Ep. 25 Nosiy Dinner
Written by Cordelia, edited by Grace
In this episode, we are going to delve into a manga and its TV show adaptation that aired this year in the spring: Noisy Dinner (かしましめし)
Listen to the full episode :
About the Story and the Manga:
Kashimashi Meishi, or Noisy Dinner, aired from April 10th to May 29th this spring on TV Tokyo, comprising a total of 8 episodes. The series stars Atsuko Maeda (former AKB48 member), Riko Narumi, and Akihisa Shiono.
The original work is a manga with the same title serialized in Feel Young magazine by manga artist Mari Okazaki, first published in 2016 March, so far, there are 5 volumes in total and the manga is still going on. One day, after watching the show, I came across a podcast by the original author, Mari Okazaki, on Twitter. She briefly shared her life story, mentioning that, like the protagonist Chiharu in the manga, she initially had no interest in food or cooking. However, she gradually discovered the enjoyment of eating after starting to cook meals for her child. It can be observed that the food depicted in the series is made interesting by finding various ways to present it.
This is a story about three friends, Chiharu, Nakamura, and Eiji, who are brought together because of a funeral. They discover that they have all been living in sorrow from their pasts, and through sharing good food and drinks, they decide to live together and support one another.
The tone of the story is down-to-earth, occasionally infused with drama, which is intentionally presented by the production team. The scenes often depict the characters' everyday lives, sometimes lasting only a couple of minutes. This may appear slow-paced to some viewers, but it creates a realistic and immersive experience, allowing audiences like myself to savor the moments when everything can slow down around them.
Good food, good friends, and good drinks make for a compelling and heartwarming story.
On the Friendship
Chriharu, Nakamura, and Eiji, three of them were studying together at an art university. They were apart and then united together after some years at another classmate’s funeral, who unlifed himself.
In the story, Chiharu quits her job after experiencing workplace power harassment, which caused her mental health to deteriorate. She stays at home and remains aimless for a long time. Another character, Nakamura, was engaged to someone at work, someone from a different department, and they move in together. However, she later discovers that her partner has been unfaithful and had an affair with another woman, who even became pregnant. Despite getting pressure from her mother and others to quit her job due to the embarrassment this caused, Nakamura refuses to give in. Our last character, Eiji, who is gay, had previously been in a relationship with Chiharu’s ex boy firend during their university days. But Recently, his current partner abruptly left, and he hasn't been home for a while.
The three friends occasionally have dinner together after meeting each other again at the unexpected funeral, reuniting at the right time in their lives. Eventually, they decide to live together to provide support as they each teeter on the brink of a personal breakdown, hoping to avoid being scattered and lost like leaves carried away by the wind.
Watching this show and reading the manga really makes me seriously think about my friends, some old friends, and some new friends I just made through school and work. I think, I can totally relate. I love who they are and carefully express what I have in case they won’t be carried away by the wave of love I have.
Chiharu is loved by her friends. Even thought, after some bad tramas, she often feels “nothing remains the same, people are or not the same anymore,” she tries to live. She is still really loved by her friends, no matter how broken and damaged she is. In the first story, Nakamura boasts to a person she is kind of dating that Chiharu not only works hard, but she is also great and the most talented among all the people she knows from their art school. As an art student, Chiharu is not like others who try hard; she just remains true to herself, whether it's her personality, dressing style, or hairstyle. She never forces anything.
Chiharu sleeps tight after having food with Eiji and Nakamura, vaguely hearing their conversation while they clean the kitchen, she says in her heart, “because of them, from the moment get up from bed to the time to sleep, I feel I am loved, I can eat with people who are gentle to me.”
Nakamura is Nakamura, someone who is serious about her life, her friends, her relationships, and her job. But she has a hard time getting close to others; she worries that the moment she reveals her vulnerable side, people will walk away from her. Living with Chiharu and Eiji helps her practice dealing with close relationships. So…relatable. Nakamura is so lucky to have Chiharu and Eiji around her, right people can help the issue, wrong people can just make the situation worse.
Around Nakamura and Chiharu, Eiji finds his safe space. He is allowed to be open about his sexuality, he can laugh, he can...
There will be a day when the friends will separate; there is always an ending somewhere that needs to be watched out for. Because we know there will be an end, that's why we need to move forward and enjoy the present. Not next time, but this time, in the present. Not like, "Next time I see this person, I am going to tell them this," but something like, "This time, I need to tell them what I want to say." There is a beginning, and there will be an ending.
But that's not a bad thing, right? Because one day, all paths will cross again and then separate again. The right people always show up at the right time, if you believe so. The right time is always now.
There are so many good recipes in the show as well. I couldn't help but add the whole set of manga to my cart and wait for it to be shipped from Japan soon.
There are so many heartwarming moments in the show about friendship.
In episode 2, during springtime, after two of them move into Chiharu's place, they go to see the cherry blossoms. Under the trees, walking on the sakura petals, they hold beer in one hand and food in the other, walking and chatting. It's wonderful and relaxing. They get drunk together on Chiharu's birthday and then have hot tea together the next morning.
In episode 7, watching Eiji be able to open up about his own vulnerabilities around Chiharu and Nakamura makes me so proud and happy about the safe space these two girls provide for Eiji. In the story, Nakamura teases Eiji a bit but also urges him to eat and drink with them, a love language that always wants to take care of someone but expresses it in a tough way... Like that, they share their worries and thoughts on relationships with good food like tako salad and cold beer.
On the topic of marriage and people at work
Nakamura was betrayed by her ex-fiancé who blamed her for everything and even took back the engagement ring. Nakamura, as Chiharu pointed out, takes things very seriously. She approaches life and work with a serious attitude, and nothing is a joke to her. She wanted to get married because she believed it was the societal norm, even if it meant giving up what she truly desired. However, she dislikes intimacy and the physical aspects of a romantic relationship. She wants to get married but worries that she cannot spend 24 hours with her partner. She worries about being seen without makeup, snoring, and getting too close. Perhaps her past failed relationships have contributed to these concerns.
Eiji once told Nakamura, "Sometimes pretending to be okay during difficult times can be toxic. It seeps into the heart and convinces it that the hard times are insignificant. At the end of the day, nothing is resolved." It's okay to not be okay, especially in front of the people you trust, who love you, and won't extinguish your light.
Chiharu finally returns to her professional life after a period of rest. However, even after exposing the messages from her former boss who harassed and verbally abused her, she still reacts strongly, experiencing shortness of breath and moments of mental blankness.
Chiharu, Nakamura, and Eiji have all faced numerous microaggressions and homophobia at work, causing them to endure and suppress their emotions. The conscious and unconscious harm inflicted by others has hurt their hearts and souls. I have personally experienced and continue to experience similar struggles.
Can we easily forgive those who have hurt us? Usually, how long does it take to forgive? And how exactly do we forgive?
Perhaps forgiveness is not necessary because the damage inflicted is difficult to recover from. Even though I have been speaking to a therapist for three or four years now, I still carry the deep scars of microaggressions and racism from work and life. I don't have a concrete plan to forgive those individuals, but I am learning to protect myself and cultivate inner peace with a resilient heart. I strive to provide a sense of security and a safe space for myself, similar to what Nakamura once says, “we might not know how to be super strong, but we can all learn how to protect ourselves.”
On LGBT
There are many missed opportunities for detailed exploration in the TV adaptation, particularly regarding Eiji's character as an LGBT individual. It could have provided a platform to depict the societal pressures and personal struggles he faces. However, these aspects were hidden in the series, and even the term "gay" was subtly mentioned in the synopsis. The focus was mainly on the lively interactions among the three main characters, with the pain and discomfort only briefly touched upon.
For instance, in episode 4, at the ending, Eiji rushes to a restaurant to meet someone he secretly likes but finds them dining with another person. This scene could have been longer and bolder, showcasing Eiji's sudden disappointment, but it was only given a brief 2-second shot.
Especially in the 5th episode, the conversation between Eiji and the uncle beside him in the hospital holds significant personal meaning for his character development. There were also several monologues to establish his stagnant work situation and his confusion about the future. However, in the final cut of the series, it was reduced to a mere 3-second shot before being cut off.
Throughout the story, Eiji often faces isolation due to his sexuality. In episode 7, after his love confession, the person he likes doesn't react to the confession but becomes fascinated by Eiji's beauty, continuously taking photos. Meanwhile, Eiji goes through a rollercoaster of emotions, from crying and laughing to suppressing his feelings and ultimately experiencing isolation and hopelessness alone. This scene could have been extended, allowing viewers to delve deeper into Eiji's emotions.
Recently, I translated a short story for a literary translation competition. The story explores themes of loneliness, isolation, bullying, and more. It delves into misogyny and how it affects people, leaving them feeling lonely, hopeless, helpless, and isolated.
Translating Kaori Fujino's short story, “I was that lonely,” (Watashi wa samishikatta) helped me understand the loneliness Eiji feels, the hopelessness Chiharu experiences, and the helplessness Nakamura faces. It's a sadness caused by misogyny.
The other day, former Sexy Zone member Marius Yo posted a story on Instagram with the question, "Do you ever feel lonely?" 86% of the respondents answered yes. Marius left the glamorous stage because he wanted to be true to himself.
In the story, Eiji doesn't win back the love of the person he likes, so he decides to channel those emotions into his art. However, in real life, it's never as easy as depicted. Not everyone can simply turn rejection into art after being rejected for who they are and who they love. It's frustrating...
Ending
I am delighted to be able to watch this show at a time when I am getting to know and learn from new friends, working, casually dating, and becoming a student at an Art School. Observing how the three main characters work, live, and navigate their relationships with others and themselves is truly a blessing. It feels like having a conversation with someone older and wiser, as they share their experiences, tell their stories, and guide me in figuring out what I can do for myself and others.
I hope you enjoyed this episode. Currently, neither the manga nor the TV show is available in English. I personally translated any dialogue mentioned in this episode, which will be included in the references section. This episode was edited by Grace and written by me, Cordelia.
See you soon in our next episode!
Reference:
TV Show Website in Japanese: https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/kashimashimeshi/
Manga in Japanese on Amazon.jp: https://amzn.asia/d/0TC8dFu
