The CONCEPTUAL METAPHORS IN THE JAPANESE DRAMA “MIDNIGHT DINER”

Abstract

In Japanese culture, food serves as a “silent language” to convey complex emotions and social
status. While the drama series Midnight Diner is recognized for its profound use of culinary
elements to represent human struggles, there is a lack of cognitive linguistic research on how these
gastronomic concepts map onto human experiences. This study aims to identify and analyze the
conceptual metaphors related to gastronomy in the series, specifically exploring how culinary
source domains represent target domains such as trauma, identity, and relationships. The research
employs a qualitative descriptive method grounded in Lakoff and Johnson’s Conceptual Metaphor
Theory. Data were collected from selected episodes through digital observation and transcription of
dialogues. The Vrije Universiteit’s Metaphor Identification Procedure was used to identify linguistic
metaphors systematically. The findings reveal a dominant primary metaphor: LIFE IS A MEAL.
Specific mappings identified include: “Human Relations is a Simmering Process,” “Emotional
Healing is Sweetness,” “Loneliness is Cold Food,” “Honesty is Raw Food,” “Past Trauma is
Bitterness,” and “Social Identity is a Food Topping.” These mappings show how taste, temperature,
and ingredients are systematically used to understand abstract life experiences. The study concludes
that food serves as a vital medium of nonverbal communication in Japanese high-context culture.
Ultimately, the series conveys that true emotional satisfaction (iyashi) is found in the “warmth” of
authentic, simple human connections rather than material luxury.