Masato is a young ramen chef in the city of Takasaki in Japan. After the sudden death of his emotionally distant father, he chances upon a suitcase of memorabilia and a red notebook—filled with musings and old photos—left behind by his Singaporean mother, who died when he was just ten years old.
Acting on a hunch, he takes off for Singapore with the notebook, hoping to piece together the story of his life, as well as that of his parents. There he meets Miki, a Japanese food blogger and single mother who helps him track down his maternal uncle Ah Wee, who runs a bak kut teh stall. Masato discovers that his grandmother Madam Lee is still alive, and that she holds the key to the tender yet turbulent love story of his parents. Masato and his grandmother try to heal each other's broken souls, and they find salvation in the kitchen, where the meals they cook become more than the sum of their ingredients.
~~ A co-production between Singapore, Japan, and France.
Acting on a hunch, he takes off for Singapore with the notebook, hoping to piece together the story of his life, as well as that of his parents. There he meets Miki, a Japanese food blogger and single mother who helps him track down his maternal uncle Ah Wee, who runs a bak kut teh stall. Masato discovers that his grandmother Madam Lee is still alive, and that she holds the key to the tender yet turbulent love story of his parents. Masato and his grandmother try to heal each other's broken souls, and they find salvation in the kitchen, where the meals they cook become more than the sum of their ingredients.
~~ A co-production between Singapore, Japan, and France.
This work depicts a "five" locked room mystery drama about two high school students, which develops in the first train in the early morning, the family restaurant after school, and the gondola of the Ferris wheel. A word that suddenly changes from everyday life to extraordinary, a psychological warfare on searching each other's minds. Youth, a fragile blue human figure, is depicted in a peculiar situation called a locked room. ~~ Adapted from the novel “Souchou Shihatsuno Sappuuk?” by Yugo Aosaki.
Amamiya, Nakauchi, and Kobayashi were once high school classmates. The former was class president and an honors student, Nakauchi was quiet and reserved with a penchant for cooking, and Kobayashi was a womanizing charmer. Ten years after their graduation, fate reunites them. Nakauchi has gone on to become a budding chef, but he had to quit his job after losing his sense of taste. He runs into Amamiya, works as a bartender in a quiet establishment called the Three Star Bar in Tokyo’s Nishi Ogikubo District. Kobayashi who became an overnight sensation as a writer with his debut novel, but has been in a slump ever since, was bequeathed the bar from his grandfather, the previous owner, with the agreement that he would keep the place running until he and Amamiya finished all of the canned food that was left stocked in the pantry. Kobayashi and Amamiya convince Nakauchi to join them as their canned food “chef.” The trio is a great success: Amamiya is always ready to lift the mood with a cocktail, the barfly-like Kobayashi is always on hand with sage words of advice, and Nakauchi cooks up a storm in the kitchen. The place becomes a hit with appreciative customers who come with problems, but usually leave with them solved, thanks to these remarkable men. But what will happen when the canned food begins to run out?
Sakuragi Shino is an OL. She attends a wine party recommended by her boss, even though she isn't comfortable at such a fancy get together. There, Sakuragi Shino meets Oda Kazushi. He is knowledgeable about wine and he doesn't show off his success as a businessman. She becomes attracted to him, but Oda Kazushi gets arrested for accounting fraud later. Sakuragi Shino is confused by the situation, but she keeps attending the wine parties and becomes hooked on wine.
It's been 6 months since an office lady, Chiharu, transferred from Tokyo to Sapporo. There, she found her place in a small bento shop, "Kumaben." She wandered one day.
On the other hand, cook Yuu is still determined to solve customers' worries with the magic of his bento. An old friend, Shohei, who works for a fashion company, came by to see Yuu. He ordered a bento "Worth to be the last meal of life". By those words, he hides his true intentions... Sensing unusual, Chiharu and Yuu become preoccupied with finding Shohei's true motives.
On the other hand, cook Yuu is still determined to solve customers' worries with the magic of his bento. An old friend, Shohei, who works for a fashion company, came by to see Yuu. He ordered a bento "Worth to be the last meal of life". By those words, he hides his true intentions... Sensing unusual, Chiharu and Yuu become preoccupied with finding Shohei's true motives.
Jun and Yoriko are a couple living in the same apartment. Always busy with work, Sunday is the only day they can spend in each other's company. One day Yoriko decides to "smoke" cook some food. Preparing the food together, waiting for it together, eating together… as long as they're together, they're happy.
A man killed himself. Due to his death, three of his former classmates from art school, reunite for the first time in a long while. These three people have connections to the man in different ways, including his ex-girlfriend, the manager of a rugby club where the man played, and his ex-boyfriend. While struggling with their own lives, these three people begin to meet and have meals together.
Oda Chiharu worked as a designer for a company she has long coveted to work for, but, due to bullying by her boss, she quit her job. She finds pleasure in cooking and serving her food to other people. When she is alone, she often eats food from the convenience store.
Nakamura Seiko works in the PR department for a cosmetics company. Being influence by her family, she has grown up with the idea that marriage is mandatory and not optional. She now has a strong desire to marry, but her fiancé, who works in the same department, suddenly breaks off their engagement.
Amagai Eiji worked as a designer for an advertising agency, but he was suddenly transferred to the sales department. He doesn’t know what he wants to do anymore. He is a gay man, but he hasn't revealed his sexual orientation to his parents.
Oda Chiharu worked as a designer for a company she has long coveted to work for, but, due to bullying by her boss, she quit her job. She finds pleasure in cooking and serving her food to other people. When she is alone, she often eats food from the convenience store.
Nakamura Seiko works in the PR department for a cosmetics company. Being influence by her family, she has grown up with the idea that marriage is mandatory and not optional. She now has a strong desire to marry, but her fiancé, who works in the same department, suddenly breaks off their engagement.
Amagai Eiji worked as a designer for an advertising agency, but he was suddenly transferred to the sales department. He doesn’t know what he wants to do anymore. He is a gay man, but he hasn't revealed his sexual orientation to his parents.
Amamiya, Nakauchi, and Kobayashi were once high school classmates. The former was class president and an honors student, Nakauchi was quiet and reserved with a penchant for cooking, and Kobayashi was a womanizing charmer. Ten years after their graduation, fate reunites them. Nakauchi has gone on to become a budding chef, but he had to quit his job after losing his sense of taste. He runs into Amamiya, works as a bartender in a quiet establishment called the Three Star Bar in Tokyo’s Nishi Ogikubo District. Kobayashi who became an overnight sensation as a writer with his debut novel, but has been in a slump ever since, was bequeathed the bar from his grandfather, the previous owner, with the agreement that he would keep the place running until he and Amamiya finished all of the canned food that was left stocked in the pantry. Kobayashi and Amamiya convince Nakauchi to join them as their canned food “chef.” The trio is a great success: Amamiya is always ready to lift the mood with a cocktail, the barfly-like Kobayashi is always on hand with sage words of advice, and Nakauchi cooks up a storm in the kitchen. The place becomes a hit with appreciative customers who come with problems, but usually leave with them solved, thanks to these remarkable men. But what will happen when the canned food begins to run out?
Goes into the lives of not only the main characters but an assortment of people who go in, out, or around the neighborhood of the bar/hotel. It's also similar since both are businesses and have much to do with customer service. In the end both dramas send out a heart-felt message that the viewer can hopefully walk away with.
Amamiya, Nakauchi, and Kobayashi were once high school classmates. The former was class president and an honors student, Nakauchi was quiet and reserved with a penchant for cooking, and Kobayashi was a womanizing charmer. Ten years after their graduation, fate reunites them. Nakauchi has gone on to become a budding chef, but he had to quit his job after losing his sense of taste. He runs into Amamiya, works as a bartender in a quiet establishment called the Three Star Bar in Tokyo’s Nishi Ogikubo District. Kobayashi who became an overnight sensation as a writer with his debut novel, but has been in a slump ever since, was bequeathed the bar from his grandfather, the previous owner, with the agreement that he would keep the place running until he and Amamiya finished all of the canned food that was left stocked in the pantry. Kobayashi and Amamiya convince Nakauchi to join them as their canned food “chef.” The trio is a great success: Amamiya is always ready to lift the mood with a cocktail, the barfly-like Kobayashi is always on hand with sage words of advice, and Nakauchi cooks up a storm in the kitchen. The place becomes a hit with appreciative customers who come with problems, but usually leave with them solved, thanks to these remarkable men. But what will happen when the canned food begins to run out?
Amamiya, Nakauchi, and Kobayashi were once high school classmates. The former was class president and an honors student, Nakauchi was quiet and reserved with a penchant for cooking, and Kobayashi was a womanizing charmer. Ten years after their graduation, fate reunites them. Nakauchi has gone on to become a budding chef, but he had to quit his job after losing his sense of taste. He runs into Amamiya, works as a bartender in a quiet establishment called the Three Star Bar in Tokyo’s Nishi Ogikubo District. Kobayashi who became an overnight sensation as a writer with his debut novel, but has been in a slump ever since, was bequeathed the bar from his grandfather, the previous owner, with the agreement that he would keep the place running until he and Amamiya finished all of the canned food that was left stocked in the pantry. Kobayashi and Amamiya convince Nakauchi to join them as their canned food “chef.” The trio is a great success: Amamiya is always ready to lift the mood with a cocktail, the barfly-like Kobayashi is always on hand with sage words of advice, and Nakauchi cooks up a storm in the kitchen. The place becomes a hit with appreciative customers who come with problems, but usually leave with them solved, thanks to these remarkable men. But what will happen when the canned food begins to run out?
Goes into the lives of not only the main characters but an assortment of people who go in, out, or around the neighborhood of the bar/hotel. It's also similar since both are businesses and have much to do with customer service. In the end both dramas send out a heart-felt message that the viewer can hopefully walk away with.
Amamiya, Nakauchi, and Kobayashi were once high school classmates. The former was class president and an honors student, Nakauchi was quiet and reserved with a penchant for cooking, and Kobayashi was a womanizing charmer. Ten years after their graduation, fate reunites them. Nakauchi has gone on to become a budding chef, but he had to quit his job after losing his sense of taste. He runs into Amamiya, works as a bartender in a quiet establishment called the Three Star Bar in Tokyo’s Nishi Ogikubo District. Kobayashi who became an overnight sensation as a writer with his debut novel, but has been in a slump ever since, was bequeathed the bar from his grandfather, the previous owner, with the agreement that he would keep the place running until he and Amamiya finished all of the canned food that was left stocked in the pantry. Kobayashi and Amamiya convince Nakauchi to join them as their canned food “chef.” The trio is a great success: Amamiya is always ready to lift the mood with a cocktail, the barfly-like Kobayashi is always on hand with sage words of advice, and Nakauchi cooks up a storm in the kitchen. The place becomes a hit with appreciative customers who come with problems, but usually leave with them solved, thanks to these remarkable men. But what will happen when the canned food begins to run out?
