Wakako Zake (2015)
A gentle Japanese drama celebrating the quiet art of solo dining and drinking, one perfectly paired dish at a time.
Wakako Zake - Series Information
- Original Title: ワカコ酒
- First Air Year: 2015
- Last Air Year: 2025
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (30 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 9
- Number of Episodes: 106
- Status: Returning Series
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: January 8, 2015 (Canada - 14+), January 8, 2015 (Mexico - B-15), January 8, 2015 (South Korea - 15)
- Networks: BS TV Tokyo
- Alternative Titles: Wakako Zake (US), Wakakozake (JP)
Wakako Zake - Plot
Murasaki Wakako, who is 26 years old, loves going out alone to enjoy eating and drinking, especially when something unpleasant happens at work. Thie show follows Wakako through many solitary outings, where she enjoys different combinations of food and drink!
Wakako Zake - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Rina Takeda
- Yoshihiro Nozoe
- Kenta Kamakari
- Kinuo Yamada
- Masaru Hotta
- Mizuki Watanabe
- Nagai Kyo
- Kohei Shiotsuka
- Yutaka Katō
- Takayuki Sakoi
Writers
- Momoka Meriyama
- Kumiko Asō
- Shinji Kuma
- Hiroaki Yuasa
- Chimura Toshimitsu
Wakako Zake - FAQs
Is Wakako Zake based on a manga?
Yes, Wakako Zake is adapted from the manga series of the same name by Chie Shinohara. The manga follows the same premise of a young office worker who finds comfort and pleasure in solo dining and drinking outings, and it inspired the live-action TV drama that began airing in 2015.
Who plays Murasaki Wakako in the series?
Murasaki Wakako, the series' central character, is portrayed by Rina Takeda. Takeda brings warmth and quiet expressiveness to the role of the 26-year-old office worker who escapes everyday stress through carefully chosen solo meals and drinks at local restaurants and izakayas.
What is Wakako Zake about?
Wakako Zake follows Murasaki Wakako, a 26-year-old office worker who relieves workplace stress by dining alone at restaurants and izakayas. Each episode showcases a different food and drink pairing she savors, offering a gentle, episodic celebration of Japanese culinary culture and the quiet joy of solitary indulgence.
How many seasons does Wakako Zake have?
Wakako Zake has 9 main seasons plus a specials collection, totaling 106 episodes. Each season consists of 12 episodes, with the series continuing to air on BS TV Tokyo. The show has been a consistent presence on Japanese television since its debut in January 2015.
What makes Wakako Zake unique among food dramas?
Wakako Zake stands out for its deeply introspective, loner-centric approach to food storytelling. Rather than competitive cooking or restaurant drama, it focuses on the meditative ritual of eating and drinking alone. The show treats solo dining as an art form, celebrating the personal and emotional dimensions of Japanese food culture.
Is Wakako Zake still airing or has it ended?
Wakako Zake is currently a returning series and remains in production as of 2025. The show has aired continuously since January 2015 on BS TV Tokyo, accumulating nine seasons and 106 episodes, making it one of the longer-running food-themed drama series in Japanese television.
What language is Wakako Zake in?
Wakako Zake is produced and performed entirely in Japanese, reflecting its origins as a Japanese manga adaptation airing on BS TV Tokyo. International viewers can access the series with subtitles through streaming platforms such as Crunchyroll, Rakuten Viki, and AsianCrush.
Who are the writers of Wakako Zake?
The series has been written by a rotating team of screenwriters including Momoka Meriyama, Kumiko Asō, Shinji Kuma, Hiroaki Yuasa, and Chimura Toshimitsu. This collaborative writing approach helps sustain the show's episodic, vignette-style format across its many seasons and episodes.
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