00:00President Sakakibara has eaten his way through every famous dish in Japan.
00:02At his age, no food moves him anymore.
00:04But then Mariko came along, his new secretary.
00:07She took him to a little Italian restaurant tucked away in Matsuyama, Ihaim.
00:10There, he ate the most ordinary creamy gratin.
00:12A simple, home-style dish.
00:13And somehow, it stirred something in him he hadn't felt in years.
00:15He posted a photo of that gratin on his social media.
00:18For the first time, his follower count broke past 10.
00:20This time, the president has a business trip to Lake Suwa in Nagano.
00:23He's been here before, tasted shinshu soba noodles and grilled eel.
00:26Last time, Mariko took him to a humble little spot, and the senior leadership wasn't happy.
00:29They've all been urging her to book somewhere upscale.
00:31A fine dining restaurant with regional specialties that can only be experienced locally.
00:35Mariko stands her ground.
00:36She promises, the president will love her choice.
00:38The president lets out a small cough.
00:39Mariko instantly hands him a shinshu apple pie sweet and tart.
00:42Perfectly balanced.
00:43Then she pulls out a bag of local peanut rice crackers.
00:45When he wants something to drink, she produces a giant bottle of pear juice.
00:48In the meeting room, he downs an entire bowl of tea before getting to work.
00:51The meetings wrap up way earlier than expected.
00:53The two of them head to dinner.
00:54Before they walk in, Mariko hands the president a change of clothes.
00:57Says he'll need to put this on before they can get ready for the meal.
00:59It's a red tracksuit.
01:00Mariko strips off her formal blazer, revealing she's already wearing matching sportswear underneath.
01:04They arrive at a Genghis Khan grilled lamb restaurant.
01:06The little place is hazy with smoke and almost completely packed.
01:08The server brings out a strangely shaped iron griddle.
01:10A domed grill with a small moat of water in the center.
01:12Then come the rice, the broth, and the side dishes all laid out in front of the president.
01:16Mariko drops the vegetables into the water trough around the dome.
01:18Then she just sits back, closes her eyes, and waits for the griddle to heat up.
01:21When white smoke starts curling off the iron, that's the perfect moment to start grilling.
01:25A few slices of grilled lamb piled on top of those simmered vegetables.
01:27This is the Genghis Khan hotpot.
