#183 Fri (12/23/22) - Midnight Diner and Terrace House

 A pair of shows from Japan that evoke strong emotional responses. Midnight Diner is a drama about a small izakaya in Shinjuku run by someone called Master who will cook whatever you want (and the show spotlights the diners choices of simple traditional fare) as well as the, often sad, stories of the patrons.

The final episode of the three season run was a New Years' Eve special that saw many of the regulars and new arrivals returning for a special night together enjoying hand-made soba noodles - a New Year tradition in Japan.

Terrace House has several seasons and is a lot like MTV's Real World where 6 people live in a share house and sometimes try dating each other. It is really more of a social drama (unscripted) about 20-somethings living and struggling in Tokyo today. It is surprisingly low-key and mostly omits the kind of childish  exploitation that other shows like this aim for. It is honest, sincere and overall, charming. 


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