Today on Hidden Gem we are going to look at a song the embodies a show that it is a hidden gem in its own right, and that show is Shinya Shokudo, or better know here as Midnight Diner and the song is “Omoide.”
The series itself is about the main character “The Master” who is both a chef and bartender at a diner named Midnight Diner, which is open from midnight till 7am and is a lively place. The supporting cast is filled with many people from many walk of life such as salarymen, cab drivers, yakuza and more as they all order something to eat and drink, sit down and enjoy not only the master company, but each others as well and the story a new customer brings with them as well.
The opening song to the series is a simple yet elegant Japanese folk song by the artist Tunekichi Suzuki. As you listen to the music it make you feel at ease and make you wonder what is he singing about. I took the time to translate the first part of the song and this is what he is singing about;
“Misty white breaths you exhale
Slowly blown by the wind now
Into the clouds in the sky
Gradually fading away
From up above the sky
White clouds reach down
To inhale your breaths
They continue to float away” – Tunekichi Suzuki
The song titled “Omoide” is translated to “Memories,” and by the way, the lyrics go by, he must be talking about memories of his own or memories of our own as we look into the sky. This fits well with Midnight Diner as in there is always a story to be told in a place you least expected and wonder what is that story is about. If you have the time, Watch Midnight Diner, it is on Netflix and is worth the watch.
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Midnight Diner is a TV drama all Americans could learn from.
Yes I 100% agree
I am Canadian American and I can’t stop watching Midnight Diner and Midnight Diner:Tokyo Stories. Although no culture is perfect, I find the Japanese culture so remarkable. I’ve learned quite a bit about it just through this poignant drama. Human behavior, however, is human behavior no matter where you are from. It’s how it is handled that makes the difference. I’ve been studying Japanese for a while and educating myself on proper behavior preparing for a lifelong dream to visit. Arigatogozaimasu.
Domo
i m 100% w u. i m also learning japanese via duolingo and via an app. I visited Tokyo twice & love it! My previous life must be japanese 😭😭😭
Im glad you feel the same way
Love this track. The opening phrase is from “Pretty girl milking her cow”, an Irish folk song, not Japanese. I guess the rest of the melody is original?
Oh really? I didn’t know that, how does that Irish folk song goes if you don’t mind me asking?
It was on a fine summer’s morning
The birds sweetly tune on each bough
And as I walked out for my pleasure
I saw a maid milking a cow
Her voice was so enchanting, melodious
Left me quite unable to go
My heart, it was loaded with sorrow
For the pretty maid milking her cow
Then to her I made my advances
“Good morrow most beautiful maid
Your beauty my heart so entrances”
“Pray sir do not banter,” she said
“I’m not such a rare precious jewel
That I should enamour you so
I am but a poor little milk girl,”
Says the pretty maid milking her cow
The Indies afford no such jewel
So bright, so transparently clear
I do not add things to my funeral
Consent but to know me my dear
Oh, had I the Lamp of Aladdin
Or the wealth that gold mines can bestow
I’d rather be poor in a cottage
With the pretty girl milking her cow.
wow very beautiful song
Omoide
Tsunekichi Suzuki
kimi ga haita shiroi iki ga
ima yukkuri kaze ni notte
sora ni ukabu kumo no naka ni
sukoshi zutsu kieteyuku
tooku takai sora no naka de
te wo nobasu shiroi kumo
kimi ga haita iki wo sutte
pokkari to ukanderu
zutto mukashi nokotono you da ne
kawamono no ue wo kumo ga nagareru
terikaesu hizashi wo sakete
nokishita ni nemuru inu
omoidemo ano sora no naka ni
sukoshi zutsu kieteyuku
kono sora no mukougawa ni ha
mou hitotsu no aoi sora
daremo inai sora no naka ni
pokkari to ukabu kumo
sukoshi zutsu kieteyuku
Japanese music is criminally underrated, the emotion in songs and otherwise.
Yes, yes it is but there are also many criminally underrated music from all over the world that a lot of people are missing out on as well.