Ep.03 Heartbreak on a Plate
Written by Cordelia Shan, edited by Grace
In this episode, we are going to talk about Heartbreak on a Plate, 失恋めし. This TV show is aired on Ytv, this year in January. Staring Arisu Hirose and Kai Inowaki. This story is based on an essay-style manga published in Kansai Walker, a very community-focused magazine, from 2015 to 2017.
Listen to full episode :
Heartbreak on a Plate unfolds stories of the food and restaurant where broken-hearted people eat after breakups. In many cultures, there is an old saying that goes, “to eat to overcome the sorrows.” As usual, in this ep. We will talk about the stories and some interesting details, so spoiler alert, but we won’t go too deep about the endings. Heartbreak on a Plate is now available on Amazon Prime, but only in Japanese at this moment. The first episode has English subtitles on the Ytv English website, you can find the link in the description.
It is very hard to say no to a drama, a book, a movie, writing, and a manga on the topic of food. Each ep is only around 25 minutes, with no complicated storyline, or settings, but still is entreating and comforting, which is a wonderful tv show you can watch while you are having lunch or dinner. Each episode has a special guest, like an unknown subscription box order; you won’t know who will show up, how they will show up, what kind of breakup stories they will bring, and what food and restaurants go with it.
The show begins with a cute opening line, with the searching for the people who might just end a relationship, our manga artist, Miki Kimimaru San says, there are so many ways to start a relationship and so many ways to end a relationship, but no matter what, people need food. When a relationship ends, the notion that helps us to get over a breakup is the special flavor of a dish.
The main character, Miki Kimimaru, a female manga artist, gathers stories and conversations to draw from people who might have just gone through a breakup, and to find out what they will eat after.
Sometimes she meets her sources at a neighborhood shinto shrine (shuai-inn) , in restaurants, or on the street. Then she follows them to find out what they eat afterwards or listen to the conversation then draw them on the paper. Yeah, it is a little weird to follow people and ask for their breakups stories as a stranger, but Kimimaru sensei does ask permission every time.
In the show, there are various kind of losses, walking-aways, and endings. for example, some of Kimimaru’s sources, such as break up with a jerk, cancellation of an engagement, celebrities’ marriage (this is for sure a kind of loss for fan girls).
But overall this is a very funny show to watch. Here are some interesting details I would like to share with you. The studio that produces the free magazine has three people with the same last name, Sato. Therefore, Kimimaru calls them by numbers. Sato Number one, is a middle-aged man who is the head of the department; Sato number two is a beautiful, mysterious lady, also the manga editor, who sometimes helps Kimimaru to find sources and stories; Sato Number 3, is a young, cute, professional, new office assistant.
Throughout a total of 10 episodes, Sato number 1 always asks Sato number 2 the reason why Kimimaru creates a manga about heartbreaks, Sato number two always provides different fictional reasons about why she creates the manga, and each reason is further away from what is normal than the last. For example, one reason Sato Number Two provides is that Kimimaru is actually a witch and drawing a manga on heartbreaks is part of her spiritual practice.
The ending of a relationship is complicated, whether we are the ones experiencing it or watching someone go through it. Even though we know that everything happens for a reason, the sorrow and the grieving of the loss can still wash over us like a tsunami.
One of my favourite story is from ep.5, where a father and daughter have korokke together after the daughter breaks up with her boyfriend. The father does not talk or ask many questions. He orders a korokke with a half-bowl of rice for his daughter. And one full-bowl of rice for himself. His daughter already appreciates his understanding as well as his company. She eats the korokke slowly. By watching his daughter finally eat, the father’s worries release at once. Sometimes some quiet company and actions of love can be more effective than words. Just like how this father passes his love and support by eating quietly beside his daughter and passes on the message that everything will be alright.
In the first episode, there is a heartbreak story around the Saba Miso. The Saba Miso was also introduced as the first dish in another show, 忘却のサチコ, bokyaku no sachiko (A Meal Makes Her Forget). 忘却のサチコ is also a show that also talks about overcoming the pain after breakups by having comforting food.
I did not eat much after breaking up with my first partner ten years ago; I still remember those sleepless nights and days of losing my appetite. Someone told me something similar that was said in episode 6 of Heartbreak on Plate, Sato number one said to their regular lunch delivery young guy, whose last name is also Sato… “You don’t have to force yourself to forget, because this one-sided love is a part of your life. But just let it be an experience, not a whole part of your life.”
Ending:
I believe that stomach is considered our second brain, it reacts to our emotions sooner than the brain sometimes — food, indeed has healing power. Eat to forget, eat to heal, eat to remember what is the most important in life. My passed grandmother who grew up during the war often told me this, Eat well, sleep well, and everything can be solved.
Reference
TV Show: Heartbreak on a Plate, 失恋めし
Original work: 失恋めし by 木丸みさき
Script Writer: 今井雅子, Masako Imai
Director: 大九明子, Akiko Oku
Timeline: 2022
Starring: 広瀬 アリス (Alice Hirose), 井之胁海 (Kai Inowaki), 村杉蝉之介 (Seminosuke Murasugi), 臼田麻美 (Asami Usuda), 若林拓也 (Takuya Wakabayashi)
Theme Song:
Homecomings
"Arpeggio"
(Pony Canyon/IRORI Records)
Reference Links:
Official Website in Japanese - https://www.ytv.co.jp/shitsurenmeshi/cast/, https://ytvcontents.com/en/program/shitsurenmeshi
ytv English site - https://ytvcontents.com/en/program/shitsurenmeshi
