The 10th episode of the Fuji TV Monday Getsuku drama "Canned Mackerel Goes to Space," starring actor Takumi Kitamura , aired on June 15th. In November 2020, former JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, who was the first to eat the canned mackerel developed by high school students on the International Space Station (ISS), made an appearance, causing a stir on social media.
◇The following contains spoilers.
The "Space Food Mackerel Can Project," which the students have been carrying on, has finally been certified by JAXA. Shunichi Asano (played by Kitamura), who has overseen the project for 15 years, and Ayaka Fujikura (played by Anji Ikehata), along with other "5th generation" students who were involved in its development, participated in the certification ceremony.
The certification ceremony was held at the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center. JAXA's Space Medicine Group Director, Michinori Kashiwagi, gave a speech saying, "We hereby certify the canned mackerel in soy sauce, developed by the students of the Marine Science Department at Wakasa Obama High School, as Japanese space food." He presented Ayaka and the others with the certificate and praised their efforts, saying, "High school students making space food. This is a world first and a great achievement. You have done a wonderful job."
The role of Director Kashiwagi was played by Mr. Noguchi, and on social media, people were excited, saying things like, "Real astronaut Soichi Noguchi made a surprise appearance. I was so surprised!", "It's so cool that Mr. Noguchi, who actually ate canned mackerel in space, is appearing!", and "I can't believe Mr. Noguchi, who actually ate canned mackerel in space, is appearing!"
The next episode is the final one, and some viewers have expressed sadness that it's ending next week, saying things like, "I'm going to miss Sabachu."
The drama is an original coming-of-age story based on the true story of students at a fisheries high school in Fukui Prefecture who challenged themselves to achieve their big dream of "developing space food."
