Actor Lee Sin Young appears on Discovery Channel Japan's new program 'Lee Sin Young goes! Oishii Nippon (イシニョンが行く！おいしいニッポン)', creating an even closer connection with Japanese viewers.
Oishii Nippon follows Lee Sin Young as she travels around Japan, connects with locals and seeks out the region's "soul food." The show premieres on Dec. 26 (Fri) at 8 p.m.
Under the concept "different cultures are connected by the joy of eating," the program depicts a quiet but warm "culinary journey." Seen through traveler Lee Sin Young's perspective, it focuses on neighborhoods where "people live" rather than famous tourist spots, and features a structure that naturally closes distances through food and conversation.
In the Dec. 26 premiere, Lee Sin Young explores Okutama, known as a "hidden scenic spot" in Tokyo, riding a tuk-tuk as she searches for a local meal. The journey then expands to various parts of Tokyo, Kawagoe, known as "Little Edo," and the Naguri area, where hot springs and forest landscapes blend, completing a "map of flavors" that contrasts urban and local textures. Filming took place in early November around Tokyo·Okutama·Mount Mitake·Kawagoe·Naguri.
The program captures food scenes with dramatic rhythm while tightly weaving Lee Sin Young's narration and on-site interaction to preserve the "emotional arc of the trip." The production team aimed for the tone of a travel film based on a documentary touch and set a direction to simultaneously capture the details of taste and people's expressions.
According to released information, Okutama features experiences that allow visitors to feel the region's nature along with tuk-tuk rides, while Tokyo previews a gourmet route following markets and alleyway shops. The traditional streets of Kawagoe, Naguri's hot spring ryokan and kaiseki cuisine, and "a special meal in everyday Japanese life" form the core of the episodes.
In an interview, Lee Sin Young said the trip "was a new challenge," adding that although she did not particularly enjoy traveling itself, she wanted to show how she has changed through food and people. She cited the kaiseki course experience as a memorable moment, and when asked about small personal preferences, she added a laugh with the answer "cola over soju."
Meanwhile, Lee Sin Young recently appeared as Lee Woon in MBC's Friday-Saturday drama Moon River and after the series ended said she "learned and grew by expressing Lee Woon's complex psychology and inner pain and its narrative." Oishii Nippon is expected to be a new expansion that, based on the narrative acting experience she built in Korea, shows the "texture of emotion" and the "rhythm of observation" even in an entertainment-documentary format.
[Photo] 'Lee Sin Young goes! Oishii Nippon (イシニョンが行く！おいしいニッポン)'
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