Original subtitles

When people finish their day and hurry home,

my day starts.

PORK MISO SOUP COMBO BEER, SAKE, SHOCHU

That's all I have on my menu.

But I make whatever customers request

as long as I have ingredients for it.

That's my policy.

My diner is open from midnight to seven in the morning.

They call it "Midnight Diner."

Do I even have customers?

More than you would expect.

She came to the diner

around 6:30 in the morning,

when I was getting ready to close up.

Do you have bonito flakes?

I do. Why do you ask?

I'd like to have bonito flakes sprinkled on warm rice, dressed with soy sauce.

Cat rice?

Do you like it too?

I do.

Are you in a hurry?

No. But I don't have a lot of money.

I'll cook a fresh batch of rice. It tastes better that way.

I'd like to have a bowl too.

Really?

Yes.

Thank you for the food.

Do you like it?

Yes.

She's been coming to the diner at the same time ever since.

Hey.

I'm back.

Why do you always come at this hour?

What do you do at night?

Work?

Karaoke.

I'm...

Could you promise that you won't laugh?

Okay.

I'm an enka singer.

Really?

A no-name singer. No one buys my CDs.

No one hires me to sing.

But I love to sing, so I sing the whole night.

Well, I sing other people's songs.

You have your own songs?

Just one.

It's so obscure, it isn't even listed in the karaoke machines.

One of my regulars is a lyricist.

Really?

Bring your poster next time.

I'll put it up.

You would do that?

People finish their day and hurry home.

But sometimes they don't want to go straight back home.

So they drop in somewhere else on the way home.

Thanks for the food.

"WHEREVER LIFE TAKES ME"

What's this?

I didn't know you put up promotional posters.

I have her CDs. How about it?

What? Are you in love?

She comes by often to have cat rice.

I like cat rice too.

You didn't answer my question.

Couldn't she have come up with a better song title?

It really bothers me.

What does?

Those singers near the south entrance of the train station.

-The buskers? -Exactly.

They sing, but nobody stops to listen.

I feel sorry for them.

I feel sorry for her too.

But some of the buskers eventually make it big.

That makes it even worse.

"Maybe I'll be a superstar too!"

They get their hopes up.

Play the CD. I'll buy one if she's good.

I only have a radio.

How about you take a look at it?

Well...

He's a lyricist.

She comes here often, right?

Why don't we have her perform live?

That's a great idea!

Let's hear her sing. I'll buy a copy of her CD if she's good.

Who knows? It may be the next hit song.

Life is like the Nile River. Sometimes you float, sometimes you drown.

Don't underestimate life.

Is it really her song he's interested in?

I doubt it.

You just want to meet her.

Men, they see a young woman and they get all excited.

-Right? -Right?

-Master, another ochazuke with cod roe. -Salmon for me.

-Pickled plum. -Sure.

You girls used to be a lot more demure when you were younger.

"Wherever Life Takes Me."

Really?

SHINJUKU GOLDEN STREET

MIYUKI CHIDORI FREE ENKA CONCERT

I go wherever life takes me

I leave everything to chance

Ever since I was a child

And now that I've grown

I go wherever life takes me

I leave everything to chance

I wander through twisted alleys

And enjoy every moment of it

I'll buy one! Take my money! Give me a copy of your CD!

Here you go.

The song was so bad, it was amazing.

But your voice is wonderful.

The song was odd.

Was it supposed to be uplifting or depressing?

Her food preferences are strange too.

Youngsters these days don't usually eat cat rice.

Are you from the northeast?

How did you know?

In the western region,

they add miso soup to cat rice instead of soy sauce.

Soy sauce is bad for cats.

There's too much salt in it.

But the soy sauce adds flavor.

I know, but cats have weak kidneys.

They don't need salt because they don't sweat.

Well, I like salt.

Here. This is for you, Miyuki.

You've derailed the topic again.

Why do you always do that?

I don't know.

At least we'll never run out of things to talk about.

"The Lost Cat."

The lyrics came to me once I heard your voice.

You shouldn't have.

Miyuki,

your love for singing is all that matters.

Don't ever forget that.

Thank you.

She weeps, but he doesn't return.

Fated to wander since the day she was born,

the stray cat once again roams

the streets of Shinjuku, the city that never sleeps.

In the alleys, away from the crowd,

she searches for the love

he gave her that fateful night.

"Where do I go from here?" she wonders.

This is "The Lost Cat," by newcomer Miyuki Chidori.

She sits on the lap

Of a hostess

Who has forgotten love

And listens to her story

She speaks bitterly

Of an old flame

Shinjuku at night

A lost cat

We have Miyuki Chidori with us today,

the singer of the hit song, "The Lost Cat."

Thank you for having me.

"THE LOST CAT" CD SALES HIT 100,000 MILESTONE

Her days pass

Without meaningful connections

NUMBER ONE HIT FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE WEEKS

Is that right?

Okay, hold on, please.

Your ride is at the parking lot.

Thanks.

How do you feel about your success?

It's a lot to take in.

I've always wanted to sing my heart out, and this is my chance.

MIYUKI CHIDORI WILL APPEAR ON KOHAKU

Look, she's going on Kohaku.

The neon lights bleed together

Stinging her eyes...

She came to my diner one last time,

a month before she passed away.

Miyuki...

Do you have bonito flakes?

Thanks for the food.

This brings back memories.

Master.

Thank you.

What for?

If I hadn't come to this diner,

I would never have known what it's like to be this happy.

I can never thank you enough for that.

I'll drink with you.

Are you sure?

Yes.

It isn't chilled yet. Is that okay?

Yes.

Do you remember Mr. Chu?

He bought your CD after he heard you sing.

He asked me to get your autograph the next time you're here.

Could you sign just this one...

CLOSED FOR THE DAY

All the famous singers were there.

She did it. She made it to the big leagues.

We met Miyuki here in this diner,

she was just the simple Miyuki to us.

"I go wherever life takes me. I leave everything to chance."

Ever since I was a child

And now that I've grown

"I go wherever life takes me."

It was a strange song, but it suited her.

Speaking of strange, you mentioned that

something strange happened this morning.

MIYUKI CHIDORI SUCCUMBS TO HER ILLNESS

Miyuki.

Welcome back.

TO BE CONTINUED

Nothing beats freshly shaved bonito flakes,

but most people don't make their own flakes these days.

Master does it the real way.

Freshly shaved bonito flakes are the best!

Good night.

THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION.

Subtitle translation by Chen Li Woon