Renge Ishiyama

Yazın şehirdeki bir yetimhaneden Hokkaido’da deniz kenarındaki ıssız bir köye gönderilen Anna, günlerini bataklığın içinde geçirmeyi hayal eder. İnsanların çoğunu içine alan sihirli çemberin dışında olduğuna inandığından etrafındakilerle mümkün olduğu kadar az iletişim kurup “sıradan yüzü”nü gösterir. Anna, kendisini olduğu gibi kabul edecek biriyle karşılaşamayacağını düşünür ama bu köyde tanıştığı Marnie, onu haksız çıkartır. Kısa sürede kaynaşıp çok iyi arkadaş olurlar ancak Anna, arkadaşlığın sıcaklığını tattığı kadar yeni arkadaşının geçmişini de merak etmeye başlar…

The story is a variation on the Tom Hanks classic "Big," but instead of a boy finding himself in a man's body, a sick girl falls asleep one day and does not wake up again for 11 years. In the meantime, her baby sister, Natsumi (Rio Kanno), grows up to become a very studious and serious 12-year-old, studying hard at her summer juku (cram school). When her aunt, a free-spirited photographer (Karie Kahimi), goes missing in South America, her mildly scatter-brained mother (Kaho Minami) and father (Tetsuji Tanaka) go looking for her, leaving the girl, Natsumi, to look after her sleeping sibling, Ai (Rosa Kato). Yes, this is a clear case of child neglect, but Natsumi is such a no-nonsense, responsible type that it seems almost understandable. Soon after Mom and Dad leave, she notices that Ai, incredibly, is up and about, with the body of a woman, but the mind of an 8-year-old.

The story follows Aya from the time she moves to Tokyo at age 23 up until she turns 40. Aya has to adjust to the different values and perceptions of the big city as she struggles with challenging situations. We get to follow Aya’s move from one neighborhood to another as she maneuvers her career and love life.

In a residential area, a man is murdered by another man, who broke into his apartment. Sergeant Kizaki, who is working near the area, hears a gunshot and runs towards the apartment. Detective Oomura already is at the scene of the crime.

Two coworkers from a camping gear company find connection and tranquility as they explore peaceful, hidden landscapes on weekend adventures.