Comedian Ken Watabe of the duo Unjash has revealed his work in the "gourmet" field after five years since facing a scandal. On March 7, 2025, he held a "100-person off-kai" (offline meeting) for his community, "Unjash Watabe's Food Platoon," in Tokyo, reflecting on a past of self-restraint during which he thought he would never again host such an event.
Approximately 130 attendees gathered from around the nation at the sushi restaurant "Yurakucho Kakida" in Shinjuku, which is known for its all-you-can-eat luxurious sushi and drinks. The venue can accommodate over 100 people, providing a spacious environment for such gatherings.
During the event, Watabe made it a point to interact with all attendees, meeting about 40 members at the bar counter three times throughout the evening. Before entering self-restraint, he previously ran a community that explored high-end restaurants, but that group had to dissolve once he was met with public backlash following his scandal in June 2020. The incident led to severe criticism and a quick loss of professional work, forcing him into self-imposed isolation.
Half a year later, in a press conference, he expressed remorse but found it challenging to return to work. On February 5, 2022, however, he announced his return to entertainment while also launching "Unjash Watabe's Food Platoon," which currently boasts around 700 members who share gourmet experiences and discoveries.
Though he does not currently post on social media about food, Watabe continues to explore restaurants personally. He voiced concerns over trusting ratings from gourmet review websites, stating, "In an era where you can find delicious restaurants online, not knowing whether the high scores given on gourmet review sites are accurate or whether the reviews from unnamed sources are really credible is tough.”
After lifting the self-imposed restrictions, Watabe began hosting monthly off-kai events limited to 20 participants due to venue size, which quickly led to high demand and a lottery-like system for participation. He decided to organize this large gathering to allow for broader participation.
The consolidation of this event was made possible when he connected with Kazuhiro Shishida, the owner of the restaurant, who informed him that it was feasible to accommodate 100 people for the occasion.
Watabe's wife, actress Nozomi Sasaki, extended a public apology on his behalf following his scandal, expressing regret that his actions had caused discomfort to many. Throughout his ordeal, she has actively supported their family both financially and emotionally as Watabe's income plunged dramatically.
In reflecting on the past, Watabe stated, "When I entered self-restraint, I thought I could never return to work. I was prepared for my wife to divorce me." He described a point when everything had collapsed and credited his wife's reassurance during their difficult times, noting, "She said, 'I was angry, but if I held onto that emotion, I would likely start to hate myself.'" Their commitment to restoring their family dynamic provided a crucial lifeline for him.
Watabe's return to the spotlight with such community engagement demonstrates his journey of rehabilitation and acceptance of past mistakes. The night of the 100-person off-kai was not only about food but also a significant milestone in his path toward normalization following a turbulent period. Addressing his community, he added, "I thought, 'This kind of meeting would never be possible again.' It's profound that with today’s event, I could prove otherwise. Grateful doesn’t quite capture how I feel seeing so many gathered here based merely on word-of-mouth.'"
The overwhelming response is a testament to his community's support. Despite the challenges that have plagued him, the positive turnout at the off-kai reflects both his commitment to reconnect with his passion for gourmet food and the collective support from those around him.
As he looks forward, Watabe remains cautious but optimistic about the future. While he still faces limitations on public appearances, his thriving gourmet community appears ready to help him step back into the culinary spotlight progressively. "I'm just happy to be here, interacting with everyone who has shown such dedication," he concluded at the event, embodying the ethos of resilience and hope.
