Shusaku Kamikawa
An elderly lady who is the protagonist's landlord lives on the first floor, and the protagonist Tarō Yabe, a good-for-nothing comedian, live on the second floor. Her way of greeting is always "Gokigenyo", General MacArthur is her type, she’s never had a beef bowl or a hamburger before and she mistakes Tarō for an actor… It’s all about a "strange life together" of a 39-year-old Tarō Yabe and a 87-year-old "landlord". It’s humorous and heartwarming daily interactions between two people living in a corner of the big city, Tokyo.
An Kazutaka is a young, bashful psychiatrist whose jazz piano skills are as good as a pro. Right after they have their first child, the Great Hanshin Earthquake strikes. Although his family is affected by the disaster, he begins to search for what he can do as a psychiatrist. As he listens to the stories of disaster victims, he realises that he can help not by treating them, but restoring their capacity to heal. Later on, he compiles his observations of the disaster-hit area as a psychiatrist into a book, and wins a prize for social sciences.
Nagata works as a writer and director for theater company Oroka. His work has not received positive responses and ticket sales has not increased. Making things worse, his relationship with the theatrical troupe is not good. Nagata feels lonely. One day, he sees a woman named Saki on the street. She is wearing the same sneakers as he is. Nagata talks to her. Saki is a university student and she dreams of becoming an actress. Nagata and Saki fall in love.
Jun is a girl whose words have been sealed away so that she cannot hurt anyone with them. But, one day, she is nominated to become an executive member of the "community outreach council." On top of that, Jun is also appointed to play the main lead in their musical...
