Midnight Diner (2009)

Episode 1 - Fried eggs and red wieners

October 9, 2009 • 25 minutes

The stern-faced master of this diner only wields his knife from midnight to 7 am. The yakuza Ryu has been a regular since he tasted the “red wieners”.

Episode 2 - Cat Food

October 16, 2009 • 25 minutes

Struggling singer Miyuki orders her favorite “nekomamma”. Master recalls another regular who is a lyricist. He later writes her a song as a gift.

Episode 3 - Ochazuke

October 23, 2009 • 25 minutes

Miki, Rumi and Kana meet at the diner to eat “ochazuke” (hot tea over rice) and gab about men. Master secretly calls them the “ochazuke sisters.”

Episode 4 - Potato Salad

October 30, 2009 • 25 minutes

Master starts each night by making potato and macaroni salad. A recent regular and charismatic porn star has become a fan of his potato salad.

Episode 5 - Butter Rice

November 6, 2009 • 25 minutes

Komichi brings food critic Toyama to the diner, who kills the mood. Goro comes for his usual butter rice which turns Toyama into a weekly patron.

Episode 6 - Katsudon

November 13, 2009 • 25 minutes

Boxer Kacchan always eats katsudon (pork cutlet over rice) after a win. He falls in love with another regular Akemi. A big match suddenly comes up.

Episode 7 - Egg Sandwich

November 20, 2009 • 26 minutes

Hopeful star Risa meets struggling student and newspaper delivery boy Nakajima at the diner. They share an egg sandwich together. Could this be love?

Episode 8 - Sauced Yakisoba

November 27, 2009 • 25 minutes

Ex-idol Rinko visits the diner. Her former fan club members get excited when they hear she ate a plate of pan-fried noodles topped with a fried egg.

Episode 9 - Grilled Aji (Horse mackerel)

December 4, 2009 • 23 minutes

Yachiyo, an older lady, visits the diner two days in a row. She becomes friends with Marilyn the stripper and they go out clubbing together.

Episode 10 - Ramen

December 11, 2009 • 26 minutes

Gen, who usually comes with his “big bro” Ryu, is alone tonight when he orders ramen. He then stabs the leader of an opposing gang and disappears.

Episode 1 - Red wieners, again

October 13, 2011 • 24 minutes

Ryu the local gangster boss, Noguchi is a detective both coming from the same high school. A colleague from their past forces the two to set aside differences at least for the time being.

Episode 2 - Highball and fried chicken

October 20, 2011 • 24 minutes

An overworked young woman name keeps falling asleep at the diner. Master makes her a special drink. Her brother and another regular customer helped her to get rid of her abusive and parasitic boyfriend.

Episode 3 - Steamed clams

October 27, 2011 • 24 minutes

A middle aged martial arts teacher and his elderly mother seem to constantly bicker and fight, but a traffic accident reveals the depth of her maternal relationship.

Episode 4 - Jellied Fish Stock

November 3, 2011 • 24 minutes

A struggling food truck owner gets unexpected help from a young lady. They grow close, but her real profession could interfere with their plans.

Episode 5 - Canned Goods

November 10, 2011 • 24 minutes

A group of young film makers producing a movie about a suicide at the same site bumps into a mysterious young woman, and can't shake the feeling she may be some ghostly reincarnation of the victim.

Episode 6 - Cream Stew

November 17, 2011 • 25 minutes

An author with some writers block issue decides to solicit an escort for stress relief, but the chance meeting with her might be more than he bargained for.

Episode 7 - Pickled Cabbage

November 24, 2011 • 25 minutes

A young screenwriter has to live through a scandal after her affair with her producer is revealed.

Episode 8 - Cold Noodles

December 1, 2011 • 24 minutes

A bowl of cold noodles reminds a soon to retire detective of a fugitive that had eluded him his entire career. Could he possibly capture this elusive thief before they both retire?

Episode 9 - Nikujaga (Meat-Potato Stew)

December 8, 2011 • 24 minutes

A hardworking young lady delivers a singing birthday telegram at the diner and winds up falling in love with one of the regular patrons. Could this really lead to a true romance?

Episode 10 - Gyoza (Dumplings)

December 15, 2011 • 24 minutes

Katagiri, a lonely philosopher has shared history with the master in their past lives. A chance encounter with a gyoza delivery lady renews his desire for a brighter future.

Episode 1 - Menchi-Katsu

October 20, 2014 • 24 minutes

Widowed singer Misao Kashima makes a rare visit to eat minced meat cutlets. Misao has been unable to perform on stage ever since she lost her husband.

Episode 2 - Tomatoes Wrapped in Pork Belly

October 27, 2014 • 24 minutes

Comic editor Uno brings up-and-coming award-winning artist Hashimoto to eat Master’s pork-wrapped tomatoes. He lives with a woman and writes comics.

Episode 3 - Simmered Taro and Squid

November 3, 2014 • 24 minutes

Private detectives Kei and Mamoru are drawn to the aroma of Master’s simmered taro and squid. They spend the night together after leaving the diner.

Episode 4 - Red Pickled Ginger Tempura

November 10, 2014 • 23 minutes

Regular Komichi falls for Kasumi, whose past is unknown. She asks Master to make pickled ginger tempura, a taste familiar to people from Osaka.

Episode 5 - Vermicelli Salad

November 17, 2014 • 24 minutes

Miho and Sayuri, in charge of their elementary school reunion, order vermicelli salad. The two recall their old schoolmate who loved the dish.

Episode 6 - Cabbage Rolls

November 24, 2014 • 24 minutes

The weather is getting cooler so Master prepares extra stuffed cabbage to the regular customers’ delight. Only the stripper Marilyn feels differently.

Episode 7 - Freshwater Clam Soup

December 1, 2014 • 23 minutes

On Saturday mornings, Yoshio and wife Mizue come to eat clam soup. People refer to them as a close couple. Yoshio is actually Mizue’s third husband.

Episode 8 - Braised Burdock Root

December 8, 2014 • 24 minutes

”Do you have sautéed burdock?” asks stately Chizuru Ichikawa as she enters the diner. She is Gen’s former high school teacher, club adviser, and crush.

Episode 9 - Liver & Chive Stir Fry

December 8, 2014 • 23 minutes

Detectives Noguchi and Izumi always disagree. He wants “liver and chives”, she wants “chives and liver”. She tells Master she wants a new partner.

Episode 10 - New Year's Eve Soba Noodles

December 22, 2014 • 23 minutes

It’s New Year’s Eve. The regulars all come by to ring in the new year with Master’s soba noodles. The diner is always a special place for them.