I love this show I went in blind. I've actually cried several times with multiple episodes it's incredibly moving. It's so funny, heartwarming, tragic and charming. I love most of the characters I love Gen the Yakuza and Marilyn the stripper. Its like nothing I've seen before. The best show on Netflix in my opinion.
the opening theme always gets me, i know pretty much all the streets being shown as my own back alley (set away from set streets obviously) later years i've been a lot in golden gai and found a bar that give me this exact feeling (its not a izakaya so they dont really make much food besides the welcome food) and now i get tears because i miss my friends every time i hear it.
As a Japanese, I find it strange to learn that this story has been accepted overseas. This is an extremely Japanese depiction of customs, manners, emotions, life, and details. I thought it would be difficult for non-Japanese to understand. In other words, when ordinary people live their daily lives, are national and cultural differences merely trivial?
Interesting response, thank you. I don't think the cultural differences are unimportant, because their specificity shapes the human experience, but I think there enough general ideas and shared experiences across culture which make a show like this relatable. Friendship, love, loss, professional achievements and disappointments, sense of community (big and small) and the way all these things can be centered on food and place, these things I think are almost universal. In fact I think we understand these things BECAUSE of the specifics, even if they are unfamiliar to us. As a writer, I know that to make a story feel general, you anchor it in particular details; the reader will then extrapolate their own experience from the specifics of someone else's. Make sense?
👋 American fan of the show and Japanese language learner here. It is very obvious while watching that there are nuances I don't understand, to say nothing of the little jokes, puns, and jabs that go over my head at this time. 😂 We have perhaps stereotypical ideas about Japanese life...overworked salarymen, for instance. I don't know that I'd call our differences trivial or unimportant. They're interesting, though. The main themes and situations are maybe more universal than you'd think, as well. Also, I used to work at a diner, and the regular customers take me back a little to that time. Again, not so different 🙂
I don't think it's difficult at all, because we're accustomed to watching shows from all over tve world. And also you get to come back again and again, because it's so rich in content.
I am on my 3rd journey through Midnight Diner and Tokyo Stories. It is my safe space. Some episodes still provoke tears. I'd love to be a regular customer there.
One great thing about the series is that it meant to illicit a deeper understanding about characters that are suffering in a world where the perceived path to success is attained from fitting in and successfully building a career. These are both simply stated, but very difficult goals for anyone. We can see how different people are trying to accept and reject these goals. We see how some people fail or succeed at these goals and if that even really matters in the end to their overall happiness.
Your reference to Joyce's Dubliners hit me, and makes me want to revisit that work, which I read as a high-schooler and frankly, didn't get. I love Midnight Diner for all the subtle, gentle reasons you discussed, so now, in my dottage, I hope I can find those "little epiphanies" in Dubliner you mentioned. Thank you for a thoughtful discussion of this lovely program.
My pleasure! Funnily enough, I picked up Dubliners again just last week. I think it carries more weight as I get older. Hope you enjoy them this time around.
I watched all of Midnight Diner and Tokyo Stories on Netflix during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. This show gave me a sense of comfort, belonging, and that we’re all alike and good is so vital to our identity as well as sharing and making memories. Thank you for making this video!!!
It could be like this everywhere, but world governments are intent on shuffling demographics and using that to instigate conflict between each other. Japan is one of the few 1st world countries left on the planet that is not like western countries where racial issues are artificially introduced to a population to demoralize everyone.
You provide a beautiful description of Midnight Diner. I found myself with tears in my eyes at the end of some of the episodes. Weeping along with you at the end of your video was unexpected, but appropriate. Thanks for your video.
Midnight diner and midnight diner Tokyo stories 2 are my my favourite shows truly! I must have watched them many times and come back when I can’t find anything meaningful to watch! Also Gourmet Samurai is a similar concept but midnight diner always touches my heart with its characters and their lives!
The opening sequence of the show is brilliant. We first see the shopping district with glitzy storefronts and bustling sidewalks that come off as brightly lit but emotionally chilly. Then, we see The Master going through his routine of making the batch of pork stew and here him describing his business. A tiny island of warmth and community in a cold city.
I happened upon midnight diner while doing a Japanese class. It is everything you say and more. I wept, I laughed, I tried the recipes. As another comment says, midnight to dawn, of course the time of dreams and memories. Now I’m trying to learn the theme song in Japanese with the guitar chords. I’m so sad to hear the singer died in 2020, I didn’t know. What a lovely legacy he leaves. You may already know that the original tune, and its English version “pretty girl milking a cow”, is in fact a very old Irish song “cailín deas crúite na mbó”, still often performed, including UA-cam editions. Thank you for your wonderful review.
Each Episode makes me look into my life and gives me a sense of humility and gratefulness at what is learned from each and every episode. ALL IN ALL it gives me Life Lessons and Recipes as well. Truly a great series. 2023.
I've been watching this series very slowly over the past few months, one episode every couple of weeks as I find the pacing so meditative I don't want to rush it. One of the best series I've seen in a while and I agree totally with your review. Thanks for sharing the various music clips, I had no idea Judy sang this!
Yes, very slowly. It's a very calming show. Sometimes I would fall asleep watching it and I would have to rewind to see what I missed. It's not boring at all, just good story telling as well as the acting. You feel like you're in Japan and you witnessing everyday interactions with these characters. Hope they make more seasons of it.
Thank you Andrew for a very delicate and heartwarming review about this Tv drama . I am new to the show but absolutely loving it. The intimacy amd cozy feeling together with funny notes and sometimes heartbreaking moments give the stories a true sense of what life really is for all of us. I did cry with you watching Susuki sang....
In gentle and kindly ways, these stories continually remind me of Kawabata Yasunari's statement that the essence of the Japanese aesthetic is "beauty and sadness." "This world of dew is just a world of dew. And yet, and yet..." as Issa put it.
As someone living in Taiwan, this is one of those famous pieces of media that everyone's heard of, yet too few have enjoyed for themselves (myself included!) Your excellent introduction has definitely explained why it's worth checking out, so I'll make sure to do so. I also really enjoyed the live performances of the theme song you included at the end; that was wonderful!
I have eaten hundreds of meals in Japan and about 3/4 of them have been in "midnight diner' type places. They are ubiquitous in all towns and cities but keep your eye open for them because they are often overlooked by foreign tourists , because somtimes they are seen as "seedy". I have been accepted always, maybe because of my age and/or temperament, and have have some good conversations even with my broken Japanese. The food has always been authentic and delicious. One of the most interesting "diners' were the yatai (pop up restaurants) in Fukuoka, which only appear at night . If you plan on going to Japan I suggest you find places like this, eat at markets and stalls and give yourself a real culinary treat especially in Osaka.
I was in Japan recently and my husband and I made a point of dining in these small little diners. These diners seem filled with people sitting around the counter. We love sitting around the counter too and then chatting to the chef or watching him cook.
Thankyou Professor for drawing my attention to this series. I would never have known it existed if it wasn't for your video. I have only watched the first episode but was moved to tears by the underlying complexity of the story. Outwardly about meeting someone famous, who brought great joy to your childhood, and wanting to tell the world about it. However, the underlying message is one of being careful of how you interact with people's pasts and unintentional hurt it can cause. The series looks to be a low budget production, but it was so well-shot and the acting is first rate. The storyline was quirky and heartwarming; soooo Japanese. I also loved the Fourth Wall break at the end. It came from nowhere. Food is such a great way to draw people into a storyline and it allows us to immediately identify with the characters. Crimson Maple's penchant for Ramen without noodles, and how people thought it was odd, reminded me of years ago when I would frequent a small family-run Vietnamese restaurant. I liked to order Pho Bo without the noodles and have the broth served in a separate jug. I would also have the chef lightly stir fry the paper thin beef slices and have them served over the dry salad and herbs. I would then add a small amount of broth myself, to just take the hard edge off the salad. The wait staff would all laugh at me when I ordered it but the owner/chef was very happy for me to order it that way. I loved how crunchy and flavorsome it was to eat Pho like this, and I would take the remaining broth home with me and reheat it and drink it like tea while writing my college assignments. Sounds weird I know, but for the Brits out there it is kind of like drinking a Vietnamese version of Bovril (only much better). So, as you can see, Midnight Diner is an unexpected gem for me. I wonder if I will find more relatable storylines in coming episodes. I sure hope so, the first had me feeling very nostalgic. Thanks again Professor for leading me to this series.
OK, so this is why I make these. I nearly didn't bother, figuring that most folks either knew about the show already and wouldn't care what I thought about it, or wouldn't be interested in checking it out. Your response alone makes it worth doing. Thank you. And thanks for the Vietnamese anecdote. I totally get that. I hope you continue to watch the show. It's uneven, but that's part of its charm, since each episode goes in a slightly different direction, mixing sweet and bitter. Enjoy, and--again--thanks for your thoughtful (and validating) response.
I agree with you. Mid Night Diner has the atmosphere of Showa-era Japan for me, like the good old days in Japan between 1960~1980s. If this drama is accepted in the UK, it may not be a coincidence that the UK has a PUB culture and that the theme tune is an Irish folk song.Arigato from🍣🍙🍚🍤🍱🍵🍶🍘🇯🇵
Yes, I mentioned the folk song in the video, and I think you may be right, that the show is particularly resonant for cultures for whom the idea of a local bar/pub or diner culture is familiar. Wonderful show. Thanks!
Great show. It makes me feel pretty nostalgic about the few months when I worked and lived there. Stayed in a Japanese hotel, ate a lot of Japanese food, loved walking the streets and alleys in the evening. Always felt safe. Oh......I actually caught brief glimpses of Geisha girls as they hurried from club to club in the evening.
I was born and raised in hawaii and of native Hawaiian ancestry. Our neighbors we from many cultures. Japanese and okinawan people were our closest neighbors. The courtesies, the attitudes, their entire way of life and culture are almost flawless. Almost all of them are gone now except for 3 families. Living among them was a blessing from god himself.
Having traveled to several S.E. Asia countries (including Japan) and married to a Thai i have seen firsthand how important food is and how much of a social aspect it has.I enjoy just sitting on a mat with a number of family members eating the various dishes served up.
Watched the Midnight Diner and Midnight Diner: Tokyo. Both very good. Need to watch Midnight Diner series first before the Tokyo series. So much to offer, drama, family, love, humor, and cooking show. We are watching it again there’s so much to offer. Love the three sisters!
God bless you! You are a real human being with intelligence and sensitivity. I have loved these shows for a few years and I am so touched by your thorough and deeply considered review.
I stumbled onto your excellent video... I was in one of my 'moments' about how one can feel music, especially lyrical music, without understanding a word of the language being sung. Omoide & Midnight Diner came to mind & led me here. Thank you for a wonderful interpretation of what's beautiful about the series. The diner reminds me so much of one of the 'last call' places, along an alley-way in Wakkanai Japan... where we USAF service members gathered to (finally) eat something before going back to the barracks.
Thanks! I appreciate that. I know what you mean about the song. I was in Tokyo recently and every time I was in one of those little diner alleys it came to, beautiful and sad.
I enjoyed your thoughtful and respectful talk about the show. To me the _Midnight Diner_ episodes exist in a dream space. After all, where are most people between midnight and dawn? Dreaming, we relive our lives, live alternate versions of our lives, often with nostalgia or regret. Sure, that's a stretch, but I have difficulty letting it go. Less so in the Tokyo Stories episodes. Thank you for sharing the live performance.
@@davidmakinster8521 In another light I have thought as the master as Charon the boatman. Who among the cast have not faced literal death or experienced the depression and life experiences that could have brought about their end? Lonely old men, rejected artists, exotic dancers, trans barkeepers, and gangsters, each would be unsurprising to have met their end. Yes, it is a darker view... maybe, but the master does seem to live in a place that transcends one world and another. Consider especially the cat lady episode. at no point is he surprised or confused by her metamorphosis. He seemed almost to have anticipated it. Just a thought. I love the show, the non-judgmental way it approaches the shame and failures of real life while embracing memory and nostalgia, showing the recipe to move forward. EDIT: And then I looked at your channel. Yikes! intimidated.
@@Miata822 I have used the work of Joseph Campbell in a number of courses I have taught. He would, I think, say that the great stories resonate because they are retellings - re-embodiments, if you will - of our deepest human experiences. Midnight Diner will illuminate what it is to be human, in many small ways, creating mosaics that illuminate our own lives. The sharing of food and memories associated with foods, is so much a part of the human experience. Whoa.. "intimidated?" No way, brother. You are insightful and eloquent!
@@davidmakinster8521 Yes, our own mythos is rooted in the universal human condition, just as it was for Homer in his time. I believe that 'Midnight Diner' stirred my mind through presenting those familiar touchstones filtered through such an unfamiliar culture. As foreign as the Japanese identity is to me, they are still us. Same questions, facing the same void. For an excellent rendition of identity and myths colliding I highly recommend the new film 'The Wonder' on Netflix. More than a touch of Flaubert backed by measured storytelling and breathtaking cinematography. just now realizing how much I have missed conversation with adults.
thank you for your explanation of the TV series. i'm japanese, but I haven't had the chance to watch this series. I'm learning about Japan from foreign people😊.
Simply lovely review. All the comments are on point. Your emotion during his playing was so well received. My wife and I love the series. Thank you for making the video. Kudos.
You mentioned this series in your Aggretsuko review, so I gave it a try. Four episodes in and I am an addict. Slow and delicate, sometimes even tender. People are disillusioned and lonely; each of the little pieces of happiness is hard fought for and fragile, but the good thing is they actually exist "No matter how long the night, the morning will eventually come, and after your sorrows, you'll be standing with a smile on your face" Same mentality, but much more low key. And the title song reflects this mood perfectly; thanks for including the live performance at the end. If I count in The Makanai and Tampopo, this is the third Japanese production I know of where preparation of food sets the pace to which the story unfolds. Now Japan is the land of the tea ceremony, so I probably should not be surprised. But when I tried to come up with similar Western art products, there wasn't much. Proust's temps perdu makes the connection with memory by biting into a madelaine, but that's it. You could name the movie Chocolat, but that is a wide shot and does not work with normal food. The Danish movie Babette's Feast comes nearest, I guess. Or am I overlooking some obvious examples?
I stumbled upon Midnight Diner when I was looking for something 'bite-sized' (important pun) to watch during the worst parts of the pandemic. Many of the other series have longer episodes, and tell their stories over the entire, often 16 episode seasons. Once I started on Midnight Diner, I was hooked, first by what you have already covered, but also by the economy of the story-telling. While not as concise, each episode resembles a haiku, where the unsaid and context is as potent as the expressed. So, I not only found something beautiful to watch; I was also reminded of how feasts can be served in compact bento boxes.
Thoroughly agree with your analysis of this series. Thank you for going into detail, it was nice to remember the experience of watching it some time ago. I think old fans of Northern Exposure (like me) will enjoy this way of bringing people together and then hearing their stories.
I rolled through the series in three weeks. I am going to go back. I think there is also a couple of movies with the same theme. I love the appearance of simplicity, but then after each episode I found myself coming up with memories of little nuances. Not everything has a happen ending, some have surprising good outcomes. I highly recommend it. Watch in Japanese with captions, so you get the inflections and emotion of the language.
Feeling was mutual, used to live in Japan for a while …. Even my tears could not describe the song ….. no one could describe it as perfect, well and simple as you did, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Regards form Mexico. José Ramón
Thanks for the recommendation I've watched the first 3 episodes now and I'm hooked I was running out of good shows to watch on Netflix since the Ozarks finished
I got to know this series because of my interest in Japanese street food which led me to the fan translated manga strip. There's a very societal outlook within the series which also connects Asian culture with the food presented by the Master. The manga version actually has a little more comments from the Master at the end of every strip with regards to the contained stories presented.
I loved this show, watched it all on Netflix. Great characters, great stories, some more compelling than others…over all wonderful. You encapsulated it well!
I been watching it since it started and just finished watching final season . I loved the bar, anyone came in from the gay guy to the stripper. I found it funny with the guy with his porn collection and what if I die. Loved it. Growing up in Gardena with the Japanese American community and Japanese friends , i found them to be ordinary. Everyone had their own food that brought back memories or story of thee life. Ordinary people that is the goal. Ordinary. Frank Martinez Downey Cal. I work in security tech business and sometimes , I meet famous people who just want to be ordinary. We are lucky when you can read a book in the morning and no-one knows who you are or care. Ordinary…. Great talk. 😂😂😂😂
I’ve been loving in Tokyo since 2015, but I only had an interest about the show when I’m about to leave! It’s a poignant representation of the inhabitants of this wonderful city.
Just seen this video. I love this series and hope they continue with more seasons. As a retired chef I can relate to master. All the lives of the regulars and others are very touching. One of the Best Japanese series I've ever watched.. I love korean cinema as well. Start of with prison playbook on Netflix..
I watched this show 4-5 times already! But never get tired of watching it. I love it. I will watch again soon! Just the song 🎶 and stories of customers of this little night diner => I cannot have enough 😊
Ive seen a few episodes and really like it. Totally worth getting sucked into fictional screen time. The stories take unexpected turns, become more deep than I first anticipated. Love the food and music. The actors are good especially the main fella. Thanks!
No idea, but given the specificallyJapanese nature of it, I kind of doubt it. Some of it would be very hard to convey in English. I know subtitles can be annoying, but I think the original sound is crucial to the tonality. For me, anyway.
@@stevekitt52 Subtitles? Sorry, not sure I understand. If you mean an English sound track, then yes, I see your point, though I never watch stuff like this on my phone. Get it up on a big screen and having to read is less of a problem.
@@AndrewHartley Sorry, yes ,i meant watching English subs while the audio is in it's native language. I found the same when watching the Scandinavian dramas like The Killing and The Bridge, having the subtitles helped keep your attention on the big screen. A lot of people will watch on a big screen, but still consult their phones for social media if the soundtrack is in English as their attention wanders. I have seen my own family and friends do this.
My Japanese is still weak, but I've watched a few episodes of this on Netflix. I like it. Samurai Gourmet was another fun one that's on Netflix, too. The one episode that really hit the feels was the one about the singer that found success, but fell ill.
Tsunekichi Suzuki's singing brought tears to my eyes, too. Thank you, Andrew, for a sensitive and illuminating tribute to this treasure.
So glad you liked it!
I love this show I went in blind. I've actually cried several times with multiple episodes it's incredibly moving. It's so funny, heartwarming, tragic and charming. I love most of the characters I love Gen the Yakuza and Marilyn the stripper. Its like nothing I've seen before. The best show on Netflix in my opinion.
Thanks! Glad it's not just me :)
@@AndrewHartley it's not. Thank you for this video.
the opening theme always gets me, i know pretty much all the streets being shown as my own back alley (set away from set streets obviously)
later years i've been a lot in golden gai and found a bar that give me this exact feeling (its not a izakaya so they dont really make much food besides the welcome food) and now i get tears because i miss my friends every time i hear it.
Bravo. Je m'abonne 😊
As a Japanese, I find it strange to learn that this story has been accepted overseas.
This is an extremely Japanese depiction of customs, manners, emotions, life, and details. I thought it would be difficult for non-Japanese to understand.
In other words, when ordinary people live their daily lives, are national and cultural differences merely trivial?
Interesting response, thank you. I don't think the cultural differences are unimportant, because their specificity shapes the human experience, but I think there enough general ideas and shared experiences across culture which make a show like this relatable. Friendship, love, loss, professional achievements and disappointments, sense of community (big and small) and the way all these things can be centered on food and place, these things I think are almost universal. In fact I think we understand these things BECAUSE of the specifics, even if they are unfamiliar to us. As a writer, I know that to make a story feel general, you anchor it in particular details; the reader will then extrapolate their own experience from the specifics of someone else's. Make sense?
👋 American fan of the show and Japanese language learner here. It is very obvious while watching that there are nuances I don't understand, to say nothing of the little jokes, puns, and jabs that go over my head at this time. 😂 We have perhaps stereotypical ideas about Japanese life...overworked salarymen, for instance. I don't know that I'd call our differences trivial or unimportant. They're interesting, though. The main themes and situations are maybe more universal than you'd think, as well. Also, I used to work at a diner, and the regular customers take me back a little to that time. Again, not so different 🙂
I don't think it's difficult at all, because we're accustomed to watching shows from all over tve world. And also you get to come back again and again, because it's so rich in content.
I am on my 3rd journey through Midnight Diner and Tokyo Stories.
It is my safe space. Some episodes still provoke tears.
I'd love to be a regular customer there.
Me too!
I’m moving to Japan in a decade or so. My goal is to find a place like this
@@thestoebz I really hope you find one.
@@slayerrocks2 thank you
@@thestoebz I've found my midnight diner in Golden Gai ^^ (not an izakaya though but they often serve a welcome meal)
I just recently found this show on Netflix.. been binge watching all week. The stories are so touching and the program so well written and acted.
One great thing about the series is that it meant to illicit a deeper understanding about characters that are suffering in a world where the perceived path to success is attained from fitting in and successfully building a career. These are both simply stated, but very difficult goals for anyone. We can see how different people are trying to accept and reject these goals. We see how some people fail or succeed at these goals and if that even really matters in the end to their overall happiness.
That's an excellent point. Thanks!
Your reference to Joyce's Dubliners hit me, and makes me want to revisit that work, which I read as a high-schooler and frankly, didn't get. I love Midnight Diner for all the subtle, gentle reasons you discussed, so now, in my dottage, I hope I can find those "little epiphanies" in Dubliner you mentioned. Thank you for a thoughtful discussion of this lovely program.
My pleasure! Funnily enough, I picked up Dubliners again just last week. I think it carries more weight as I get older. Hope you enjoy them this time around.
I watched all of Midnight Diner and Tokyo Stories on Netflix during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. This show gave me a sense of comfort, belonging, and that we’re all alike and good is so vital to our identity as well as sharing and making memories.
Thank you for making this video!!!
My pleasure. Thanks for the comment.
It could be like this everywhere, but world governments are intent on shuffling demographics and using that to instigate conflict between each other. Japan is one of the few 1st world countries left on the planet that is not like western countries where racial issues are artificially introduced to a population to demoralize everyone.
This series was the sole reason I subscribed to Netflix as I stumbled upon few episodes.
A masterpiece that will be remembered and talked about.
Excellent. Thanks!
This is a wonderful literary analysis of why Midnight Diner is such a brilliant, caring, poignant show. Thank you!
Thanks!
You provide a beautiful description of Midnight Diner. I found myself with tears in my eyes at the end of some of the episodes. Weeping along with you at the end of your video was unexpected, but appropriate. Thanks for your video.
Wow, thank you!
Midnight diner and midnight diner Tokyo stories 2 are my my favourite shows truly! I must have watched them many times and come back when I can’t find anything meaningful to watch! Also Gourmet Samurai is a similar concept but midnight diner always touches my heart with its characters and their lives!
Nice! Thank you!
The opening sequence of the show is brilliant. We first see the shopping district with glitzy storefronts and bustling sidewalks that come off as brightly lit but emotionally chilly. Then, we see The Master going through his routine of making the batch of pork stew and here him describing his business. A tiny island of warmth and community in a cold city.
I happened upon midnight diner while doing a Japanese class. It is everything you say and more. I wept, I laughed, I tried the recipes. As another comment says, midnight to dawn, of course the time of dreams and memories. Now I’m trying to learn the theme song in Japanese with the guitar chords. I’m so sad to hear the singer died in 2020, I didn’t know. What a lovely legacy he leaves. You may already know that the original tune, and its English version “pretty girl milking a cow”, is in fact a very old Irish song “cailín deas crúite na mbó”, still often performed, including UA-cam editions. Thank you for your wonderful review.
Thanks! So glad the show spoke to you. Appreciate the note.
Thanks for naming the Irish song. I knew I'd heard it in that context before, but couldn't place it.
Each Episode makes me look into my life and gives me a sense of humility and gratefulness at what is learned from each and every episode. ALL IN ALL it gives me Life Lessons and Recipes as well. Truly a great series. 2023.
I've been watching this series very slowly over the past few months, one episode every couple of weeks as I find the pacing so meditative I don't want to rush it. One of the best series I've seen in a while and I agree totally with your review. Thanks for sharing the various music clips, I had no idea Judy sang this!
Glad you enjoy it! Thanks for the comment
Yes, very slowly. It's a very calming show. Sometimes I would fall asleep watching it and I would have to rewind to see what I missed. It's not boring at all, just good story telling as well as the acting. You feel like you're in Japan and you witnessing everyday interactions with these characters. Hope they make more seasons of it.
I lived in Japan for 3 years and have nothing but fond memories of living and working there. Thanks for this recommendation.
You're welcome. I have a few other Japanese TV/movie reviews you might want to check out too. Hope you like Midnight Diner :)
Thank you Andrew for a very delicate and heartwarming review about this Tv drama . I am new to the show but absolutely loving it. The intimacy amd cozy feeling together with funny notes and sometimes heartbreaking moments give the stories a true sense of what life really is for all of us. I did cry with you watching Susuki sang....
In gentle and kindly ways, these stories continually remind me of Kawabata Yasunari's statement that the essence of the Japanese aesthetic is "beauty and sadness."
"This world of dew is just a world of dew. And yet, and yet..." as Issa put it.
Beautifully put.
As someone living in Taiwan, this is one of those famous pieces of media that everyone's heard of, yet too few have enjoyed for themselves (myself included!) Your excellent introduction has definitely explained why it's worth checking out, so I'll make sure to do so.
I also really enjoyed the live performances of the theme song you included at the end; that was wonderful!
Cool Let me know what you think of it. Glad you enjoyed the song.
I have eaten hundreds of meals in Japan and about 3/4 of them have been in "midnight diner' type places. They are ubiquitous in all towns and cities but keep your eye open for them because they are often overlooked by foreign tourists , because somtimes they are seen as "seedy". I have been accepted always, maybe because of my age and/or temperament, and have have some good conversations even with my broken Japanese. The food has always been authentic and delicious. One of the most interesting "diners' were the yatai (pop up restaurants) in Fukuoka, which only appear at night . If you plan on going to Japan I suggest you find places like this, eat at markets and stalls and give yourself a real culinary treat especially in Osaka.
Good to know. I'll be in Osaka this summer and don't know the city well. Thanks!
I was in Japan recently and my husband and I made a point of dining in these small little diners. These diners seem filled with people sitting around the counter. We love sitting around the counter too and then chatting to the chef or watching him cook.
longtime llover of the japan version of the show , your review was very moving and insightful .....
Thank you!
Thankyou Professor for drawing my attention to this series. I would never have known it existed if it wasn't for your video.
I have only watched the first episode but was moved to tears by the underlying complexity of the story. Outwardly about meeting someone famous, who brought great joy to your childhood, and wanting to tell the world about it. However, the underlying message is one of being careful of how you interact with people's pasts and unintentional hurt it can cause.
The series looks to be a low budget production, but it was so well-shot and the acting is first rate. The storyline was quirky and heartwarming; soooo Japanese. I also loved the Fourth Wall break at the end. It came from nowhere.
Food is such a great way to draw people into a storyline and it allows us to immediately identify with the characters. Crimson Maple's penchant for Ramen without noodles, and how people thought it was odd, reminded me of years ago when I would frequent a small family-run Vietnamese restaurant. I liked to order Pho Bo without the noodles and have the broth served in a separate jug. I would also have the chef lightly stir fry the paper thin beef slices and have them served over the dry salad and herbs. I would then add a small amount of broth myself, to just take the hard edge off the salad. The wait staff would all laugh at me when I ordered it but the owner/chef was very happy for me to order it that way. I loved how crunchy and flavorsome it was to eat Pho like this, and I would take the remaining broth home with me and reheat it and drink it like tea while writing my college assignments. Sounds weird I know, but for the Brits out there it is kind of like drinking a Vietnamese version of Bovril (only much better).
So, as you can see, Midnight Diner is an unexpected gem for me. I wonder if I will find more relatable storylines in coming episodes. I sure hope so, the first had me feeling very nostalgic.
Thanks again Professor for leading me to this series.
OK, so this is why I make these. I nearly didn't bother, figuring that most folks either knew about the show already and wouldn't care what I thought about it, or wouldn't be interested in checking it out. Your response alone makes it worth doing. Thank you. And thanks for the Vietnamese anecdote. I totally get that. I hope you continue to watch the show. It's uneven, but that's part of its charm, since each episode goes in a slightly different direction, mixing sweet and bitter. Enjoy, and--again--thanks for your thoughtful (and validating) response.
I agree with you. Mid Night Diner has the atmosphere of Showa-era Japan for me, like the good old days in Japan between 1960~1980s. If this drama is accepted in the UK, it may not be a coincidence that the UK has a PUB culture and that the theme tune is an Irish folk song.Arigato from🍣🍙🍚🍤🍱🍵🍶🍘🇯🇵
Yes, I mentioned the folk song in the video, and I think you may be right, that the show is particularly resonant for cultures for whom the idea of a local bar/pub or diner culture is familiar. Wonderful show. Thanks!
this great, introspective series is a gem. I absolutely love these short stories from different japanese walks of life. 💯
Its so amazing the stories are so powerful
Great show. It makes me feel pretty nostalgic about the few months when I worked and lived there. Stayed in a Japanese hotel, ate a lot of Japanese food, loved walking the streets and alleys in the evening. Always felt safe. Oh......I actually caught brief glimpses of Geisha girls as they hurried from club to club in the evening.
I was born and raised in hawaii and of native Hawaiian ancestry. Our neighbors we from many cultures. Japanese and okinawan people were our closest neighbors. The courtesies, the attitudes, their entire way of life and culture are almost flawless. Almost all of them are gone now except for 3 families. Living among them was a blessing from god himself.
Interesting. Thank you!
Having traveled to several S.E. Asia countries (including Japan) and married to a Thai i have seen firsthand how important food is and how much of a social aspect it has.I enjoy just sitting on a mat with a number of family members eating the various dishes served up.
Exactly
Excellent review of the show. Thank you
Thank you, lovely video.
Watched the Midnight Diner and Midnight Diner: Tokyo. Both very good. Need to watch Midnight Diner series first before the Tokyo series. So much to offer, drama, family, love, humor, and cooking show. We are watching it again there’s so much to offer. Love the three sisters!
Ne? :)
日本人はあまり自分の事は語りません。
自国の事もあまり知らない人も多いので自慢話など出来ません（笑）
こんなお店があると自分という自我のようなものを認識し
OMOIDEとともに少し表現できるのかもしれません。
この物語を私は知りませんでした。
詳しく、心温まる紹介に感謝します。
とても興味深いドラマである事が解りました。
そして世界中で愛されている事に驚いています。
歌についてもドラマを観た時、より深く理解できます。
ありがとうございます。
ありがとう！ショーと私のレビューを楽しんでいただけてうれしいです。 私は、外国人が興味深く面白いと思うような、日本の良いところをたくさん知ってもらおうと努力しています。これが私の親善大使としての試みです。
It's a great SPOT ON analysis of the show. Midnight Diner is really a masterpiece. Love your tribute to the soundtrack too.
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
thank you so much for this. I’ve loved the show for years, but didn’t know the deeper story…
My pleasure! So glad you liked i.
God bless you! You are a real human being with intelligence and sensitivity. I have loved these shows for a few years and I am so touched by your thorough and deeply considered review.
You are so welcome. Thank you
Loved this show amazing
I stumbled onto your excellent video... I was in one of my 'moments' about how one can feel music, especially lyrical music, without understanding a word of the language being sung. Omoide & Midnight Diner came to mind & led me here. Thank you for a wonderful interpretation of what's beautiful about the series. The diner reminds me so much of one of the 'last call' places, along an alley-way in Wakkanai Japan... where we USAF service members gathered to (finally) eat something before going back to the barracks.
Thanks! I appreciate that. I know what you mean about the song. I was in Tokyo recently and every time I was in one of those little diner alleys it came to, beautiful and sad.
Beautiful show we need more seasons
I enjoyed your thoughtful and respectful talk about the show.
To me the _Midnight Diner_ episodes exist in a dream space. After all, where are most people between midnight and dawn? Dreaming, we relive our lives, live alternate versions of our lives, often with nostalgia or regret.
Sure, that's a stretch, but I have difficulty letting it go. Less so in the Tokyo Stories episodes.
Thank you for sharing the live performance.
That's a lovely way of thinking of it. Thanks!
Not a stretch at all! Thank you for your insights.
@@davidmakinster8521 In another light I have thought as the master as Charon the boatman. Who among the cast have not faced literal death or experienced the depression and life experiences that could have brought about their end? Lonely old men, rejected artists, exotic dancers, trans barkeepers, and gangsters, each would be unsurprising to have met their end.
Yes, it is a darker view... maybe, but the master does seem to live in a place that transcends one world and another. Consider especially the cat lady episode. at no point is he surprised or confused by her metamorphosis. He seemed almost to have anticipated it.
Just a thought. I love the show, the non-judgmental way it approaches the shame and failures of real life while embracing memory and nostalgia, showing the recipe to move forward.
EDIT: And then I looked at your channel. Yikes! intimidated.
@@Miata822 I have used the work of Joseph Campbell in a number of courses I have taught. He would, I think, say that the great stories resonate because they are retellings - re-embodiments, if you will - of our deepest human experiences. Midnight Diner will illuminate what it is to be human, in many small ways, creating mosaics that illuminate our own lives. The sharing of food and memories associated with foods, is so much a part of the human experience.
Whoa.. "intimidated?" No way, brother. You are insightful and eloquent!
@@davidmakinster8521 Yes, our own mythos is rooted in the universal human condition, just as it was for Homer in his time. I believe that 'Midnight Diner' stirred my mind through presenting those familiar touchstones filtered through such an unfamiliar culture. As foreign as the Japanese identity is to me, they are still us. Same questions, facing the same void.
For an excellent rendition of identity and myths colliding I highly recommend the new film 'The Wonder' on Netflix. More than a touch of Flaubert backed by measured storytelling and breathtaking cinematography.
just now realizing how much I have missed conversation with adults.
Food as love is completely normal.
Ask any mother or grandmother.
Thank you Professor for sharing MIDNIGHT DINER...I was hooked when I first watched it last year...I hope they continue the series...
I hope so too!
Excellent analysis of a great show!
Thanks!
thank you for your explanation of the TV series. i'm japanese, but I haven't had the chance to watch this series. I'm learning about Japan from foreign people😊.
コメントも面白くて最高です。私のチャンネルが少しでもお役に立てたのなら、とてもうれしいです。
Im an Aussie in Australia and im hooked on the show !!
Yeah, it's gold.
Never watched the series but I've been in love with this song for a very long time. Thank you so much, I had never heard this version. I'm in tears.
So glad it spoke to you
Simply lovely review. All the comments are on point. Your emotion during his playing was so well received. My wife and I love the series. Thank you for making the video. Kudos.
Glad you liked it!
A wonderful series!
Agreed!
I enjoyed the way you invited us to this story by using the theme song. Excellent review. Cheers
Thank you kindly
You mentioned this series in your Aggretsuko review, so I gave it a try. Four episodes in and I am an addict. Slow and delicate, sometimes even tender. People are disillusioned and lonely; each of the little pieces of happiness is hard fought for and fragile, but the good thing is they actually exist
"No matter how long the night, the morning will eventually come, and after your sorrows, you'll be standing with a smile on your face" Same mentality, but much more low key. And the title song reflects this mood perfectly; thanks for including the live performance at the end.
If I count in The Makanai and Tampopo, this is the third Japanese production I know of where preparation of food sets the pace to which the story unfolds. Now Japan is the land of the tea ceremony, so I probably should not be surprised. But when I tried to come up with similar Western art products, there wasn't much. Proust's temps perdu makes the connection with memory by biting into a madelaine, but that's it. You could name the movie Chocolat, but that is a wide shot and does not work with normal food. The Danish movie Babette's Feast comes nearest, I guess. Or am I overlooking some obvious examples?
I'm so glad you are enjoying it. No, I can't think of more food related shows that do something similar. I'll have to think... :)
I stumbled upon Midnight Diner when I was looking for something 'bite-sized' (important pun) to watch during the worst parts of the pandemic. Many of the other series have longer episodes, and tell their stories over the entire, often 16 episode seasons. Once I started on Midnight Diner, I was hooked, first by what you have already covered, but also by the economy of the story-telling. While not as concise, each episode resembles a haiku, where the unsaid and context is as potent as the expressed. So, I not only found something beautiful to watch; I was also reminded of how feasts can be served in compact bento boxes.
Good analogy well put. Thanks.
It is one of my favourite shows from Netflix. I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for something to watch on Netflix.
I was drawn to Midnight Diner after watching its Korean counterpart Late Night Restaurant. Simple stories made great by extraordinary storytelling.
Thoroughly agree with your analysis of this series. Thank you for going into detail, it was nice to remember the experience of watching it some time ago. I think old fans of Northern Exposure (like me) will enjoy this way of bringing people together and then hearing their stories.
Glad you enjoyed it! I was also a Northern Exposure fan back in the day (though last time I watched it didn't seem [to me] to have aged well). Thanks!
I feel the same way. It is ,in my opinion,one of the best shows on Netflix
I rolled through the series in three weeks. I am going to go back. I think there is also a couple of movies with the same theme. I love the appearance of simplicity, but then after each episode I found myself coming up with memories of little nuances. Not everything has a happen ending, some have surprising good outcomes. I highly recommend it. Watch in Japanese with captions, so you get the inflections and emotion of the language.
Totally agree. Very engaging and seemingly simple, but rich and nuanced.
Feeling was mutual, used to live in Japan for a while …. Even my tears could not describe the song ….. no one could describe it as perfect, well and simple as you did, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Regards form Mexico. José Ramón
Thank you! I'm glad this resonated for you. Cheers!
Thanks a lot ! I have just see 1-2-3 in original language, but a realy love it... I'm French...
Nice. And welcome. I don't get many French viewers :)
Thanks for the recommendation I've watched the first 3 episodes now and I'm hooked I was running out of good shows to watch on Netflix since the Ozarks finished
Excellent. Glad you like it.
I am trying to wrap up my 5th time watching both serie before it leaves Netflix. There is nothing else like it.
agreed
I got to know this series because of my interest in Japanese street food which led me to the fan translated manga strip. There's a very societal outlook within the series which also connects Asian culture with the food presented by the Master. The manga version actually has a little more comments from the Master at the end of every strip with regards to the contained stories presented.
Thanks!
I loved this show, watched it all on Netflix. Great characters, great stories, some more compelling than others…over all wonderful. You encapsulated it well!
Thank you!
I love this so much
Thanks!
This is my no.1 Japanese series 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
It's so good.
I been watching it since it started and just finished watching final season . I loved the bar, anyone came in from the gay guy to the stripper. I found it funny with the guy with his porn collection and what if I die. Loved it. Growing up in Gardena with the Japanese American community and Japanese friends , i found them to be ordinary. Everyone had their own food that brought back memories or story of thee life. Ordinary people that is the goal. Ordinary. Frank Martinez Downey Cal. I work in security tech business and sometimes , I meet famous people who just want to be ordinary. We are lucky when you can read a book in the morning and no-one knows who you are or care. Ordinary…. Great talk. 😂😂😂😂
Thanks, man. Appreciate that.
You love Midnight Diner, Babymetal, Shakespeare... we are brothers in spirit!
I'll drink to that
I’ve been loving in Tokyo since 2015, but I only had an interest about the show when I’m about to leave! It’s a poignant representation of the inhabitants of this wonderful city.
I had a similar experience. I hope the show keeps some of those feelings fresh for you.
あなたはこのドラマを日本人よりも多く理解されていることに大変尊敬します。
LEDの煌びやかな町、ネットに操作された若者、香水と小便の匂いが混ざる町が新宿です。ヤクザも警官もストリッパーも皆同じ心の闇を抱えて生きています。
コメントありがとうございます。外国人の私は、日本のテレビ番組や音楽から学ぶだけでなく、あなたのような方々のコメントからも学んでいます。また、新宿の人々の暮らしぶりについてのコメントもとてもありがたいです。ありがとうございました。
Thank you.
You're welcome!
I loved that TV series on Netflix
me too :)
Im not sure if you ever heard of the Netflix show called live that follows the police force in korea amazing story about the complexities of life
I'll look for it., Thanks.
ありそうでない、でもあってほしいお店。
みんな探してるけど、見つからない。
だから視聴者もこの深夜食堂に集まるのだと思います。
中国・台湾・韓国版は作られましたが、西洋の人には理解できない価値観だと思っていました。
Andrewさんのこのyoutubeとそのコメントを見るまでは。
ありがとう。このような番組が親しみやすいのは、文化を超えた一般的な考え方や共通の体験があるからだと思う。友情、愛、喪失感、仕事上の達成感と失望、（多かれ少なかれ）共同体意識、そしてそれらがすべて食べ物や場所を中心にしているという事実、これらはほとんど普遍的なものだと思う。しかし実際には、たとえ馴染みのないものであっても、その具体性ゆえに私たちはこれらを理解することができるのだと思う。私は作家として、物語を一般的なものにするためには、具体的な細部に軸足を置く必要があることを知っている。お分かりいただけただろうか。
Just seen this video. I love this series and hope they continue with more seasons. As a retired chef I can relate to master. All the lives of the regulars and others are very touching. One of the Best Japanese series I've ever watched.. I love korean cinema as well. Start of with prison playbook on Netflix..
Yeah, I think the series is done, but it was gold while it lasted. Thanks!
hi do you know where i can watch this show? i just finished the part 1 and i couldn't find the other parts. thank you!
It's on Netflix (at least in the USA)
I love Shinya Shokudo and the song Omoide. That last performance was very heartfelt and heartbreaking.
Agreed, thank you!
I watched this show 4-5 times already! But never get tired of watching it. I love it. I will watch again soon! Just the song 🎶 and stories of customers of this little night diner => I cannot have enough 😊
Me too
意味無く闇雲に相手を否定する概念が自分の人生上に特に無い、相手を自分の価値観で決めつけるような概念が無いから、マスターがああいう接客ができるようにも見えます。
みんな色んな理由でここにいて、そのままの心の形でここにいるように見えます。
まったく同感だ。
Ive seen a few episodes and really like it. Totally worth getting sucked into fictional screen time. The stories take unexpected turns, become more deep than I first anticipated.
Love the food and music. The actors are good especially the main fella.
Thanks!
👍👍👍👊✌✌
Really liked this show, but do you think that it will ever be dubbed into english?
No idea, but given the specificallyJapanese nature of it, I kind of doubt it. Some of it would be very hard to convey in English. I know subtitles can be annoying, but I think the original sound is crucial to the tonality. For me, anyway.
I think subtitles can help focus on the screen and the story,rather than looking at a phone while watching the show.
@@stevekitt52 Subtitles? Sorry, not sure I understand. If you mean an English sound track, then yes, I see your point, though I never watch stuff like this on my phone. Get it up on a big screen and having to read is less of a problem.
@@AndrewHartley Sorry, yes ,i meant watching English subs while the audio is in it's native language. I found the same when watching the Scandinavian dramas like The Killing and The Bridge, having the subtitles helped keep your attention on the big screen. A lot of people will watch on a big screen, but still consult their phones for social media if the soundtrack is in English as their attention wanders. I have seen my own family and friends do this.
My Japanese is still weak, but I've watched a few episodes of this on Netflix. I like it. Samurai Gourmet was another fun one that's on Netflix, too.
The one episode that really hit the feels was the one about the singer that found success, but fell ill.
Yes! There are so many touching moments in this show. Thanks for the comment.
mangá or mangah // manga = mango (fruit)
Not sure of your point
初めてコメント致します。「ミッドナイトディナー」なんて止めてくれ‼。「深夜食堂」を日本語として覚えて欲しい。直訳必ずしも正解とは言えない。
私が見ているアメリカでは、"Midnight Diner "というタイトルで放私が見ているアメリカでは、"Midnight Diner "というタイトルで放送されている。邦題が違うことは承知しており、ビデオの中で言及した。
日本語「深夜食堂」には深い日本人には共通のイメージがあります。この番組に限らず米国人の自己中心的な言語は雑
過ぎます。もっともっと言葉を他文明を尊重して下さい。お願い致します。
Midnight＝ミッドナイト/深夜 Diner＝ダイナー/食堂 間違った翻訳じゃないと思います Diner/ダイナーとDinner/デイナーを勘違いしてるのではないでしょうか？
@@しゅんしゅん-i6m あなたが区別しようとしていることは理解できるが、確かにタイトルは食事ではなくレストランを指していると読める。結局のところ、それがテレビ番組の主題なのだから。 繰り返しますが、私は単に番組の公式タイトルを使っているだけです。
@@AndrewHartley あなたは間違っていないです
なにも問題ありません