Review: Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020 Episode 1

The Food and Vibes of Terrace House T2019

WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS

While the global release of Netflix’s cult-status Japanese reality show does occur until July or August 2019, those determined enough to use a VPN to watch Terrace House T2019 (that’s what we’re calling it now) have been treated to some hopeful, wholesome TV.

You can bet Kenta Maeda, pitcher for the LA Dodgers and noted Terrace House scholar, is already watching. For those unfamiliar with the series, Terrace House is the show where nothing happens, because everybody is too chill or polite to start drama from day one. It’s great for people who need calming programming in their lives. For those very familiar with the series, you might want to bookmark this page and not look at it until the global release date. Some spoilers ahead.

Terrace House & Food

This is almost a topic deserving a post unto itself. Since Terrace House’s entire concept as a show is very much a “slice of life” there are shared meals, grocery shopping, dates, snacking on the couch, and goofing around pretending to be a chef. Food is an integral part of the bonding experiences between strangers who eventually become friends, romances and enemies. However, while food brings people together, it can also drive people apart, as seen in the so-called “Meat Crime” of the first Netflix season ‘Boys and Girls In The City.’

The Meat Crime involved cast member Uchi receiving hidagyu beef from work as a gift and his roommates (girlfriend too) eating it – without him. “It’s just some meat, what’s the big deal?” According to a 2009 blog, a single steak of high grade hidagyu beef can cost $500 USD. So to get some luxury meat from work must be pretty significant.

The fallout of the fight which forever became known as The Meat Crime caused the breakup of Uchi and Minori, a dispute among the housemates, and was a polarizing topic in Japanese and international viewership. The crux of the reaction hinged on whether eating someone else’s fancy meat gift without their permission (or knowledge) was rude. One camp said it wasn’t a big deal and Uchi is just being sensitive. The other camp said it was inconsiderate and didn’t show care for Uchi’s feelings. Personally, I think it was mean.

You should check out @thefoodofterracehouse on Instagram. It is an excellent record of all the food given screen time in the various Terrace House seasons.

Onto the episode

“I might pare down my commitments to just this.” *everyone laughs*

Tokui, commentator

T2019 opens with a luxurious apartment in Tokyo, at a time when the world’s attention is coincidentally going to focus on the city during the Olympics which is totally a coincidence and the name is Tokyo 2019-2020 coincidentally.

The show opens on a modern, trendy apartment filled with modern, trendy decor. Later, it is revealed this season’s provided vehicles are Jaguar sedans. That’s Netflix money, I guess. This season’s cast includes Shohei, an actor/model from Taiwan; Kaori, an illustrator; Haruka, an actress/model and Corvette driver; Kenji, a musician; Risako, a fitness trainer / parkour ninja; and Ruka, a retail part-timer and skateboarder.

Shohei immediately gets asked if he can make lu rou fan for the house. Lu rou fan is a braised pork from Taiwan. Shohei laughs and declines, he needs a specific kind of soy sauce, but will make it later.

This is probably going to be a pretty great season with maybe less drama than Aloha State or Opening New Doors. Maybe.

Shohei brought souvenir snacks from Taiwan, including pineapple cakes, milk peanut soup and Taiwan Beer. The subtitles are great. They later have the beer with dinner and everyone remarks about the beer’s unique flavour.

Hopefully they saved a can for when Shohei makes the pork.

Everybody gets involved with helping to prepare some portion of the dinner. Kenji and Haruka make the sauce and saute the meat and vegetables. Ruka makes a leafy green salad. Kenji cuts an avocado like a pro and expertly presents the sliced avocado. Risako cuts cheese cubes. These are my notes.

See you next week with Episode 2!

(More happened than just what is listed above, so you should still watch the episode, I just didn’t want to put all the juicy bits out there so soon!)