It's never too late for a fresh start. One year ends and another begins as familiar faces gather to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Midnight Diner.

Game designer Akai grew up in an orphanage. He finds solace in a chicken rice dish that also holds the key to reconnecting with his birth mother.

The shared love of fried rice omelets forms an intercultural bridge between a young Japanese physicist and a Korean girl.

A breaded ham cutlet brings back an elderly lawyer's memories of playing the board game Othello with his long-lost younger brother.

A dish of sauteed Chinese yam rekindles the connection between a young wife and her former lover, with whom she shares a hidden professional past.

Writer Yada and hostess Hikaru bond over their love of horoscopes and chicken cheese cutlet. Secretly, Yada tries to use the horoscopes to woo her.

A retired old schoolteacher reconnects with his former student: diner regular Marilyn. Awkwardly, her high school nemesis also shows up.

A pachinko parlor employee and the middle school classmate he idolized seem to reconnect over curry ramen, but appearances can be deceiving.

A Mr. Lee shows up nightly, ordering rolled omelets every time. He turns out to be a film director fleeing from his own set and his father's legacy.

As December comes to a close and the regulars gather at the diner, the Master takes a look back at his memories of the year.

A specially prepared bowl of tanmen noodles leads a radio announcer to discover a secret about a beloved television show from his youth.

An office worker who loves pork steaks knits sweaters for the men she adores, but her affections – and handiwork – are not always appreciated.

A lonely little boy with only a gambler to take care of him hopes to make a connection with a bar girl over a mutual appreciation for egg tofu.

A diner regular reunites with an old classmate who, despite a good upbringing, now works a menial job to support her troublesome nephew.

A childish fight over a fish-sausage corn dog leads to a schism between an Asakusa comedian and his now-famous former assistant.

Upon finishing the last of his late mother's pickled plums, a man suddenly wonders what will become of his erotica after he passes away.

In her mid-30s, Chizuru worries her modeling career is ending. An encounter with a high-powered fan gives her a chance to evaluate her priorities.

Businessman Kotani is jubilant at his high school baseball team's success. His joy stirs up memories of his former best friend, the coach of the team.

The Ueharas run a barbershop together. They seem happy, but when his wife goes on a trip, a beautiful kimono instructor catches Mr. Uehara's eye.

Two aspiring voice actresses stop by for lucky bowls of kitsune udon, but six months later, only one of them seems to have had any luck.