Love and Hong Kong (恋する香港)

Elly.

-It's time. -Okay.

Let's start.

All right.

-I'll turn the camera on. -Okay.

It's rolling.

Ready, action!

This is the breakfast of Hong Kong.

Here are the noodles.

This is the fried bread.

I'll try the noodles first.

Hey, why are you talking while you eat?

No video without permission.

Did you pay for it?

Maki, Maki.

What?!

Wait, wait.

-Maki. -Ow.

Located five hours from Japan

is the attractive city of Hong Kong,

that captivates all visitors.

Once colonized by England

it has now returned to China.

It has a truly unique history.

The integration of Eastern and Western cultures

developed Hong Kong's original style.

In Hong Kong, the city that never sleeps,

you could shop late at night

for dim sum, cuisines from different regions

and Hong Kong sweets.

You can enjoy plenty of gourmet food.

The city emanates spirited energy.

From main streets to back streets,

it's filled with discoveries and excitement.

TV shows these days are boring.

All the shows are unoriginal.

Copies, redo's,

trips and gourmet.

That's not what I want to make.

Watch, I'm gonna change TV.

We're finally in Hong Kong.

ELLY, AN IDOL

It was so fast.

It was close.

I couldn't sleep very much.

Are you tired?

A little bit.

But I'm okay.

Hang in there.

AYA HIRAKAWA, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

You're familiar with this place

is what I heard.

Well, my grandma

is from Hong Kong.

So, your roots are here.

I suppose.

But this is the first time for me.

I never knew about my Hong Kongese roots.

TRIP TO HONG KONG TRACING ELLY'S ROOTS

Well, my mom told me

that I've got Russian roots.

Really?

Now that you mention it, I could see it.

But actually,

it wasn't true.

-Wow, seriously? -Yeah.

-Not at all. -What! Not at all, huh.

Elly, an idol.

Neither her age nor hometown are revealed.

Mysterious but cute.

Those attributes appealed to the people.

As a variety show star, pin-up girl

and voice actress,

she continues to expand her career.

WE'LL UNVEIL HER REAL SELF AND ROOTS

ROOTS - WHEN A WOMAN GOES ON A TRIP

-Wait! -Chase her.

She found something.

It's floating.

I want to become tiny

and go inside of that.

Then, I want to go far away.

She has a free-spirited mentality.

ELLY'S JOURNEY TO SEARCH HER ROOTS HAS BEGUN

FIRST, WE HEAD DOWNTOWN

Elly.

We're in town now.

-We are here. -Yes, we are.

It's very lively.

It is, with all the stores.

THE UNIQUE MIXTURE OF SCENTS IS A CHARM OF HONG KONG

I'm hungry. Are you?

I'm hungry, too.

Is there anything to eat?

Oh, wow.

-Something smells. -What is that?

It's coming from there.

Oh, I heard that's a local specialty.

-Specialty? -Right. What was it called?

Hong Kong, food stand.

Stinky, delicious.

Tofu that smells.

Smelly tofu?

Isn't it "stinky tofu"?

That's it.

Try it.

-Who? Me? -Right. You're the guest.

-No, no. -I'll buy one for you.

No, thank you.

STINKY TOFU

One stinky tofu, please.

One stinky tofu, please.

Stinky tofu has a strong, distinct taste

some people can't handle.

HOW WILL ELLY REACT TO THE TASTE OF HER ROOTS?

Here, I bought one.

You try it first.

Go ahead.

Please, after you, Elly.

No, no.

Try it. Here it is.

-Are you okay? -I'm okay.

-Then. -Go ahead.

I'll eat it.

How is it?

Is it good?

Good.

Ah!

Elly didn't like it.

The leftover was savored by the crew.

Three kilometers from the center of Hong Kong

high-rise apartments soared.

Elly's mom came

to Japan from Hong Kong when she was in elementary school.

She has never returned to Hong Kong since then.

Elly, we're heading to your mom's home. What are your thoughts?

My thoughts?

I have no idea.

-Shall we look around some more? -Yes.

It's that one, isn't it?

WILL THEY FIND HER HOME?

Amazing!

WHAT'S BEHIND HER DISAPPOINTMENT?

Wow, amazing!

Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

In the size of Okinawa island,

more than seven million people live there.

The land that's usable for housing is limited.

High-rises were the solution to that.

There are too many rooms

to determine which one it is.

I feel like we're in a labyrinth.

One, two, three.

What are you doing?

Hide and seek.

We're in the middle of a shoot.

-Please act normal. -Okay.

ELLY LOOKS A BIT TIRED. WILL SHE FIND HER MOM'S HOME?

I moved here

six years ago.

He moved here six years ago.

Oh, I see.

Do you have a good relationship with your mom?

I moved out

when I started working in show biz.

So, I don't really get to see her.

That's why

I'm not too familiar...

with how she grew up.

I asked around, but no luck.

He moved here six years ago.

There's no way to find it without a plan.

But I can't give up on capturing the truth.

What's wrong?

I'm...

not sensitive to my feelings.

It's easy for me

to determine whether

I like something or not.

But I don't have many other feelings.

I hope you'll find something...

before we go back.

We weren't able to find anyone who knew her mom that day.

To refresh her mind,

we went shopping, a girl's favorite activity.

The dresses are cute.

Is this your first time in Hong Kong?

It's my first time.

Pottinger Street in Hong Kong Island

is filled with a variety of shops.

Do you go shopping regularly?

I don't go at all.

I see.

You can't really go out in public, right?

Well, actually,

I like to stay home.

I want to be home as much as possible.

That's surprising. You're so fashionable.

Well, but loungewear

is something I'm picky about.