The Japanese drama Gimbap and Onigiri has become a weekly comfort watch for viewers around the world. The series starring Eiji Akaso and former IZ*ONE member Kang Hye-won tells a gentle cross-cultural romance between a Japanese part-time cook and a Korean animation student. As the story reaches its midpoint, fans are eager to know when Episode 8 will arrive.
Here is everything you need to know about the Gimbap and Onigiri Episode 8 release date, exact time, streaming platforms, and what to expect from the upcoming episode.
Gimbap and Onigiri Episode 8 Release Date and Time
Gimbap and Onigiri Episode 8 is scheduled to release on Monday, March 2, 2026. The series follows a consistent weekly schedule, with new episodes arriving every Monday since its January premiere .
For international viewers streaming on Netflix, the release time typically aligns with global streaming standards. The episode becomes available at 12:00 AM Pacific Time (PT) on March 2. Here is how that translates across major regions:
- United States (East Coast): 3:00 AM ET on March 2
- United Kingdom: 8:00 AM GMT on March 2
- Canada: 3:00 AM ET on March 2
- Australia (Sydney): 7:00 PM AEDT on March 2
- India: 1:30 PM IST on March 2
- Japan: 5:00 PM JST on March 2
- South Korea: 5:00 PM KST on March 2
Viewers in Japan can also watch the episode on TV Tokyo as part of the Drama Premiere 23 time slot, with the broadcast happening on the same day .
Where to Watch Gimbap and Onigiri Episode 8
Gimbap and Onigiri is available for streaming worldwide exclusively on Netflix. The platform carries all episodes with subtitles in multiple languages including English, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese, making it accessible to a global audience .
In Japan, the series also airs on TV Tokyo and the streaming service Tver, but Netflix remains the primary destination for international viewers .
The series consists of 10 episodes total, each running approximately 38 to 49 minutes. Episode 8 will continue this format, giving viewers nearly an hour of the slow-burning romance .
What Happened in Previous Episodes
The story so far has followed Park Rin (Kang Hye-won), a Korean graduate student studying animation in Japan. After completing a major assignment, she receives sudden notice that she must leave her student dormitory. While exhausted and searching for housing, she stumbles into a small restaurant called Tanomi where Hase Taiga (Eiji Akaso) works part-time .
Taiga was once a promising university track athlete but lost direction after failing to meet expectations. He now finds purpose in cooking and helping at the restaurant. When Rin tries the onigiri he prepares, the simple meal brings her comfort during a difficult time .
Their relationship has developed through small, realistic moments rather than dramatic gestures. Episode 6 showed the couple taking a trip to a hot springs area, but Rin struggled with seeing Taiga together with his former girlfriend Masumi Miyauchi (Mai Fukagawa) . Episode 7, which aired on February 23, continued exploring how past relationships affect their present connection.
What to Expect in Episode 8
With the series reaching its eighth episode, the emotional stakes continue to build. Rin’s time in Japan is limited as she approaches the end of her graduate studies, and the question of whether their relationship can survive beyond her stay grows more pressing .
The drama has maintained a restrained, realistic tone throughout. Rather than relying on misunderstandings or forced conflict, the story focuses on how two people from different cultures learn to understand each other through everyday moments. Food remains central to their connection, with scenes of cooking and sharing meals providing quiet opportunities for emotional intimacy .
Eiji Akaso described the series at a press conference in Seoul as “a story about people who live sincerely and love sincerely.” Kang Hye-won added that she was drawn to how the script captured “modest joys and moments of warmth” .
Cast and Characters
The main cast of Gimbap and Onigiri includes:
- Eiji Akaso as Hase Taiga, the quiet cook finding new purpose through food
- Kang Hye-won as Park Rin, the Korean animation student adjusting to life in Japan
- Moon Ji-hoo as Junho Kang, Rin’s supportive college senior
- Mai Fukagawa as Masumi Miyauchi, Taiga’s former girlfriend who adds complexity to his past
Kang Hye-won’s experience as a former member of IZ*ONE proved helpful for the role. She studied Japanese for two months before filming and found that her previous promotional work in Japan made the environment less unfamiliar . Akaso praised her dedication, noting that she had to work through language barriers during filming while he had interpreters for public events.
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Why Viewers Are Connecting With the Series
Gimbap and Onigiri has found an audience by offering something different from high-conflict dramas. The series respects silence and routine, trusting viewers to notice emotional shifts without heavy explanation .
A review from Mashable noted that while the first episode had some predictable moments, “every scene still manages to radiate genuine warmth.” Watching Rin find comfort in the cozy restaurant and in Taiga’s carefully prepared dishes creates a healing experience for viewers .
The title itself reflects the theme of two distinct but similar cultures coming together. Gimbap and onigiri are both simple rice dishes from Korea and Japan, representing how Rin and Taiga are different yet find common ground .
How Many Episodes Are Left
With Episode 8 arriving on March 2, viewers have two more episodes to look forward to after that. The complete schedule is:
- Episode 8: March 2, 2026
- Episode 9: March 9, 2026
- Episode 10: March 16, 2026
The series will conclude on March 16, giving audiences a full ten-episode journey with Rin and Taiga.
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