Original subtitles

Murasaki Wakako, 26 years old.

Born with a taste for liquor,

I wander the night yet again in search of a place to be.

A woman, drinking by myself.

10th Night

"Okonomiyaki"

Pshuuu!

It's been a while since I've come back to Hiroshima.

Wakako! It's been so long!

It really has!

You haven't changed at all!

I'm meeting up with my best friend.

You look a lot more mature!

Really?

Thanks!

Let's eat lots of tasty stuff today!

Sure!

Okay, let's go.

Wow, cool!

This is the train that started running last year. Cute, huh?

Since it's been a while, I figured I could take you around to all the new places.

Wanna get on?

Aya hasn't changed.

Sure.

She's always been in the know.

It's so cool!

How've you been?

Well, I'm finally getting used to my job.

Really? That's a relief.

What about you, Aya?

I'm doing okay, I guess.

I'm trying hard.

I see.

You got a boyfriend, right?

Yeah, pretty recently!

What's he like?

Well... a nice guy?

A nice guy?

Yeah.

Is he older?

Not saying.

I'll tell you later.

It hasn't changed at all around here, huh?

Yeah, not at all.

The trains and buses are still always running.

Yeah...

What, you didn't know?

I heard a rumor, but...

Seriously?

She's got a two-year-old daughter.

Two years old?!

I haven't been here in three years myself.

I've been friends with Aya since high school.

Wow, that long?

Seems fast!

Yeah!

It doesn't feel that long.

There are a bunch of new businesses around here.

Yeah.

But we used to go to that karaoke place a lot!

Oh, we did!

Right?

That takes me back.

Oh, yeah, this is the place I wanted to go.

Shintenchi Market

What is it?

They have lots of stuff you'll love.

I've never been here before.

Right?

They've got a meat market and a fish market together.

They really do!

See?

They're alive!

Yeah, they are!

Wow!

I know this would go great with some drinks!

That's my Wakako.

She's got her drinks on her mind.

Yeah!

That's another thing that hasn't changed.

Since we both love delicious food, we naturally got along.

We always used to stop at this arcade on our way from school.

We have a lot of memories around here.

You know everything, huh, Wakako?

You bet.

Hey, you wanna try that?

Yeah!

Come on.

Hello.

Parched rice flour crackers

Here, try one.

All right, thanks.

Let's eat.

Let's eat.

That's good!

Yeah!

Now I want a drink.

Well, we walked a lot, so let's have a drink somewhere quiet.

Oh, I'm so hungry!

Yeah! But I want to drink lots, too!

What're you going to have?

Let's see...

They have horumon tempura!

The taste of Hiroshima...

Horumon tempura is good, huh?

It's a common dish here in Hiroshima.

They don't really eat it much in Tokyo.

Really?

It's a genuine local specialty!

I love it, too.

Let's get that!

Excuse me!

Yes?

Let's get beers right now and...

"Right now"! That takes me back!

Really?

They don't say that?

In Hiroshima, instead of saying you'll "start with a beer,"

Oh, and some horumon tempura, please.

it's that you'll have a beer "right now."

Right, beers and horumon tempura. Coming right up.

Thank you.

I can't wait!

I wonder how much longer...

Here you go!

Your horumon tempura.

Please enjoy.

Thank you.

Well, then...

Let's toast our reunion.

Cheers!

It's good, huh?

Fatty food fried in oil!

The ultimate fried food!

Add plenty of lemon and...

You can start.

You haven't had Hiroshima food in a while, right?

Yeah. I'll have some now.

The fatty richness of the horumon...

So good!

...harmonizes so refreshingly with the lemon juice and ponzu sauce...

It's just stimulating my appetite even more!

A new type of Hiroshima casual specialty.

It's great!

Here's hoping its popularity spreads.

This is a Hiroshima sake, Kirei Dry Pure Rice Wine 80%.

It goes wonderfully with oysters.

Aya, did you...

I called ahead.

I figured you'd like it!

Well, I'll have some, then.

Go right ahead.

It all makes me so nostalgic...

Pshuuu...

Well?

Good, huh?

Right?

Yummy!

It just makes me want more.

Did you try the gansu?

Gansu A Hiroshima dish consisting of fried, minced fish

Come on, eat it.

I hate to admit it...

But I think it's been two years since I had any.

Really?

This takes me back!

Right?

Pshuuu...

You must be happy, huh?

I'm stuffed.

Thank you!

You're welcome.

Since we've still got time, wanna hit one more place?

Yeah!

Okay!

Wow, it's like we're back in high school!

Yeah!

Come on!

Oh, what should we get next?

Can you still eat?

Yeah!

I can eat plenty still.

You can, right?

I bet you can!

You bet I can!

I can keep eating, and drinking, and having fun!

Naka-chan

This place is famous for their sea urchin watercress.

Sea urchin watercress...

I've heard of it before.

It's quietly becoming a Hiroshima classic.

I've never had it before, though.

A bunch of watercress wilted in butter...

And sea urchin! What in the world?

Amazing, right?

It looks really tasty!

The butter and the urchin's aroma...

The usual bitterness of the watercress is gone,

and you get the aroma of urchin without the fishy smell.

Here you go.

Thank you.

Enjoy.

Thanks.

Go ahead.

I will.

Wait! First, try it without the baguette.

I thought it'd just be unusual ingredients randomly thrown together...

But the hidden deliciousness of everything fits together perfectly.

Even though it's the first time I'm trying it, I know this deliciousness!

Pshuuu!

Next, try it with the baguette.

Thanks.

It's an extravagant use of urchin,

yet a part of a humble side dish menu!

It's great with the baguette, too!

Isn't it?

The sauce is awesome, too!

Right?

Hey, when are you going home tomorrow?

I think I'll take the 1 PM shinkansen.

Okay...

Let's do lunch, then.

I know a great place.

Where?

I'm not telling!

I was the shy type, but Aya would always pull me out of my shell.

The reason I've been able to discover so many things is because of her.

Tomorrow will be my last day of Hiroshima dining.

We ate a ton.

Yeah.

I think I could eat more, though.

Where will she take me next?

Really?!

You could too, right?

Yeah.

My second day of dining in Hiroshima,

with my knowledgeable best friend, Aya.

I wonder where she'll take me next? I'm looking forward to it!

Wakako, you're going too fast!

Toshinoya

Fuchuyaki?!

You said you've had okonomiyaki lately, right?

But you can only have this in Hiroshima!

She went with Fuchuyaki?

Well done, Aya.

Nice choice.

Hiroshima style, and Osaka style...

There are many different types of okonomiyaki,

But Fuchuyaki is cooked slowly in the fat from ground meat.

Fuchuyaki A type of okonomiyaki originating in, and loved by, Fuchu city in Hiroshima prefecture. Uses ground meat as a substitution for pork belly.

That gives it a savory aroma and crisp taste that even Hiroshima style doesn't have!

You can be seated at a table,

but I like sitting at the counter where you can feel the heat.

What do you want to order?

Let's see... I'll have one with roasted onions and mayonnaise.

Then I'll have the uncooked, plain soba noodles.

And a beer. A big glass, please.

Starting early, huh?

Then I'll take a big one, too!

As long as we're here to eat, we may as well get a big beer.

The birthplace of Fuchuyaki, in eastern Hiroshima prefecture. Fuchu By using the fat from the ground meat, the outside is crisp, the inside is fluffy, and we slowly slowly cook it up

Here you go.

Thanks for waiting. Here are your beers.

Thank you so much!

It's so heavy.

You can really feel the weight in a big glass.

Okay, a toast to our continued good health.

Cheers!

Pshuuu.

That's it, use plenty of cabbage...

And then add the egg, soba, and meat!

I wonder which is mine.

I bet it's that one?

I never get tired of this sight.

The way the fat from the meat melts into cooking oil.

It's looking nice and browned now, like okonomiyaki should!

Here we go! The pile of green onions!

Here you go. Roasted onions and mayonnaise.

And the plain soba.

Enjoy.

Clichéd as it might be, the saying "the moment I've been waiting for"

is meant for times like this!

It's easier to eat with chopsticks...

But Hiroshima custom dictates you use the spatulas!

Pile it on the corner and...

Time to eat.

Ah, hot!

Careful, it's still hot!

The crunchy soba and surface...

Time to eat.

The aroma of the roasted onions and mayonnaise...

The scent of the cooked fat and sauce are rushing my nostrils!

Pshuuu!

Oh, just keep the beer coming!

I think a glass this big will be enough, though!

It's good, huh?

I'll have a beer and grilled edamame.

Okay.

And then the Nikutama-Soba...

And make it spicy.

Right.

And fresh squid for a topping.

You got it.

I never thought about eating it that way.

She must be a regular.

Here you go.

Thanks.

Thank you.

That looks so good...

This last piece is always the hardest...

The last piece is always the hardest, huh?

Drinking alone is fun...

But drinking with a good friend is nice, too.

Here you go, a souvenir.

Share it with your co-workers.

Nama Momiji from Nishiki-Do!

That's the classic Hiroshima souvenir!

Well, thanks for all this!

I notice your Hiroshima accent just kicked back in.

Oh, and this, too.

These boxed lunches are really good.

And they go great with alcohol.

You still love to drink, after all.

I'm even in the drinking car on the shinkansen.

And after you were feeling at home again... Too bad you have to go.

Well, take care!

You, too, Aya.

See ya then!

See ya!

Have a safe trip!

Bye!

To me, Hiroshima is my birthplace,

and a place I cherish, where my best friend waits for me.

Enjoying flavors and friendship I can only find in my hometown...

I can take a good look at myself in the valuable time I spend here.

Murasaki Wakako, 26 years old, rekindling an old friendship in her hometown.

Along with enjoying some Hiroshima cuisine...

It's good, isn't it?

This time, she enjoys her drinks with a friend.

Today's Shops

The first of today's restaurants is on Hiroshima's busiest street, Nagarekawa,

the Japanese pub, Sake Shichisai.

Raw oysters (Oyster Komachi)

They have oysters from Kure, lemons from Hiroshima,

Toyoshima Conger Eel

conger eel from Toyoshima, and much more!

Their menu built around local ingredients is sublime!

Why not stop by for a drink with some Hiroshima sake?

Sake Shichisai Hiroshima prefecture, Hiroshima, Naka-ku, 4-8 Nagarekawa-cho Store Hours 5:30 PM - 1:00 AM (Last orders at 12:30 AM) Closed on Sundays, National Holidays

Our second stop was the overnight restaurant, Naka-chan.

You'd be amazed at the variety of delicious grilled dishes available

at such a humble looking place.

Tongue Stew

Urchin Watercress

There's gansu and urchin watercress, of course,

but the okonomiyaki and teppanyaki are great, too.

And a chat with the owner across the grill can make your drinks taste even better.

Overnight Restaurant Naka-chan Hiroshima prefecture, Hiroshima, Naka-ku, 6-8 Yayoicho Store Hours 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM No regular schedule

Our third stop was the the Fuchuyaki restaurant, Toshinoya.

With high-quality ground meat, even though it might not be obvious,

you get a richer taste.

Fuchuyaki is cooked slowly, and takes about 20 minutes,

Spiced Pistachios

so there's also a selection you can order right away.

Chicken Neck

Grilled Fatty Pork

Welcome!

Fuchuyaki Toshinoya, Sakaimachi Location Hiroshima prefecture, Hiroshima, Naka-ku, Sakaimachi 1-3-14 1st Floor of the SAKURA Building Store Hours 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM Open seven days a week

Thank you for another great meal today.

Pshuuu!

Next Episode

"Celebratory Drinks"

Next time on Wakakozake...

Today we're drinking to celebrate.

It's all about sharing the joy.

That was a nice wedding.

Wakakozake: "Celebratory Drinks."

Please look forward to it!

Pshuuu...