In the opening title sequence your in a car driving through the neon lit flashy wonderland that are the main streets of modern Tokyo. Then you are taken behind all that flash and trash, into a typically scruffy and ramshackle narrow backstreet populated with brothels, gay clubs, karaoke bars and late night cafes. Here is an unassuming small diner, open from midnight till seven in the morning. Its run by a man with a facial scar, the owner and chef only ever referred to as Master, whose real name we never get to know. In each twenty four minute episode he tells you all he knows about a whole range of his regular customers. These stories are mostly quietly understated, but on occasions become quirkily cartoonish, but always non judgemental. All the full diversity of Japanese life can walk into this diner.
In one story a radio DJ customer discovers that a female taxi driver was once an actress who played his favourite ninja character, who was his first love as a teenager. Another is about the odd couple relationship that develops between the trans owner of a gay club and a yakuza (gangster). Or there's the Ochazuke Sisters, three women who've vowed to keep loyal to the ideal of waiting for their true love to appear. To never go on a marriage interview or to date a much older man. Their friendship shattering as each of their resolve weakens, but one by one they return disillusioned but wiser, bound together even
more securely.
.
A carefully modulated emotional tone is the defining feature here. Touching and recognisably human, occasionally teetering on the fringes of sentiment or folksy homily without falling all the way in. It tells you a whole bunch of details about the desires and pressures on ordinary people, or of being an outsider, in contemporary Japanese society. Each fighting to just be who they are, in an individualistic extravagant manner or in a more traditionally muted minor key. Along the way you get recipe tips about the best way to make some of the diner's menu staples. So, win win.
Its quickly becoming favourite TV viewing in the early hours of the morning as I wake up, make porridge, drink coffee and bring myself gradually into fuller consciousness. Bracing myself for whatever the new day will bring. It is Fabulous!
Konnichiwa!
All the series of Midnight Diner & Midnight Diner (Tokyo Stories) are available to stream on Netflix.
CARROT REVIEW - 6//8
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