“When people finish their day and hurry home, my day starts. My diner is open from midnight to seven in the morning. They call it ‘Midnight Diner’…I make whatever customers request as long as I have the ingredients for it. That’s my policy. Do I even have customers? More than you would expect.”
This is the introduction to each episode of Midnight Diner -- a Japanese live-action series currently available to stream on Netflix. Half-comedy, half-drama, with a strong slice-of-life feel and a bit of foodporn thrown in for good measure, this is a hidden gem that will likely appeal not only to anime fans, but also those with a hankering for a warm and tranquil ‘healing’-type show that doubles as an aid for (or least perfect distraction from) insomnia.
Made up of five seasons (the final two seasons of which were released outside Japan as Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories) the now 50-episode series revolves around the mysterious owner of a small diner tucked away in the back alleys of Shinjuku, known only as the ‘Master,’ and the patrons who frequent it: a crossdresser who owns a gay bar in the same neighborhood; a yakuza boss who’s always nostalgic for his childhood dishes; and a kind-hearted stripper, among several others.
Along with a large number of single-episode characters, viewers get a glimpse into their day-to-day events, struggles and relationships. However, Master never becomes directly involved in any of these goings-on, acting as something of an unintentional therapist only when directly asked for input, or simply by providing relief in the form of a basic yet delicious meal -- often one that the other character fondly remembers from their youth or is specific to their hometown.
By and large, Midnight Diner is a quietly intimate show -- one that’s far more interested in exploring the small details that make up people’s lives than in being over-the-top or dramatic. In this sense, it’s not dissimilar to iyashikei (healing-type) anime titles such as Tanaka-kun is Always Listless and Polar Bear Café; extremely relaxing, soul-soothing shows with a heavy slice-of-life element and plenty of gentle comedy.
In the same vein, one of the most appealing aspects of Midnight Diner is how it’s very rarely, if ever, interested in judging any of the characters for their livelihoods or choices. While mainstream society (and especially conservative Japan) may not look kindly on strippers or gang members, on ex-scammers or those who lie about themselves to seem more appealing to a potential lover, the series approaches people simply as people, with all their beautiful flaws and imperfections. In general, there’s no “moral of the story”-type narrative to be seen here, other than perhaps to appreciate all the ups and downs life brings -- and to eat the food that makes you happy.
Audience members who enjoy watching anime but may eschew live-action Japanese shows due to the usual style of loud and intentional overacting will also likely welcome Midnight Diner’s far more subtle approach. While some actors deliver more memorable performances than others, particularly where the single-episode characters are concerned, the show tends to favor a mostly understated atmosphere, resulting in even the more serious of storylines feeling wistfully contemplative rather than melodramatic.
Finally, if Midnight Diner feels slightly anime-esque in nature from time to time, that may be because it’s based on a manga of the same name (in Japanese, Shin'ya Shokudō), some chapters of which are used for individual episodes of the series. A few of the actors have also starred in other live-action adaptations of manga titles, such as Jō Odagiri (Mushishi) and Yutaka Matsushige (Death Note), or have had voice acting roles in prominent anime productions, such as Mitsuki Tanimura (Summer Wars, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Wolf Children).
Regardless, Midnight Diner is a unique series with a lot to offer, and which requires nothing in the way of previous knowledge or even appreciation for Japanese media to be able to enjoy. Instead, it delivers a singular and strangely comforting experience, whether viewed out of sheer curiosity or 3 a.m. desperation.
