Actor Yutaka Matsushige Prefers Nicolas Cage for Hollywood 'Midnight Diner'

Japanese actor Yutaka Matsushige, widely known for his role as Goro in 'The Lonely Gourmet,' stated at a press conference today that if Hollywood were to produce an English version of the series, he would prefer Nicolas Cage to play Goro, believing Cage's appearance is closest to the original manga's style. He added that if Cage were unavailable, George Clooney would also be a good choice. When asked about his most memorable dish among the nearly 200 restaurants he has visited for filming, Matsushige found it difficult to answer, stating that all memories are profound but that Chinese cuisine tends to impress him more. He admitted that the thought of quitting has frequently occurred over the past decade due to the frequent personnel changes in Japanese TV production, leaving him and a few core members as the longest-standing participants, and he feels he must now take responsibility and lead the project forward. Matsushige also acknowledged his age and the need to consider passing the torch and training successors, viewing the series as perhaps his most important work and hoping it can continue in a good form. Foreign media also inquired if all the food served during filming is consumed. Matsushige explained that while some dramas use editing, he eats everything presented, similar to filming a documentary. Regarding maintaining his physique, he revealed that he stops eating the night before filming and refrains from eating throughout the shooting day, resulting in him losing weight during filming periods, stating he eats less overall than usual. He also mentioned that if a 'second generation' Goro were to appear, he would pass on his experience, including managing his physique. Reflecting on the show's reception, Matsushige expressed surprise that a drama about an uncle eating was found interesting in Korea and Taiwan. He hopes that by introducing 'this is delicious,' the series can resonate across language and national barriers, and his dream is to foster international understanding through the keyword of 'eating.'