Ep. 39 What Did You Eat Yesterday? Season II
Written by Cordelia.
Listen to the full episode :
Hello, dear listeners! I hope you're all doing well as we find ourselves in the second week of October. The holiday season is just around the corner, bringing with it a time for reflection and connection.
There's a Japanese saying my grandparents often repeated when I was young: "Even though husband and wife are still two individuals, deep down, they remain strangers." This phrase has always resonated with me because it speaks to the impossibility of fully knowing someone. Yet, I believe it carries an even deeper message—understanding ourselves is more important than understanding others.
Today, in this episode, we are going to talk about the TV show, What Did You Eat Yesterday? Season II. Yes, you heard me right! The most beloved gay couple is back this fall after a four-year wait, and we get to see them in action again. In this season, we witness Shiro's journey to truly becoming himself.
About Season II and the Story (Manga)
What Did You Eat Yesterday? is a manga series written and illustrated by Fumi Yoshinaga, who I will refer to as Yoshinaga-sensei. Known for her BL (Boys' Love) manga since the 1990s, Yoshinaga-sensei has crafted a beautiful slice-of-life series focusing on the relationship between lawyer Shiro Kakei and hairdresser Kenji Yabuki, who live together in Tokyo. The manga was first published in the magazine Morning in 2007 and has reached its 21st volume this year. The story was first adapted into a TV series by TV Tokyo in 2019, followed by a special episode in 2020, and then a movie in 2021. This fall, in 2023, we were blessed with the second season of the live-action TV adaptation.
A story like this brings profound comfort to the heart and soul. Some people may complain that the show is "too plain," but in a world where we face constant upheaval, this kind of plainness is exactly what we need. The show is free of melodrama, focusing instead on mature and healthy views on relationships and discussions about family.
When Will This Story End?
If you're wondering, "Oh God, Cordelia, when will this story end?" I would say, No, please, please never let a good story like this end! Unlike the first season, which focused on the development of Kenji and Shiro's relationship, Season II delves deeper into the nuances of partnership as they approach their 50s. Beyond themes of queerness and gender, this season explores life, illness, and death.
The Realities of Life
At the beginning of this season, we see Shiro in a grocery store, grappling with rising prices and figuring out the best way to manage their daily expenses. As Shiro has mentioned in the past, he and Kenji do not plan to have children, so they must save diligently for their retirement. Shiro is extremely budget-conscious.
How relatable and real this situation is!
Despite the tight budget, Shiro is committed to preparing healthy meals for himself and Kenji, especially after Kenji’s annual check-up reveals he needs to work on his high cholesterol. Shiro is very particular about quality of life. Though he could earn significantly more at a large law firm, he chooses to work at a smaller firm to have time and energy to care for his partner Kenji and their home. For Shiro, living well and maintaining a good lifestyle are paramount.
As they age, Kenji also grapples with weight gain, which is especially concerning given his vanity about his appearance. He often jokes—or speaks bitterly—about envying Shiro's forever youthful face. But Kenji has his own ways of dealing with these changes. For example, noticing his hair thinning, he opts for a shorter haircut and, despite watching his weight, still enjoys the delicious meals Shiro prepares by eating smaller portions.
Shiro, on the other hand, struggles more with balancing their finances but finds his own ways to cope, like increasing their budget slightly to buy healthier ingredients. Both Kenji and Shiro do not deny the passage of time and the realities of life; instead, they adapt and make life better in their own ways.
The Joy of Everyday Moments
The most heartwarming part of the show is the healthy relationship between Kenji and Shiro. Many viewers, myself included, have noticed how Kenji always reacts with delight whenever he passes by the kitchen and sees Shiro cooking. Without fail, he shows his appreciation, complimenting the food and expressing gratitude to Shiro every single time.
Some might say this dynamic seems unrealistic or criticize the apparent distance between them, but I would argue that respect and boundaries are essential, even in the closest relationships. No matter how much we love our family or partners, it is crucial to maintain a level of respect.
After all, partners are still two individuals from different backgrounds—at their core, still strangers. Respect is the foundation. In our daily lives, we often take people and things for granted, forgetting to appreciate the effort others put in just to be there for us.
Being mindful, being appreciative, showing up—these are the basics for any relationship, especially for life partners.
Shiro's Ex and Kenji's Impact
Shiro’s ex-boyfriend, who treated him poorly, makes an appearance in Season II, played by the eternally handsome Mitsuhiro Oikawa. This ex never cleaned up after himself or helped with any housework, yet Shiro had been attracted to him purely for his looks—a rather superficial choice for our dear lawyer. Though Kenji seems more dependent on Shiro, it's clear that Shiro needs someone like Kenji in his life. Kenji has been the one to help Shiro explore his own queerness and develop a healthy relationship.
Kenji not only shares the household chores but also supports Shiro emotionally. He listens, he cares, and he even runs to the market near the train station late at night to pick up ingredients. Watching Kenji’s back, Shiro knows he’s found a healthy and mature partnership.
Family and Mortality
At the beginning of Season II, Shiro’s parents visit a modern-style tomb for their future use. If Shiro is 49, his parents must be in their 70s. They know Shiro is gay but still struggle to fully accept it. They pity him, believing being gay is an unfortunate condition rather than understanding it's inherent. Even after meeting Kenji during a New Year's visit and realizing he's a real person, not just an idea, Shiro's mother fainted after they left.
Shiro once mentioned that East Asian parental love is often conditional, making it difficult for children to fully reciprocate that love. Still, he tries to show his parents that he’s living a good life with his partner.
However, this time, Shiro's mother suggests including Kenji in their family tomb, indicating, in her way, that she accepts him as part of the family. While this gesture is problematic, as it also implies she sees Kenji as "Shiro’s wife," Kenji, ever the optimist, takes it in stride. He jokes about the family drama that could unfold in heaven and even teases Shiro about whose side he would take if he and Shiro’s mother argued in the afterlife. I adore Kenji!
Ending
Love comes in many forms, each beautiful in its own way. The love between husband and wife, friends, or partners can be best shown through respect and appreciation. While partners may be strangers in some sense, we have the power to choose our families—those who provide us with a space to heal and grow together.
There is no denying the beauty of a story like What Did You Eat Yesterday? Thank you for listening to this episode, and I look forward to speaking with you again in the next one.
Reference:
Writer/Host/Technician/Translator: Cordelia
Work: きのう何食べた? (What Did You Eat Yesterday? Season II) TV Show website in Japanese: TV Tokyo
Manga in English: Amazon
Background Music:
フリーBGM「お料理しよう」by Heitaro Ashibe
フリーBGM「いつもと違う帰り道」by のる
フリーBGM「今日はゆっくり休もう」by のる
