The Best Episodes Directed By Tadaaki Horai

#1 - Dan Dan Noodles Without Soup of Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward

Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 1/18/2012

Inogashira-san visits the bustling commercial town of Ikebukuro to meet with a client from a model room company, and to scout for a possible new office location. He also buys from his favorite store. He notices many Chinese restaurants that have sprouted in the streets, and decides to have Chinese food for his lunch. Later, a sign catches his eye and it reads, 'Chinese Home-Cooking Yan...'

Director: Tadaaki Horai

Writer: Yoshihiro Taguchi

#2 - Oyako-Don and Yaki-Udon of Eifuku, Suginami Ward

Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 2/1/2012

It had been a bad week for Inogashira-san. The lone merchant is in the doldrums after experiencing several set-backs in his dry goods business. He travels to Eifuku, Suginami to get some fresh air and to meet with an old friend. However, his meeting fails to push through and so he ends up whiling away his time fishing alone at "Musashino-en Fishing Pond." He experiences a sudden need to eat, and decides to try out the fishing facilities' own canteen...

Director: Tadaaki Horai

Writer: Yoshihiro Taguchi

#3 - Hiroshima-Style Okonomi-yaki of Shimokitazawa, Setagaya Ward

Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 2/29/2012

Inogashira-san spends a day-off watching his friend's play in Shimokitazawa. Somehow, he falls asleep towards the end of the play. Later, he learns that the lead actress had run off. He finds her afterwards wandering in the streets and decides to follow her, while tasting the street food along the way. He ends up introducing himself to the young lady, who in turn opens up to him about her troubles. Inogashira-san may not be able to offer words of comfort but at least he was able to give her his take-out food, hoping it would be enough to console her. He leaves and realizes he has yet one more thing to console... his own tummy. He goes off and stumbles upon "Hiroki," a shop that serves teppan-yaki and Hiroshima-style okonomi-yaki...

Director: Tadaaki Horai

Writer: Yoshihiro Taguchi

#4 - Okinawa Soki-Soba and Agu Pork Broiled in Natural Salt of Nakameguro, Meguro Ward

Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 3/21/2012

For the last episode, Inogashira-san meets an unusual-looking married couple on his way to an appointment. However, he realizes that he had missed his lunch so he grabs a quick bite along the way. He then goes to meet with the young pretty owner of a pre-used clothes shop in Nakameguro. Afterwards while strolling around town, he winds up in a street filled with restaurants offering varied menus. He decides to try out an Okinawa-themed restaurant called "SokaBokka..." for a delightful tropical island feast.

Director: Tadaaki Horai

Writer: Yoshihiro Taguchi

#5 - Shizuoka Oden of Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture

Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 1/25/2012

Our solitary protagonist travels outside Tokyo, this time to Chiba where he has an appointment with a staff from a popular wedding venue. Inogashira-san arrives in Shin-Urayasu, and marvels at the Western American-style lay-out of the town. Later on, his tour of the wedding facilities brings up certain memories for him... the time when he was in Paris with a famous actress. He ponders whether he has regrets about not ending up with her, and yet gets distracted by feelings of hunger. He goes in search for a place to eat and ends up in a stylish restaurant known as "Loco Dish..."

Director: Tadaaki Horai

Writer: Yoshihiro Taguchi

#6 - A Cafe's Neapolitan Pasta in Kichijoji, Musashino City

Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 2/15/2012

The lone merchant who says he can "eat anything," has had a sudden attack of indecision. His inability to decide on what and where to eat begins when he arrives in the casual, vibrant town of Kichijoji. This made him late for his meeting with a client - an owner of a jazz cafe. Afterwards, Inogashira-san finds himself back to his dilemma as he goes around town deciding where to eat. Finally, an odd feeling made him stop in front of a restaurant called "Kayashima." He steps inside and looks over the menu, only to get lost in the maze of varied dishes being offered...

Director: Tadaaki Horai

Writer: Yoshihiro Taguchi

#7 - Episode 3

Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 5/29/2020

Director: Tadaaki Horai

Writer: N/A

#8 - Pasta the Samurai Way

Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 3/17/2017

Kasumi is concerned about how a new pair of sunglasses makes him look. Lunch at a high-class Italian restaurant makes the problem worse.

Director: Tadaaki Horai

Writer: N/A

#9 - Episode 4

Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 6/19/2020

Director: Tadaaki Horai

Writer: N/A

#10 - Episode 2

Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 7/29/2022

Director: Tadaaki Horai

Writer: N/A