Aftertaste

Writer “I” is struggling with a stalled career, a complicated relationship with his on-again, off-again girlfriend, and an editor he can barely stand. As he moves through everyday life, familiar flavors bring back memories of the people and moments that shaped him. From seafood doria shared with his girlfriend in Yokohama, to diluted highballs at a Golden Gai bar run by a Ramo Nakajima look-alike, and late-night gyudon served by a familiar worker who has since disappeared, each dish unlocks a different chapter of his past. Across eight stories, “I” reflects on love, loss, and the memories hidden in every flavor.