Midnight Club: Tokyo Drift.
10 Episodes. Starring: Kaoru Kobayashi. Creator: Takeshi Moriya.
Ronin like a bullseye arrow point sticks out in the Shinjuku skyline. The Marvel, Jeremy Renner, Hawkeye Avengers character who ended up going rogue in Tokyo, Japan for one of the best scenes-one shot in the rain with Japanese acting legend and star of 'The Wolverine' in the land of the rising sun Hiroyuki Sanada-is featured in a poster for this years 'Endgame' epic blockbuster in the sweetly iconic, acoustic musical ('Omoide' by Ludens for your Spotify playlist) and town mapping theme intro to Takeshi Moriya's fever dream magical, 'Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories', you'll never want to skip on its Bill Murray 'Lost In Translation' like, green cab, taxi romanticism entrance. Showing that this show in its second official Netflix season (there's more online in the Japanese Netflix...even a movie. As this writer living here to try and teach English has learnt as his Netflix selection changes with the time difference, but sadly as do the subtitles), moves with the times even if its menu does not. But would you even want it to? The Master is back and he'll make you anything you want if he has the ingredients...just don't ask him about the scar. What a time to be in Japan-especially Tokyo-with the Rugby World Cup (and even the Volleyball one) being held here before next year's 2020 Olympic Games featuring Washington Wizards top ten, star rookie Rui Hachimura looking to lead them to Basketball Gold (the NBA just featured their first game here in over two decades) amongst others to the podium (even Marvel knew this year it was time to expand their universe to this world) in the same time 'Godzilla vs Kong' duke it out like the top of a Shinjuku cinema. Or for this show to give us it's second streaming service season. But does it get any customers on a Netflix streaming Paul Rudd's new double-duty 'Living With Yourself' clone comedy, or 'El Camino', the 'Breaking Bad' movie? Well...more than you think.
Burning the Murakami midnight oil when everyone else has gone home to bed is when you'll find lonely night owls watching these 'Tokyo Stories' like the characters that patron this diner. There's a game designer who always wears red...and you'll be in heartbroken tears when you find out why. And then all star signs point to the fact that you don't need a horoscope to tell that the Chicken Cheese Katsu in the second episode is the first time I've absolutely craved food on screen since the epic Grilled cheese sandwich from 'The Chef Show' Jon Favreau's 'Chef' movie. A story between a stripper and an old man that is just lovely and anything but lude. A centrefold, a guy with an Enrique Iglesias mole and a whole load of fried chicken. A beautiful baseball story as traditional as the Japanese reciprocal love for this American sport that comes of age with a mysterious, shadowy stranger (perhaps the best in the set). The 'Salmon and Mushrooms' of a childless couple who own a barbershop and the woman in a Kimono with more that lies beneath. The dream of two young voice actors auditioning for anime with a sisterly bond and almost sibling rivalry for a beautiful story. The oil and water of two old friends from school who reunite at the Pachinko slots and in turn actually go well together like curry and ramen. A Chinese film director on the run in Japan with the involvement of the Yakuza characters with heart not even being the biggest surprise here. And sadly, finally (why do seasons never last as long as you want them to? Even when you series savour them and don't rush your meal in this age of binge? Sorry the review is late) the year of the crab in the traditional New Year's Eve end of season celebration that tells us it's never too late for a fresh start, as everyone gets together to raise a glass until next time.
Pure and poetically meditative these singular stories of Tokyo all come together through the bar, table top confessional of one Master to rule them all with empathy, kindness and a lent ear. And tending bar, the Kyoto born, Yokohama 30th anniversary Film Festival 'Best Actor' winner Kaoru Kobayashi is perfect at his cooking, cleaning and chain cigarette smoking place in these Tokyo tales. The 'Tokyo Tower' and 'Quills' star is a legend...a Japanese icon. And he's almost Springsteen unbelievably 70. Just call this still dancing at 68 year old knockout Ali talent, 'The Boss'. Or the greatest. The master as reliable as the recipes that break the fourth wall to end the show and tell you the ingredients behind the dish of the day, episodic meaning and the beautiful Japanese Ikigai way of preparing this sustenance like art, before the perfect portrait credits. Based on Yarō Abe's, 'Shinya Shokudō' marvellous Manga collection (I see an anime one day), this series has inspired spin-offs in China and the 'Late Night Restaurant' of South Korea. But we all know who the master is. Nothing beats the original chefs recipe. From 'Samurai Gourmet' to the Emmy winning 'Chef's Table' and Jon Favreau's 'The Chef Show' with legendary cook Roy Choi based on the hit 'Chef' food-truck movie they rode spit-roast, shotgun with, Netflix has plenty of culinary episodic shows for your order and dinner and a movie seasoning. But 'Midnight Diner' is the one to make a reservation not to be missed for. The tender touch of these 'Tokyo Stories' in the alone in Shinjuku setting like a Lianne La Havas song of salary men, ladies of the night and the odd mob boss, along with our favourite flat-cap regular (we see him as like a Norm from 'Cheers' (although it's a shame unlike the Boston bar that now knows my name the Midnight Diner isn't a real place for the Tokyo tourist trap rap), but rumour has it he may be a Japanese demon of legend that frequents watering holes like this) and this city atmospheric, human anthology series is as indelible as it is undeniable. So take a seat at the Izakaya, keep your eye on your watch and order what you want. Just be prepared to get philosophical and a little emotional between all the laughs and cheers of Kanpai toasts. This slice of life, mystery 24 minute episodes each night for your twenty-four hours are just that intriguing and compelling. And just like Haruki Murakami's massive popularity in the West, the evocative eloquence of this Netflix acquired company in the lonely midnite hour is not lost in translation. Soon like with every episode it will become your favourite dish. 食べさせる. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Dining: 'Lost In Translation', 'The Chef Show', 'Samurai Gourmet'.
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