Character Relationship Map: Yearning

Characters

• Reiko Morita (played by Hideko Takamine) — protagonist

  An 18-year war widow running a grocery shop in her deceased husband's family house. She faces pressure from her sisters-in-law to convert the store. After rejecting Koji's romantic confession, she dec...

• Koji Morita (played by Yūzō Kayama) — protagonist

  A 25-year-old brother-in-law who regularly gets into drunken fights. He is the only family member supporting Reiko and confesses his love to her, which she rejects. He follows her on a train, approach...

• Hisako Morizono (played by Mitsuko Kusabue) — supporting
• Mr. Morizono (played by Kazuo Kitamura) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Hisako Morizono → Mr. Morizono (Family Wife And Husband) — Hisako's husband is involved in the proposed supermarket plan with Koji.

  The plot refers to Hisako Morizono's husband, identifying Mr. Morizono as her spouse.

• Koji Morita → Mr. Morizono (Professional Business Partners) — They discuss a prospective supermarket venture that could give Koji a management role.

  Koji and Hisako Morizono's husband discuss opening a supermarket, with Koji expected to manage it.

• Reiko Morita → Koji Morita (Family Sister-in-Law And Rejected Suitor) — Reiko cares for Koji and urges him to take responsibility, but rejects his romantic confession because she is his sister-in-law and remains devoted to her deceased husband.

  The plot identifies Koji as Reiko's young brother-in-law. Koji admits that his feelings for her go beyond family affection, and Reiko rejects him, cit...

Story Analysis

A war widow's devotion to her late husband and her responsibilities to her in-laws collide with a struggling family business and her brother-in-law's romantic feelings.

Plot Progression

1. A Shop Under Pressure — Reiko works to keep the family grocery shop running as a nearby discount supermarket attracts customers. Koji's fight, gambling, and contest participation add to Reiko's worries about his future.
2. Sacrifice and New Prospects — Koji and Reiko discuss the years she has given to the household, while Koji reveals his involvement with a woman. A proposed supermarket offers Koji a possible management role and raises the question...
3. A Confession Rejected — Koji confesses that his feelings for Reiko exceed family affection, and she rejects him because she is his sister-in-law and remains devoted to her late husband. Hisako warns that this strain could in...
4. Departure and Clarification — Reiko supports the supermarket plan while announcing that she intends to leave and begin a new life. Before departing, she tells Koji that the other man was a lie and that her love remains with her de...