Apparently, it's set to be released in the spring on Amazon Prime. The original 1991 drama is one of the single most watched J-dramas ever and is currently available on Amazon (in Japan at least). Check it out, it's pretty good.
https://preview.redd.it/1wbzsk78ixd41.jpg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b4df207fd0e1c5cd1d0866710168886617fb0b1
Quick story time, I spent November in Japan and this was one of the best memories I've come home with.
I knew nothing about fountain pens, but over there I sparked an interest and started reading this subreddit. After playing with some Kakunos, I decided to take a leap with a Pilot Custom 74. I wasn't super happy with it though, and found it inked less on upstrokes. With a couple days left in Tokyo before flying home, I made a post here seeking advice, and one Tokyo redditor wrote to me offering to help out.
We met up the next day - my last night in Japan, and he took me out for some amazing fish, and modified the 74 to my liking, while showing me his collection, letting me try them, and giving me the best crash course on fountain pens you could ask for. And to top things off, he then took me to his favourite pen store, and got the lovely staff to help me buy my first converter and some Japanese inks. This place was incredible too, and they had a museum of sorts holding some truly beautiful and very expensive pens.
Give him a follow here on instagram, https://www.instagram.com/tokyostationpens/ he does a lot of interesting things with his pen mods. Such a generous guy, and I couldn't have asked for a better introduction into this world.
And now my first pen has a great story behind it! (And also works perfectly!)
https://preview.redd.it/zndbvo9oew441.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7947763f9254fc5542f581a509ddd4c30865b389
As I sit on my couch at midnight, I just finished watching Season 2 ofย Midnight Diner: Tokyo Storiesย (in Japanese, known as Shinya Shyokudo). Aย Japaneseย show onย Netflixย about a smallย Izakayaย owner known as "master" who makes different kinds of dishes upon customers' requests. But each dish has a story behind them, which creates a unique approach to the storytelling of the show.
The dishes range from Chicken cheeseย katsuย (fried chicken),ย curry ramen, grilled salmon mushroom,ย Kitsune Udon, and more. The show doesn't try to go overboard with a lot of action, or musical background, but does its best to take you into the world of the everyday lives ofย Izakayaย customers.
Each episode story is unique and pulls you into these people's lives and what they go through up to that point. The stories range from a video game director searching for his mother, A boy who is reunited with a high school friend whos a gambling addict, A man who writes horoscopes to persuade a woman he loves. But there is one thing that brings them all together: Food. You never know who you'll run into next when you visit anย Izakaya.
Midnight Dinerย does an amazing job of showing off what an Izakaya looks and feels like. If you have never been toย Japan, then the word Izakaya will sound foreign to you. The meaning translates to "inside drinking shop", but we can go with Japanese bars/pubs to simplify it. Izakaya has been apart of Japanese culture since the beginning of Japan's foundations.
Japanย has thousands of Izakayas, and each only holding up to 8-15 seats at a time. So space is very limited so it can be hard to find the right one if you don't know where to look. Butย Izakayasย have their communities, with the same regulars always going to their favorite one because they like the owner, theย food, or the people or a combination of all three.
If you're someone who is looking to experience whatย Midnight Dinerย offers, then it's best to come out after 11 pm inย Tokyo. As the "master" explains, he opens his shops from 12 am-7 am every night, so all the action takes place late in the evening. In real life, this is the same for a lot of the Izakayas around Tokyo, but instead, they stay open until the last customer leaves. That's how dedicated these owners or bartenders are to this lifestyle.
Do your best to try the different types of dishes and drinks eachย izakayaย has. Some range fromย yakitoriย (grilled chicken skewers), Oden (Japanese hot pot soup),ย katsuย (fried food),ย ramen, the list goes on.
... keep reading on reddit โกI just want to talk to someone about this show. I love it, I think it's such an amazingly creative format to show intersections in our lives. Like I just love watching regular people live their lives in a sort of way! I'm so glad there's more episodes now!
Just finished watching the two seasons of Midnight Diner. I really enjoyed this style of anthology - lighthearted, easy to watch short stories where itโs easy to swallow and drop in and out of.
I was watching The 100 before this and while I enjoyed it, I also felt like it was a burden to watch because there were about 100 things happening at all times, and it was difficult to keep up. To go from that to Midnight Diner was a refreshing and welcoming change, so Iโd like to know if there are other series like it. Thanks!
