Character Arc
Masayuki Kusumi appears as himself in a beloved recurring segment that closes nearly every episode. As the writer of the original Kodoku no Gurume manga, he steps in front of the camera once the fictional story ends to visit the real restaurant that Goro just dined at in the dramatized portion of the show. The handoff from fiction to documentary is one of the series' signature pleasures.
In these unscripted minutes, Kusumi sits down, orders from the genuine menu, and shares his honest, relaxed impressions of the food. He is warm and unpretentious, treating each shop and its owners with respect and curiosity. The segment grounds the whole series in reality, reminding viewers that the lovingly photographed dishes are not props but real meals they could go and order themselves.
Kusumi's on-screen presence also deepened over the years. Beyond appearing as himself, he formed a band called The Screen Tones to make music for the show, weaving his creative fingerprints through the production on multiple levels. His easygoing closing visits have become a fan-favorite ritual, a gentle, personal coda that bridges the author, the audience, and the working cooks behind each featured dish.
