Linda Linda Linda's Yamashita Nobuhiro Returns to Tv

Black comedy kingpin Yamashita Nobuhiro of 松ヶ根乱射事件 (The Matsugane Potshot Affair) and リンダ リンダ リンダ (Linda Linda Linda) is not exactly new to Japanese TV, mostly dabbling in short dramas as part of omnibus series like WOWOW's カムフラージュ (Camouflage) in recent years. Although his latest show on TBS 深夜食堂 (Midnight Restaurant) might be a tad more ambitious, considering he'll direct at least three of the ten 25 minute episodes, we're still dealing with what is essentially a "compromise" - that is, since it's airing past midnight, Yamashita has much more room to experiment than he would have had with a prime time dorama infested by idols. Sure enough, I took a look at the first episode tonight, and it's a winner. Short, subtle and (bitter)sweet, right from the beginning.

The show is actually the live-action adaptation of Abe Yaro's popular manga 深夜食堂 (Shinya Shokudo), which was nominated for a Manga Taisho award. It's about, as the title suggests, a restaurant only open by night, with the singularity of offering its customers whatever they want to eat, cooked in whichever way they want to eat it, supplies permitting. Customers appearing in the first episode directed by Matsuoka Joji include Miike Takashi regular Matsushige Yutaka as a quiet Yakuza boss with a predilection for Wiener, a gay bar owner, a stripper and much more. Serving them is the cool and collected chef, played by Kobayashi Kaoru, sort of balancing all these diverse personalities with his nonchalant aplomb. Nothing much really happens, other than peculiar characters sitting at a restaurant's table late at night, eating good food and talking like real human beings.

The food and the way it's presented itself is a refreshing change of pace, considering how flamboyant and precious many cuisine-related shows can get on Japanese TV. This one? All it gives you is little red Wiener and a rolled omelette. Again, not for those looking for high octane excitement, but Midnight Restaurant feels like listening to a jazz station while driving home late at night. Low-fi, with tremendously controlled directing, some touches of brilliant black comedy, and an overall classy mood which sets it apart from the rest. The year in j-dorama has been pretty much abysmal, with only TBS' 官僚たちの夏 (Summer of the Bureaucrats) and Fuji TV's 白い春 (White Spring) standing out, but this might end up being one of the most satisfying shows of the year. Yamashita will alternate with Matsuoka and Oikawa Takuro, so we'll see if he can live up to the first, excellent episode. He surely has the talent to shine in this kind of setting. Full review coming after the show's conclusion.