Series synopsis
The Secret Kitchen, also known as 今夜、秘密のキッチンで is a Japanese drama television series that premiered on Fuji TV on April 9, 2026. It ended on June 18, 2026. It was created by akiyo kurosawa. It stars Haruka Kinami, Mahiro Takasugi, Miori Takimoto and Mariko Tsutsui.
A former actress trapped in an emotionally abusive marriage finds solace in cooking, until meeting an Italian chef who inspires her to reclaim her life.
Premise
A former actress trapped in an emotionally abusive marriage finds solace in cooking, until meeting an Italian chef who inspires her to reclaim her life.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Haruka Kinami as Ayumi Tsubokura
- Mahiro Takasugi as Kei
- Miori Takimoto as Toko Ogura
- Mariko Tsutsui as Kyoko Tsubokura
- Shunsuke Nakamura as Wataru Tsubokura
- Aimi Satsukawa as Mai Yoshino
- Kanato Tsukishiro as Rika Nagamine
- Yusaku Mori as Tatsuya Kobayashi
Supporting cast
- Ayana Shiramoto as Koharu Suzuki
- Meika Yoshida as Hina Tsubokura
- Junpei Yasui as Rintaro Suzuki
- YU as Ryosuke Kato
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 11 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 11 | April 9, 2026 | June 18, 2026 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Ayumi Tsubokura, married to a wealthy restaurant group president, lives a seemingly perfect life that hides a cold and oppressive household where she is constantly belittled and isolated; seeking comfort, she turns to alcohol and finds solace only in the kitchen, until one night, after collapsing, she encounters a mysterious chef in a hidden “secret space,” setting the stage for an unusual and transformative love story. |
April 9, 2026 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Ayumi discovers that Kei is actually a ghost who appears only in the Tsubokura family’s kitchen on moonlit nights, able to handle objects but not touch people; as he encourages her to face her situation and offers comfort through his cooking, Ayumi begins to grow closer to him and sets out to uncover his identity, while at home she is pressured by Wataru and her mother-in-law to host an important party showcasing the family business, forcing her to seek Kei’s help as tensions in her life continue to rise. |
April 16, 2026 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Ayumi’s life slowly begins to change after meeting Kei, whose presence becomes her emotional support amid a troubled marriage; as she investigates his past and uncovers a report of a man who fell from a mountain—possibly explaining why Kei became a ghost—she grows closer to both him and her daughter Hina, while tensions at home persist, leading Kei to help her rediscover the joy of cooking, even as a mysterious visitor arrives and Wataru starts to notice a shift in Ayumi’s feelings. |
April 23, 2026 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Fuji TV |
|---|---|
| First aired | April 9, 2026 |
| Last aired | June 18, 2026 |
| Runtime | 45 minutes |
| Status | ended |