Mr. Mitsuya's Planned Feeding – Series Review & Episode Guide

Ishida is a 27-year-old editor at Sophia Monthly, a prominent fashion and lifestyle magazine for women. Despite the organization's famous reputation, Ishida feels unfulfilled in this role. Hoping to address his concerns, he plans to have a private discussion with his boss, Todo. Before he gets the chance, she assigns him a new task. With one of their coworkers, Kubo, going on maternity leave earlier than expected, Ishida is asked to take over one of her major clients. He reluctantly accepts the responsibility.

Mitsuya is a 52-year-old culinary specialist who has built a career based on writing and talking about food. Defined by his signature glasses and gentle smile, he is one of Japan's openly gay celebrities. He trained in the culinary arts in Paris and studied Japanese cooking after returning to his homeland. Mitsuya writes several food columns for food magazines. In addition, he is a chef who hosts Mitsuya's Kitchen, an online cooking show. Each week, thousands tune in to watch him prepare a meal on a live stream.

Ishida arrives at Mitsuya's house to collect his latest manuscript. However, the sweltering summer heat overwhelms him, and he collapses on the doorstep. After regaining consciousness, he lies on the sofa in Mitsuya's living room. Mitsuya has already nursed him back to health, even tending to a minor forehead injury with a bandage. Embarrassed by the fuss, Ishida apologizes profusely, but Mitsuya remains gentle and assures him it's no trouble. Mitsuya insists he stays for a meal to recover his strength.

Mitsuya prepares vegetable noodles for Ishida, who enthusiastically enjoys the meal and praises Mitsuya's cooking skills. As they converse, Ishida admits he doesn't cook at home and relies on convenience store food. Mitsuya encourages him to put more effort into eating healthily, emphasizing the value of a meal made with love. Their chat deepens as Ishida expresses dissatisfaction with his job, revealing that he had planned to submit his resignation letter. However, his encounter with Mitsuya inspires a change of heart, convincing him to stay and work harder.

After their initial meeting, Ishida continues to visit Mitsuya's home to discuss work. Mitsuya prepares a delicious meal each time, turning these visits into a much-anticipated highlight of Ishida's job. Over time, Ishida forms a genuine friendship with Mitsuya and even befriends his dog, Frita. As their interactions grow more personal, Ishida realizes that his feelings for Mitsuya may go beyond simple admiration. Despite their significant age gap, Ishida suspects he has developed a secret crush on the charismatic chef.

The first thing you'll notice about Mr. Mitsuya's Planned Feeding is the 25-year age difference between the leads. The young protagonist in his 20s develops feelings for a much older love interest in his 50s. While this unconventional BL pairing may not be to everyone's taste, the story tries to handle their romance as respectfully as possible. It emphasizes an emotional bond over a physical connection, and the couple's interactions seem pure instead of lustful.

Early on, the romance is minimal. The series only focuses on building a cozy bond between the leads. Mitsuya is like a mentor, sharing gentle wisdom and career advice with his younger companion. His maturity, sophistication, emotional intelligence, and nurturing personality make him an attractive character. As the story highlights Mitsuya's best traits, it's easy to see why Ishida admires him. I enjoyed their relationship scenes without paying attention to the romantic undertones. It's simply nice to see two characters connect over their different backgrounds and treat each other kindly.

Ishida's youthful enthusiasm brings an uplifting energy to Mr. Mitsuya's Planned Feeding. His earnest reactions, wide-eyed wonder, and genuine smile make the simplest moments more engaging. The actor (Taisei Sakai) portrays him with such sincerity that his character becomes instantly endearing. He's like a high-spirited golden retriever that viewers will want to embrace. Ishida's lighthearted personality, combined with his knack for comedic timing, adds humour to the narrative. His goofy moments balance the more serious themes in Mr. Mitsuya's Planned Feeding.

As Ishida's admiration for Mitsuya deepens, their bond still leans more toward platonic than romantic. I can't sense any attraction between them. However, Mitsuya is aware of Ishida's growing feelings, and both characters proceed with caution. They navigate professional boundaries, the significant age gap, and their insecurities with surprising depth. The story addresses realistic issues that would naturally arise in their situation. These nuances make the couple's interactions compelling, even if I remain unconvinced about the romantic aspect of their relationship.

The later episodes create intimate scenarios for Ishida and Mitsuya to strengthen their bond. Mitsuya also reveals a vulnerable side beneath his composed demeanour, hinting at the loneliness that comes with aging. Despite these tender moments, I believe they're better off as friends. The series introduces Kaoru, the suave ex-boyfriend whose dazzling charisma complicates this love triangle. Am I the only one who thinks Kaoru and Mitsuya would make a HOT couple? Their history, chemistry, and age compatibility feel far more natural than the forced romance with Ishida.

Episode 6 ends with an emotionally gripping moment when Mitsuya expresses his worries about dating Ishida. His vulnerability is raw and resonates deeply. The finale touches on the stigma of their age difference, but we never see the couple overcoming these unresolved issues. Instead, the series finishes with a tacked-on happy ending, which feels slightly unsatisfying. While I still don't find Ishida and Mitsuya a convincing couple, I enjoyed the story's warmth and thoughtfulness. Mr. Mitsuya's Planned Feeding works better as a sentimental drama than a BL romance.