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00:00:00 – 00:12:18
The video follows Mikage, a young woman dealing with the recent death of her grandmother. Overcome with grief, she finds solace in cooking, which connects her to Yuichi and his mother, Eriko, who is revealed to be Yuichi's transgender father. Eriko's tragic death by a stalker later brings Mikage and Yuichi closer, but Yuichi's subsequent depression leads Mikage on a journey to the Izu Peninsula for clarity. Her trip culminates in a late-night rescue mission to deliver food to Yuichi, symbolizing her care for him amidst their shared pain. The narrative intertwines themes of grief, comfort, familial bonds, and finding one's place, underpinned by the author's exploration of urban angst and magical realism. The video closes by mentioning author Yoshimoto’s accolades and encouraging viewer engagement.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, Mikage is struggling with the recent death of her grandmother, leaving her feeling alone and unable to sleep properly, finding comfort only in the kitchen. Yuichi, an acquaintance from college who was close to Mikage’s grandmother, offers her a place to stay with him and his mother, Eriko. Mikage is initially shocked but feels at home in their kitchen and agrees to stay, forming a new routine and finding comfort in cooking for Yuichi and Eriko. She discovers Eriko is actually Yuichi’s father, who transitioned to live as a woman after Yuichi’s mother died. Mikage’s ex-boyfriend, Sotaro, informs her about a conflict involving Yuichi at college, but she reassures him there’s no romantic involvement between her and Yuichi. Over time, Mikage and Yuichi grow closer, and after a visit to clean her grandmother’s apartment, Mikage reflects on seeing a grandmother comforting her son, symbolizing familial bonds and care.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, Mikeage experiences a range of emotions following the death of her grandmother. She first cries hard over the loss, sleeps well, and wakes up from a strange shared dream about cleaning with Yuichi. The two are shocked to discover they had the same dream. Enrico, while watering plants, consoles Mikeage about life’s hardships, making her feel better. Tragically, Enrico is later killed by a stalker. Mikeage learns this after Yuichi calls her, prompting her to rush to his place, where she comforts him. Mikeage reads Enrico’s will, which is a loving and encouraging letter, depicting Enrico as strong and loving even in death. Mikeage grieves deeply but finds solace in cooking, an activity she became passionate about while living with Enrico and Yuichi. Cooking brings her joy and serves as a way to cope with her pain.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, Yuichi feels hopeless and reveals he has been drinking every night to sleep, indicating he is in a dark place. Mikeage, realizing they can’t build a life together amidst so much pain, is rushed the next day unsure of what to do. She seizes an opportunity to go on a work trip to the Izu peninsula to gain perspective. At work, Okino accuses Mikeage of weakening Yuichi by flirting with him and leaves angrily. Later, during tea with Yuichi, Mikeage shows affection, and Yuichi promises to see her again after her trip.
That night, Mikeage receives urgent news from Chika, Yuichi went to the club feeling lost. Chika, believing Mikeage and Yuichi are in love, gives her Yuichi’s location and encourages her to go after him. At the Izu Peninsula, Mikeage seeks food and calls Yuichi, sensing their relationship is at a crossroads. Despite his reassurances, she feels compelled to bring him food, leading her to travel to his inn late at night. Finding the doors locked, she climbs the wall, injures herself, and reaches Yuichi’s window with the food. Surprised and cold, Yuichi’s demeanor scares Mikeage, who feels trapped in his pain, but she insists he eats the pork.
00:09:00
In this segment, Yuichi and Miko engage in a heartfelt conversation where Yuichi admits that he ran away to avoid showing Miko his weakened state. They share light-hearted jokes about proving manliness, which brightens Yuichi’s mood. Miko walks along a beach, making peace with her emotions. Later, Yuichi calls her, and they plan to meet when she returns to Tokyo. The video then transitions to discussing the author Yoshimoto’s background, including her upbringing, education, and literary career. It highlights her acclaimed works like “Kitchen,” her influences, and her thematic focus on grief, urban angst, and magical realism.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the speaker mentions awards, including the Best Newcomer Artist Prize, the Yamamoto Shugori Prize, and the Murasaki Shikibu Prize. They encourage viewers to like and subscribe to their channel to support the creation of more videos.