Fumiya Takahashi
Kitada Gaku
Overview
After Gaku Kitada, a talented mathematics scholar, suffers setbacks on his dream of becoming a mathematician, he meets Kai Asakura, a young but similarly talented chef, as he is running his own food business, and joins Kai in an attempt at something new.
Seasons
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 10 episodes
- First aired
- Oct 20, 2023
Cast
11 people
Reviews
4 min readWhen the Equation Tastes Better Than the Solution
I’ll admit it: I came to Fermat’s Cuisine expecting a gimmick. A math prodigy swaps proofs for plates, applies Fermat’s Last Theorem to foie gras, and—voilà—drama with a side of differential equations. It sounded like the kind of high-concept premise that collapses under its own cleverness, the sort of show that announces its themes in boldface before the first commercial break.
But somewhere between the first miso-glazed scallop and the tenth episode’s quiet kitchen epiphany, I realized this wasn’t a show about math or food. It was about the quiet terror of realizing you’ve spent your life solving the wrong problem.
The series opens with Gaku Kitada (Fumiya Takahashi), a 24-year-old math savant who’s just failed his graduate school entrance exam. Again. The camera lingers on his hands—long fingers, nails bitten to the quick—as he crumples the rejection letter like it’s a used napkin.
There’s something heartbreaking in the way he moves, as if his body is an equation he hasn’t quite balanced. Takahashi plays Gaku with a stillness that borders on paralysis, his face a mask of polite detachment that only cracks when he’s confronted with a problem he can’t logic his way out of. It’s a performance that feels less like acting and more like someone slowly peeling off a bandage they’ve worn for years.
Then there’s Kai Asakura (Jun Shison), the chef who becomes Gaku’s unlikely mentor. Kai is all sharp angles and sharper instincts, a man who moves through his kitchen like a conductor leading an orchestra of flames. Shison’s performance is mesmerizing in its restraint; he never raises his voice, but the kitchen staff jumps when he exhales.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Fermat’s Cuisine: A Math Whiz’s Unexpected Journey to the Kitchen
Fermat’s Cuisine (2023) serves up more than just gourmet dishes—it blends the precision of mathematics with the chaos of a high-end kitchen. Created by Yugo Kobayashi, the Japanese drama follows Kitada Gaku (Fumiya Takahashi), a math prodigy who trades equations for recipes after a chance encounter with star chef Kai (Jun Shison). latestnetflix.com's take is that but how did this unlikely premise come together, and what’s the real story behind the series?
From Manga to Screen: The Creative Leap
The series is based on Kobayashi’s manga of the same name, which first introduced Gaku’s journey from academia to gastronomy. While the manga’s popularity likely paved the way for the adaptation, the transition to live-action required some behind-the-scenes finessing. Kobayashi himself penned the script alongside Yusuke Watanabe and Kisa Miura, ensuring the story’s mathematical and culinary authenticity remained intact 
. The director’s chair was shared by Yasuharu Ishii, Shunichi Hirano, and Maiko Ouchi, a trio that brought varied perspectives to the 10-episode run .
TBS, Japan’s major broadcaster, aired the series on Fridays at 10 p.m., a prime slot that suggests confidence in its appeal. However, the show’s TV ratings—averaging just 5.1%—hint at a niche audience rather than a mainstream hit . Still, for fans of food dramas with a cerebral twist, Fermat’s Cuisine delivered a fresh angle.
Casting the Unlikely Duo
At the heart of the series is the dynamic between Gaku and Kai. Fumiya Takahashi, known for his roles in Alice in Borderland and The Naked Director, was tapped to play the mathematically gifted but directionless Gaku. His casting was a strategic choice, balancing relatability with the character’s intellectual depth 
.
Opposite him, Jun Shison (The 13 Lords of the Shogun, Kiss Him, Not Me) took on the role of Kai, the charismatic chef who becomes Gaku’s mentor. Shison’s ability to portray both intensity and warmth made him a strong fit for the role, though the chemistry between the two leads was a make-or-break factor for the show’s success .
The supporting cast added star power, including Fuka Koshiba (The Journalists), Toru Nakamura (Rurouni Kenshin), and Takashi Ukaji (The 13 Lords of the Shogun), rounding out the ensemble with seasoned performers .
The Math-Meets-Food Gimmick: Did It Work?
Fermat’s Cuisine stands out for its unique premise—applying mathematical principles to cooking. The show’s title itself is a nod to Pierre de Fermat, the 17th-century mathematician, though the series doesn’t delve into his work directly. Instead, it explores how Gaku’s analytical mind helps him innovate in the kitchen, from optimizing ingredient ratios to predicting flavor profiles .
While the concept sounds gimmicky, the execution leaned into realism. The series consulted with real chefs and mathematicians to ensure the culinary and mathematical elements felt authentic, though specifics on these collaborations remain unconfirmed [rumor]. If true, it would explain the show’s attention to detail, from the precise plating of dishes to the logical breakdown of recipes.
A Quiet but Memorable Run
Despite its modest ratings, Fermat’s Cuisine carved out a niche for itself. The 10-episode format allowed for a tight narrative, avoiding the pacing issues that plague longer Japanese dramas . The show’s blend of food porn, character-driven drama, and intellectual curiosity gave it a distinct flavor—pun intended.
For fans of Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san or Antique Bakery, Fermat’s Cuisine offered a fresh take on the food drama genre. Its biggest achievement? Making math look cool—at least for 54 minutes a week.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.