True warmth touches the heart — The Midnight Diner movie sequel

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
 
The Midnight Diner is adapted from Yaro Abe’s best-selling manga, which has sold over 5.5 million copies worldwide. The TV drama adaptation received widespread acclaim and ran for four successful seasons. Last year, it made its big-screen debut, achieving outstanding box office success across Asia. Kouichi Satou, who plays the diner owner, commented on the series’ enduring popularity: “I’ve been playing the diner owner for seven years now. I never thought the series would continue for so long. I’m glad the second movie is complete. This one can be called an upgraded version of The Midnight Diner, bringing out even more of the story’s charm. This diner and its food are truly the main characters.”

The film depicts the start of a new evening in a narrow alley in Shinjuku, where the diner owner (played by Kouichi Satou) begins his day. The menu features only one dish and three types of drinks, but customers are welcome to order anything else the kitchen can prepare. Business hours run from around midnight to 7 a.m., and everyone calls this place “The Midnight Diner.”

They say men can’t resist widows in mourning. However, Noriko (played by Aoba Kawai), an editor at a publishing company, has a peculiar habit: she puts on mourning attire and eats pork cutlet sets to relieve stress. Unexpectedly, while attending a real funeral, she develops feelings for a man she met just once — not knowing whether this encounter will lead her away from misfortune toward happiness. Seitaro (played by Morio Kazama), the second-generation owner of a soba noodle shop, actually prefers fried udon. Not wanting to be a mama’s boy, he works a simple delivery job for the family shop during the day, all while juggling between his mother and his girlfriend, who is ten years his senior.

As the New Year approaches, everyone gathers at The Midnight Diner to swallow their worries one bite at a time. No matter what troubles weigh on their hearts, they always find the strength to move forward again after enjoying the owner’s cooking — that’s the magic of The Midnight Diner.