The slow-burn romance between the Korean animation student and the Japanese part-time chef hits a complicated patch this week. Episode 6 of Gimbap and Onigiri, which dropped on Monday, February 16, 2026, introduces a character from Taiga’s past that changes the dynamic between the lead pair. The arrival of his ex-girlfriend adds a layer of tension to the story that has so far focused on quiet moments and cultural discovery.
The series, which premiered on January 12, 2026, has been releasing new episodes every Monday on Netflix and TV Tokyo. With just four episodes left in the 10-episode season, this week’s installment raises the stakes for the central relationship. Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India can stream the episode with subtitles in multiple languages including English, Spanish, and Japanese.
What Happens in Gimbap and Onigiri Episode 6
Episode 6 picks up after the events of the previous week, where Taiga had been regaining confidence while running a catering event. This week, the focus shifts to his personal life when Miyauchi Masumi, his girlfriend from his university days, walks back into his world. Mai Fukagawa plays the role of Masumi, who now works at a publishing company .
Her sudden appearance at the small restaurant “Tanomi” where Taiga works catches him off guard. For Rin, played by Kang Hye-won, seeing this connection from Taiga’s past raises questions she had not dealt with before. The episode shows Rin processing this new information while managing the pressures of her animation studies and her limited time in Japan as a graduate student.
The drama does not turn into a loud confrontation or a messy love triangle. Instead, it stays true to its style of showing emotions through small reactions and unspoken thoughts. Rin watches how Taiga behaves around someone who knew him before he became the quiet part-time chef she met. Masumi represents a version of Taiga from his days as a promising university athlete, a part of his life he rarely talks about.
The Ex-Girlfriend Character and Her Role
Miyauchi Masumi is not written as a villain trying to break up the new couple. The show presents her as someone who shares history with Taiga and genuinely cares about him. Her reason for visiting the restaurant feels natural rather than dramatic. She works in publishing and happens to be in the neighborhood.
Her presence forces Taiga to confront the person he used to be. Before working at Tanomi, before meeting Rin, he was a runner with dreams that did not work out as planned. Masumi knew him during those years. Their conversations in Episode 6 reveal small details about his past that Rin never asked about and Taiga never offered.
For Rin, watching Taiga with Masumi creates a strange feeling. She realizes there are parts of his life she knows nothing about. The episode explores how new couples handle the discovery that their partner existed fully before they met, with memories and connections that do not include them.
How Rin and Taiga Handle the Situation
The strength of Gimbap and Onigiri has always been how it handles emotional moments without excessive dialogue. Episode 6 continues this approach. Rin does not demand explanations or create scenes. She observes and thinks. Taiga does not rush to reassure her with big promises. He simply continues showing up and being present.
Their interactions at the restaurant feel slightly different now. The easy comfort they had built over shared meals now carries a small weight. Rin looks at Taiga differently, and he notices. The episode shows them both trying to figure out where they stand without actually saying it out loud.
The food elements remain central to their connection. Taiga continues preparing dishes, and Rin continues eating at Tanomi. But even the meals feel different this week. The warmth of the onigiri that first brought them together now contrasts with the cool distance that Masumi’s appearance created.
Supporting Characters and Subplots
While the main focus stays on Rin, Taiga, and the arrival of Masumi, Episode 6 also gives small moments to other characters. Moon Ji-hoo plays Kang Jun-ho, the college senior who helps Rin navigate life in Japan. His feelings for her remain unspoken, but his concern shows in how he checks on her after she learns about Taiga’s ex-girlfriend.
At Tanomi, the regular customers and staff provide the usual background warmth. Mitsuru Fukikoshi as store manager Taguchi Shigeo and Masaki Miura as customer Sakumoto Eiji appear in scenes that remind viewers of the community Taiga has built around himself . These moments offer relief from the main tension without feeling disconnected from the story.
Episode 6 Release and Viewing Information
Episode 6 became available on Netflix globally on February 16, 2026 . The episode runs for approximately 49 minutes, consistent with the series format . For viewers who missed earlier episodes, the full season so far remains available on the platform.
The show follows a weekly release pattern. Episode 7 is scheduled for February 23, 2026, with subsequent episodes airing every Monday until the season finale on March 16, 2026 .
Streaming availability varies slightly by region due to time zone differences. In Japan, the episode airs on TV Tokyo at 11:06 PM on Monday nights and becomes available on Netflix simultaneously. For viewers in the United States, the episode typically appears on Monday afternoons or evenings depending on the coast. UK viewers can watch Monday evening, while Australian audiences get it on Tuesday morning due to the time difference.
The series is produced by TV Tokyo and BABEL LABEL, with Eiji Akaso leading the cast as Hase Taiga . The drama features the aespa song “In Halo” as its theme music, with NCT WISH contributing the insert song “Same Sky” .
What Episode 6 Means for the Rest of the Season
With four episodes remaining after this week’s installment, the introduction of Masumi changes the direction of the story. The show had spent its first half building the connection between Rin and Taiga slowly and carefully. Episode 5 showed Taiga gaining confidence through work. Now Episode 6 tests whether their bond can survive outside the safe space of the restaurant.
The series has not rushed their relationship, and it is not rushing this conflict either. Masumi’s presence does not immediately threaten what Rin and Taiga have built. Instead, it asks whether they know each other well enough to handle real complications. Taiga’s past is no longer just something he left behind. It walked through the door of Tanomi and sat down at the counter.
Rin’s situation as a foreign student with an uncertain future in Japan also remains unresolved. Her visa status and her plans after graduation hover over every conversation. Adding an ex-girlfriend to this mix makes her position feel even more temporary.
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The Cultural Details in Episode 6
The show continues to weave small cultural observations into its storytelling. The way Taiga and Masumi interact reflects Japanese social norms around ex-couples. There is no loud drama, just polite conversation and careful distance. Rin, as a Korean student, watches these interactions and reads between the lines of what is not said.
The restaurant setting remains the heart of the show. Tanomi serves as neutral ground where characters from different backgrounds can meet. The food prepared there represents care and attention, values that transcend cultural differences. Even in a tense episode like this one, the scenes of Taiga cooking offer calm moments.
The supporting cast includes several Korean actors alongside the Japanese performers, reflecting the cross-cultural theme. Bang Eun-hee plays Rin’s mother Choi Mi-ae, and Seo Hye-won appears as Rin’s friend Lee Yun-gyeol . Their brief appearances in phone calls or memories remind viewers of the life Rin left behind in Korea.
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