In Tokyo, police officer Mari Kouda and Chinese interpreter Ryo Arikino solve cases while bonding over meals from different cultures, forming an unexpected connection through their shared experiences.
Set in the vast wilderness of Hokkaido, this awkward yet endearing coming-of-age story follows a girl who used to be socially withdrawn as she strives to become a veterinarian while facing the reality of life and death.
In 18th-century Edo, Tsutaya Juzaburo rises from a poor background to become a leading publisher. Despite political changes threatening his career, he works to shape Edo’s cultural scene through innovative books and collaborations with artists.
East Shinjuku Night High School has students with various challenges. Delinquent Taketo is trapped in a negative spiral. Filipina-Japanese Angela struggles with schoolwork, while Kasumi spends all her class hours in the infirmary. Shozo had to leave school to work in his youth. With guidance from their new science teacher, Fujitake, they work on an experiment for an academic conference.
Sasaki Yuko (Adachi Yumi) works as a temporary employee at a call center, struggling with her mortgage and child-rearing. Despite her overbearing boss and uncertain future, she tries to make ends meet. Her husband Yoshimitsu (Aoki Munetaka) is optimistic but doesn’t earn much, which frustrates Yuko and her only joy is her son. One day, a misfortune strikes the Sasaki family, and a momentary lapse in judgment drastically changes their lives. Peculiar characters disrupt their peace, leading to chaos as hidden desires and wishes come to the surface.