Shinya shokudô

While not every episode hit the spot, most were small delights. A series of vignettes to savour.

Beware, there are two shows on Netflix with a similar name. They are basically the same, but presented separately. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories, has two seasons from 2016 and 2019, and was commissioned by Netflix, but the original three Midnight Diner seasons ran from 2009 to 2014. I didn't know the difference at first, and couldn't understand why Netflix couldn't remember which episode I last watched, and why the characters use old cellphones in one episode and then a more advanced one in the next! Anyway, regardless of which series you watch, these slow-moving episodes are delightful as you get familiar with the culture, food, eating habits and regular customers of the restaurant dubbed the Midnight Diner, which, as the title suggests, opens at midnight. The owner, known as "Master", is willing to prepare any dish, as long as he has the ingredients. There is a short cooking summary at the end, so stay tuned until the credits. There are recurrent characters in both shows, but each episode can also be a stand-alone. The episodes are short and low-key, so you can watch it to unwind after a hectic day.

I just have no language to communication the story - at all. It is drab, dry and surface deep. Well that would be it from one point of view.

For me though, i just want to say, i was broken hearted when i found out there was no more seasons - more than an other show ever!

I can't for the life of me say why.

Why would i say that, well i felt this series drum up all the naive childish experience and the craving i once had to learn how to be a human .... and crystallized it in a single series.

I can't say it is a moral endeavour but for me it was and well, better than anything else a came across in the past 20+ years. In the scope it was also revealing and heart warming. I will watch this series again more than any other over the rest of my life.

I can't speak to the potential audience in this review because there is just so many points of view, what i can do though is speak to the creators:

SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO thank you from the bottom of my heart, this is beyond magic and had enriched my soul beyond measure. i use this series as healing..... I use it and i want you all to know that it would not be magical if the people involved were not contributors to the magic. This is one of a kind! SO SO SO SO SO SO thank you very much!!!

I was hooked half-way through the first episode. I saw the word "kind" in another review here and, while it's not a word one usually associates with a TV series, kindness is one of the over-arching themes of the series. Kaoru Kobayashi, the main character (everyone calls him Master) has the kind of kindness that comes from inner strength, compassion, and wisdom. The revolving ensemble of characters is wonderful. Great casting! Sometimes the show seems to be a comedy, other times a drama, or a melancholy tale of unrequited. Food, the sharing of, and the making of, is a important part of the show, as well. He cooks simple food, but every dish looks delicious! I see the series was rebooted in 2019. I hope it, too, shows up on Netflix.

I can certainly recommend this Japanese series. It brings to life a group of characters and their multi-dimensional life stories. They all are customers of a late night diner, and each story is told to completion, and matched to a favorite dish. It is a very slow but interesting way to tell a story.