Original subtitles

"Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward"

Translation: earthcolors (drama) danburi (mini-segment)

Editing and fine timing: earthcolors

Spot translator and QC: danburi

I don't dislike Ikebukuro as much as I did when I was younger.

Because of being an entrance point to Tokyo from northern Kanto region...

...I disliked the atmosphere with little lax in sophistication and organization but I do like it now.

(Note: Promotional tissue for a massage parlor)

"Love Power...?" (Note: Promotional tissue for a massage parlor)

Starring: MATSUSHIGE Yutaka

Regardless of time or society... Starring: MATSUSHIGE Yutaka

When someone indulges in satisfying his hunger...

["So what shall I eat?"] When someone indulges in satisfying his hunger...

...he will become selfish and...

["Let's eat here...." "May I?" "Yes, please come in."] ...he will become selfish and...

["Thanks for waiting."] ...liberated for a moment.

["Thanks for waiting."] Without being disturbed by anyone...

["Wow... did I over do it?"] ...to eat freely is an act of aloofness.

["Be patient... I'm just hungry"] ...to eat freely is an act of aloofness.

This act is...

["No one has the right to force someone to eat something they don't want."] This act is...

...the best comfort given equally to every man.

EarthBuriTeam Subs Presents: ~KODOKU NO GURUME~ "The Solitary Gourmet"

Ep. 3: "Dan Dan Noodles without Soup of Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward"

Excuse me!

Excuse me~!

That's weird...

Did I screw up the appointment?

What're you doing here?

I'm supposed to meet someone here at 9. I am Inogashira.

I didn't schedule anything.

Are you Inogashira-san?

- Sato-san, is this your guest? - Yes.

I did ask you time and time again, if you're expecting a guest, please let me know ahead of time!

- I'm very sorry. - Geez...

- I'm sorry. - Why are you apologizing?

Well, somehow...

- Here's the living/dining space. - I see.

I would like to redesign these model rooms to suit single women.

If possible, I would like to make it more colorful.

I see.

Inogashira-san mainly handles everything about tableware, right?

Well, it's my main product line... so yes.

- Would you like to see the other rooms? - Sure.

Right this way please.

Sato-san, can I have a minute?

I'm sorry, I'll be right back.

- Sato-san, we're working here as a team. - Yes.

So if there are any guests coming...

...you should tell me properly!

- I'm sorry. - If things like this happen again, not just me but others will be embarrassed as well...

For example...

It looks wonderful... Is this a liquor glass?

It can also be used as a wine glass.

May I enlarge it?

I'm fine.

With these glasses... Is it possible to have a rental contract?

Yes.

They're lovely!

Sorry...

For someone who handles such cute glassware...

Inogashira-san's face looks so grim... I couldn't help but...

I'm sorry.

- Thank you for today. - The pleasure is mine.

If you'll excuse me.

Thank you.

11 o'clock.

Still have some spare time.

I have a store that I visit whenever I'm in Ikebukuro.

I like the relaxed but somewhat authentic atmosphere of this store.

Whenever I come here, I keep on on buying things I don't need.

Chinese wolfberry fruit?

("Virility Enhancement")

("Love Power")

"Love Power..."

"Love Power..."

I bought too much again.

Coconut milk juice is one of my pleasures.

Well...

One more place to go before lunch.

Once, I heard a rumor that Chinatown may be built in Tokyo... [Note: The most famous Chinatown near Tokyo is in Yokohama]

I do see a lot of Chinese restaurants in the streets. [Note: The most famous Chinatown near Tokyo is in Yokohama]

I think I'm going to have Chinese cuisine for lunch.

This space is very affordable for a room near the station so we get a lot of inquiries.

Even now, I have customers who are looking into renting this unit.

Right? It's a pretty good place?

My office is a bit cramped right now...

Although I'm thinking of setting up an office near Ikebukuro.

You're looking for your new office, right?

This is too spacious.

How many employees do you have?

- It's just me. This space might be too big. - No, no, no!

For sure, your company will grow.

Number of employees do increase, right? How about it, sir~!

"Boss, would you like some coffee?"

"Yeah... Thanks."

"Right away, sir."

"Inogashira-san."

"What're you doing here?"

Inogashira-san?

- Inogashira-san! - Yes!

What do you think? Rest assured, the contractor can make any changes...

Excuse me for a moment.

Yes! This is Nishimoto.

Lunch?!

No need. I'm fine, I'll be eating out.

I'm hungry...

- Sorry for making you wait. - Thank you, I'll come back next time.

Oh, b-but...there are many people who are interested in this unit...

I'll come back.

Chinese food... Chinese food.

My mind is completely in China!

The next thing to do is to find a restaurant...

Canton, Shanghai, Peking, Szechuan...

Where in China does my tummy wanna go?

("Yan Home Cooking")

("Chinese Home Cooking Yan")

("Boiled Gyoza, Homemade Dumplings, Dan Dan Noodles")

Meeting with a good eatery is a once-in-lifetime moment!

This could be fate.

Welcome!

"What should I eat..."

- Kindly wait for a moment, sir. - "I'm hungry.."

- So... - What would you like?

Well, now... What will I have?

Dan dan noodles without soup...

Oh, me, too.

- Yeah, me, too. - 3 please.

It's spicy.

- It's okay, we've eaten it several times now. - I see.

In this shop, dan dan noodles without soup seems to be popular.

What is your order?

I'd like dan dan without soup please.

It's spicy.

Is this your first visit to our restaurant?

Yes.

Then, I'll recommend the regular hot flavor.

Can I choose the degree of hotness?

- Yes, you can but for your first time, you should go with regular hot flavor. - Okay.

- One order of Dan dan noodles without soup - regular hot! - "Got it!"

What else will you have?

Yaki-gyoza...* (*Fried potstickers)

Oh, our yaki-gyoza takes too long to cook. How about sui-gyoza (boiled)? It's faster.

No, thanks. I prefer yaki-gyoza.

- Yaki-gyoza! - "Yep!"

What is this?

"Bansansu?"

It's vegetable salad with tofu skin noodles, cucumber, carrots, doused in salad dressing.

- Tofu skin... Is it 'yuba'? - No, it's not yuba.* (*Soymilk film that forms on the water when making silken tofu)

It's the top of the firm tofu so it's quite firm. (Note: Chinese tofu is firmer than the Japanese silken type)

- Okay, I'll have that. - Hold on please.

I see, Jyugo is the original... ("It's been 2 years since our move to a larger store in Kita Ward, we're now able to open a 2nd branch in Ikebukuro. All because of your support... ~Yan")

...and this is its second branch. ("It's been 2 years since our move to a larger store in Kita Ward, we're now able to open a 2nd branch in Ikebukuro. All because of your support... ~Yan")

"In the end, Nagayama-san got so drunk..."

"...I had to take him to his home then went home." - "How troublesome..."

Student life isn't easy either, I guess...

Welcome!

Eh, that doesn't sound too bad.

I like spicy food.

I'm hungry~.

- Dan dan without soup please. - Me, too.

It's spicy.

- "Is it okay?"

- He's always making sure.

Here's your yaki-gyoza and bansansu, sir.

It's round, perfect circle... [Yaki-Gyoza] "Not only the fillings but the gyoza skin is also delicious.. Too bad have to break this perfect circle."

I can't tell how many gyozas are there. [Yaki-Gyoza] "Not only the fillings but the gyoza skin is also delicious.. Too bad have to break this perfect circle."

[Yaki-Gyoza] "Not only the fillings but the gyoza skin is also delicious.. Too bad have to break this perfect circle."

Is this for the dipping sauce?

Here goes.

Oh... it's delicious!

Makes you wanna eat rice!

Goes well with the black vinegar and chili oil.

Mmm, good, good!

Round gyoza... is great!

[Bansansu] "It's refreshingly sour, one can't tell that it's bean curd. Very chewy and good."

Let's try this...

It's tasty! This tofu skin is like noodles.

Oh, should I eat these along with the dan dan noodles?

"Wow, this is some serious stuff..."

"Ah...hot!"

Did I order something that I shouldn't...?

Here is your dan dan noodles with no soup. Regular spicy, right?

[Dan Dan Noodles Without Soup] "With one bite, Szechuan spices will run through your entire body!"

Please mix it well before eating.

Well... I'm sure it won't kill me.

Hmm? It IS yummy!

Uwaah~! Thi-This...

It's hot, right?

Y-yes.

My tongue is tingling... it's starting to feel numb!

What is this? I'm losing the sensation on my tongue.

Water tastes different, doesn't it?

Szechuan cooking is all about prickly ash.* (*Szechuan pepper)

Even then, I think you added too much prickly ash!

Oww! Should I order rice to counter-act the spiciness?

But somehow...

I can't put down my chopsticks.

Am I intoxicated by this prickly ash?

I guess my body desired Szechuan spiciness today...

Szechuan cuisine was the perfect choice!

My tongue sure feels numb...

However, I can see that I want to come back to eat and taste it again.

Hello.

"Hello, Inogashira-san?"

"This is real estate agent, Nishimoto."

"Someone has already reserved the room I showed you earlier."

"Well, if I have another unit available, I'll contact you."

That office was not meant to be. Forget it...

I can't come too often, is it okay?

Based on the manga "Kodoku no Gurume" Story: QUSUMI Masayuki . Art: TANIGUCHI Jiro

Screenplay: TAGUCHI Yoshiro

MATSUSHIGE Yutaka (as 'Inogashira Goro')

ARIGA Satsuki (Model Room Manager)

SHIMOMIYA Rihoko (as 'Model Room Staff') ANDO Ryoji (as 'Chinese Restaurant Waiter')

Directed by: HORAI Tadaki

Music: QUSUMI Masayuki, Pick and Lips, SHAKE, KURIKI Ken, TODA Takahiro

OP Song: "Jiro's Title" Composed by: QUSUMI Masayuki

Inogashira Goro's Theme Song: "Stay Alone" Composer: QUSUMI Masayuki, FUKUMURA Satoshi

ED Song: "Goro no 12PM" Composer: QUSUMI Masayuki Performed by: Denmi

Producers: KAWAMURA Shoji, YOSHIMI Takeshi, MIZOGUCHI Kenji

Organizing and Planning: ISEKI Hayato (TV Tokyo)

Co-Production: Kyodo TV

This is a production of: TV Tokyo

Author Qusumi Masayuki will visit the shop where the show was filmed.

["Furatto Qusumi" (Suddenly Qusumi)] Author Qusumi Masayuki will visit the shop where the show was filmed.

The shop we're going to visit is, of course what you just saw on this show, Chinese Home Cooking Yan.

Might as well order what was on the show.

- Excuse me! - Yes!

- Dan Dan without soup please. - Yes.

- Would you like to choose the spiciness? - Eh... Regular... I never had it before...

("Mother Yan") - If it's your first time, you should go with regular. - Then regular please.

I don't know how to judge the spiciness.

I like to look at the menu.

"First time customers, we recommend regular spiciness."

"We do use lots of prickly ash..."

Nice... I can't even read.

[Yan Special... Salad 600 yen (approx. $7)] ("Refreshing taste. Goes well with beer and Chinese rice wine.")

I wouldn't know how to order it... [Yan Special... Salad 600 yen (approx. $7)] ("Refreshing taste. Goes well with beer and Chinese rice wine.")

..since I can't read it. (Note: The kanji on the menu is difficult to read)

- "2 orders of dan dan noodles..." - "Would you like to choose the spiciness?"

Oh, she's saying that again...

- "Regular hot..." - "Have you had it before?" - "No, I haven't."

She must ask that question all the time.

Key ingredient for dan dan noodles is this prickly ash.

Add chili sauce, sesame sauce and mix in secret family sauce to make Yan special sauce.

On top of the sauce, add noodles, meat, nuts and greens to complete the dish.

- Thank you for waiting. - Thanks.

- Please mix well. - This is great!

She said to mix well.

[Dan dan noodles without soup = 780 yen (about $9)] These noodles are like spaghetti.

It really looks like spaghetti.

So, how does it taste?

Awesome...

Really can taste the prickly ash...

Wow.. really.

This spiciness is something I never tasted before.

It's a different kind of spiciness than chili or curry. It's definitely a spiciness of prickly ash.

It's spicy but makes you want more.

- Food from Szechuan province is spicy like this? - Yes, it is.

- It's all based on "ma~ and la~." - What is "ma~?" - "Ma~" indicates feeling of pins and needles...

- In Szechuan... - Oh, I see, like Mapo Tofu.

- Yes, yes. - I see. - It's a numb feeling...

- Is it spicy like this? - This is regular spiciness...

...Keeping it mild. - This is mild?

- Then, is it spicier over there? - Yes, you can really feel the tingle... I can't take the spiciness either.

Szechuan cooking is known for its spiciness and taste.

Wow!

Water tastes really different.

Water... it's like water has its own taste.

Please come and challenge this spiciness.

Translation: earthcolors (drama) danburi (mini-segment)

Editing and fine timing: earthcolors

Spot translator and QC: danburi

Special thanks: \( -o _ o- )/, furransu

Next on ~KODOKU NO GURUME~ Ep. 4: "Shizuoka Oden of Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture"

Stay tuned.

Thanks for watching~!