Shinya Shokudo - 深夜食堂

Fans of Japanese drama and comedy might be interested to know that Abe Yaro's (安倍夜郎) manga series Shinya Shokudo (深夜食堂) has been adapted for TV and is currently airing on various Japanese networks.

The series is set in a small restaurant in Tokyo, one which is open from midnight to the early hours of the morning and whose owner will prepare anything that his customers desire. The chef and owner, known only as Master, is played by Kobayashi Kaoru (小林薫) and plays a small, but central, role. The main stars of the show are his customers, which include a stripper, a group of office ladies (or OLs), a yakuza, and a male porn star. As they dine on Master's food, they share their stories of love and loss with their fellow diners and give us little insights into their lives.

The series is only 4 or 5 episodes old but I've throroughly enjoyed every minute so far. The language used is fairly straightforward and is perfect for anyone who's looking for a fun way to improve their Japanese listening comprehension skills. A word of caution : there are some scenes which are unsuitable for a young audience. The series has a late night slot on Japanese television so this series is strictly for adults, though I have to say it's still quite tame in comparison to some of the other shows on TV right now..

For those of you who don't have access to Japanese television, you can watch some of the episodes here.**

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Shinya Shokudo - 深夜食堂