's impossible for some of us.
Hm?
I might have
spoken a bit too harshly to Shiro this morning.
I'm home
Welcome home
- Looks delicious! - Doesn't it?
Let's eat
This is deliciously rich and smooth
But... what's going on?
What?
These are all my favourites
You've used eggs in two dishes
There's lots of fried rice, and also this stir-fry in thick oyster sauce.
Normally you'd never make them together
Well, it's ok now and then.
Er, Shiro... this morning... I....
I've decided
to go home on New Year's eve.
The fried rice really is fantastic
Rich food is the best
What did you eat yesterday? Episode 5
I'm off. Are you sure you'll be ok, Kenji?
If you like, I'll make you duck noodles for New Year's eve.
It's ok. The salon will be open till very late,
and we'll be having our year-end party tonight.
- Is that so? - Yes
- Then I'm off - Take care
It's the last day of work, it's the last day of work...
Hold on!
Shiro
What are you doing? It's dangerous.
This has always been your father's job
It’s odd to have decorations for just one night
But if we didn't, I'd miss them.
Give it to me. I'll do it.
Goodness, Shiro, your height is a great help.
What else can I help with? Is there anything that needs fixing?
Yes there is
Shiro, a bit to your right.
Here?
Yes, yes, right there.
Great, the gutter is finally unblocked.
Also, there's something wrong with the electric light in the second floor corridor.
Ok I'll take a look at it
Thanks!
Hey Shiro
How do you set up the facial recognition function on this smartphone?
Ok... Yes?
You've all worked hard this year!
- Good work, everyone! - Cheers!
This looks great
Right now, your father can only eat food that's been boiled to mush.
Sorry
It's New Year's eve but we have to eat this plain food
For the 45-year-old son, this is the best menu.
- How about karaoke? - Great
- Karaoke is good, right? - Wanna go to a pub?
- Eh? - Yabuki-san!
What? What?
- I'm off. - Leaving so soon?
Yabuki-san, isn't your boyfriend away today?
Let's have another round,
then we'll pay our first visit to the shrine for the new year.
A 40-something like me can't stay up all night like you youngsters
See you next year!
- I'm past 40 too - It's fine
Happy New Year, everyone!
Take care
Yabuki-san is being weird
In what way?
He wouldn't be rushing off to meet another man, would he?
He looked at his phone and stood up hurriedly
Hayashida-kun, you really like this sort of talk.
But it's weird isn't it. Whichever way you look at it.
Not at all
I've wanted to eat this since we talked about it at the salon
Right. Let's begin.
I'll cook it with Chinese cabbage, beansprouts, carrots and spring onion.
And wakame [type of seaweed] and pork
And an egg
I love Shiro's cooking
But instant ramen
is best when you make it yourself.
Next: the soft-boiled egg.
This is what Shiro taught me
Put a little water in a small bowl
Crack the egg into the bowl
Cover it loosely with cling film and microwave for 40 seconds
Oh I must pierce the yolk with a chopstick…
…so that it won't burst. But sometimes it still does.
Hmm… what's next?
Ah, wakame.
In a pot containing heated oil,
fry the pork, carrots and Chinese cabbage.
And then...
... the forbidden...
...butter.
And then some garlic paste,
miso, mirin,
and a little powdered chicken stock.
All these will make the ramen soup nice and thick.
But... eating this so late at night...
Shiro would be furious!
Smells great
Add exactly 500 cc of water
When the water has boiled, add the noodles and cook for 2 minutes.
Nothing can stop me now
After 2 minutes, add the beansprouts, wakame and spring onion, and cook for another minute.
Not answering it now
The soup goes into the bowl first
The soft-boiled egg goes in last
Add a little pepper
It's done!
I'm tucking in
The firm noodles... paired with the soft Chinese cabbage...
and the semi-cooked spring onion... It's the best!
Oh right. I must watch the countdown.
Everyone is trying their best. How adorable.
But I've lost interest in hanging out with such youngsters
Instead, I feel like a grandmother watching over and encouraging her relations' kids.
Eating my favourite Sapporo Ichiban miso ramen
Ringing in the New Year while admiring cute young guys
Fantastic
Ready? 10, 9, 8, 7,
6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Shiro? Happy New Year.
No it isn't
Why didn't you answer earlier?
I've been calling repeatedly
Sorry
I was worried you'd be lonely spending New Year alone
so I phoned, but you…
I was eating Sapporo Ichiban ramen
If it's Sapporo Ichiban, then it can't be helped.
Right?
You must eat it immediately after cooking it
I know
It isn't lonely spending New Year by myself because
I know Shiro will be coming home soon.
- Happy New Year - Happy New Year
Sorry... here you are...
Shiro, there should be no leftovers from the New Year feast.
So eat more
Mother, did you make everything here?
Everything but the kamaboko [fish cake]
That's amazing
The black beans are nice and smooth; they look really well done.
The kurikinton [candied chestnut/sweet potato] looks great too
Isn't this the same as previous New Year feasts?
Is it?
Kakei-san!
Ah
It's Yo-kun and Uta-chan
Welcome!
Happy New Year!
- Hello - Welcome
Please come in
Can this be... Shiro-chan?
You're our neighbour Akira's...
We have not met in a while, Auntie.
It really has been a while! You've become a fine man.
Kakei-san, what a great New Year it is this year.
Well...
Nice to meet you. I'm Misato.
Kakei-san has helped us a lot with the children
Akira has to work over the New Year
Nice to meet you too. So, Akira has two children.
- Who is he? - Kakei-san's son
Greet him properly
- Hello - Hello
Yo-kun, we've got a big ham. Shall I roast some for you?
Now I like ham that hasn't been roasted
- Hey, Yousuke! - It's fine, Misato.
I will go slice it, then.
Oh Hisae-san, I feel bad bringing the same gift every year,
but please accept it again this year...?
Mochi [rice cake]? Thank you.
Kakei-san, may I use your toilet?
Sure, go ahead.
Feels like they know their way around this house
Uta… Uta doesn't have a single tooth with a cavity.
Amazing. That's admirable.
Really, no tooth decay at all.
How many slices would you like?
Two
Two slices. Here you are. Tuck in.
- Say "I'm tucking in". - I'm tucking in.
I see... my parents have already...
... decided to care for the neighbours' children like they're their own grandchildren.
Sorry, I dropped it accidentally.
Please take these with you
Don’t you know how little
we two old people eat? Here.
I couldn't bring myself to tell Seo-san,
but in our freezer there's still some of her mochi from last year.
All right, all right, I'll take it.
Really? Then put it all in this paper bag.
Thanks for today
You did so many odd jobs around the house
- By the way - Hm?
We didn't get round to talking about preparing for old age. Is that ok?
But you know what to do, don't you?
Oh I almost forgot the kurikinton
- Eh? - Kurikinton...
Didn't I put it in the Tupperware box?
Where did I put it? Eh? It's not here.
Where is it?
What is this? Eh?
Aren't these properly made mochi?
And so many of them too
Yes. From now on, we must try to eat them all.
- Eat them all? - Yes.
That’s going to be a lot of eating
Wow, they are expanding.
Ok, I'm done here as well.
Hey Shiro, can I take them out?
Yes, take them out.
I love karami-mochi [with radish].
It's really soft
I haven't eaten kinako-mochi [with soybean flour] in ages
If you want to combine sweet and salty,
the possibilities are endless.
I'm glad I visited my parents
I understand much more now
I feel good too
Sapporo Ichiban miso ramen is great when you eat it by yourself
Indeed
If it's Sapporo Ichiban ramen, it must be miso.
My family has always preferred the miso flavour
My father made it for me when he was in a good mood
It really tasted amazing
Now that you mention it, your family...
My family is fine
My mother and elder sister live together
My father was a layabout. We've lost contact with him.
Oh it's not a problem at all
My mother and sister are optimistic people
They've always been pretty happy
I see
My sister has children,
so there's no pressure on me
Yet I presumed to lecture you about your relationship with your parents.
I'm sorry
Hey you
When the neighbours' kids showed up,
do you have any idea how I felt? It was hell.
I can imagine the look on your face at that moment
2 January. Morning.
- Good morning - Good morning
Wow, zoni [soup with mochi] packed with ingredients! Looks delicious!
Sorry we’re eating this in the daytime
- Let's eat - Let's eat
2 January. Night.
Charring it with soy sauce gives it an amazing flavour
3 January. Morning.
I like the simple Kanto-style zoni too.
3 January. Night.
Cheese goes well with mochi
It's good
Eat as much as you like
Thanks
I can finally see the ice at the bottom of the freezer
Right. What shall I make with mochi today?
I'm begging you, Shiro.
Give me bread. Bread.
I'm fine with bread from that detestable woman's bakery.
I want to eat carbs that are not mochi!
I want to eat other carbs!
All right!
Anything but mochi!
This bread is delicious
The salty butter and sweet chestnut are extremely good
This is leftover kurikinton which my mother made.
It's delicious, and not too sweet.
I would like to eat it again next year
I will tell her
We're having mochi tonight
Back to mochi?
No, I'm not eating it again
We've got another month's worth of mochi
Another month of mochi?!
Sensei, you're great.
Do you remember when we first met?
If careless, you'd be totally consumed
Dai-chan
I'm Wataru
How much further will they go to torment me