Like Asura (2003) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Four daughters' investigation into their father's concealed relationship exposes the loneliness and unspoken wounds within their family.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

The Daughters Suspect a Secret

At a New Year's gathering, the four daughters discuss the possibility that Kotaro is seeing another woman. They connect the suspicion to his regular Tuesday and Thursday absences and begin looking for the truth.

Key Events

• New Year Family Gathering — The four daughters meet with the disturbing possibility that Kotaro has another woman. Characters: Tsunako Mitamura - First Daughter, Makiko Satomi - Second Daughter, Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Sakiko Kamiuchi - Fourth Daughter, Kotaro Takezawa, Takezawa Fuji Location: Family gathering
• A Suspected Secret Affair — The sisters consider the possibility that their elderly father is seeing another woman. Characters: Tsunako Mitamura - First Daughter, Makiko Satomi - Second Daughter, Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Sakiko Kamiuchi - Fourth Daughter Location: Family gathering
• The Daughters React — The sisters respond with disbelief, embarrassment, anger, and uneasy curiosity. Characters: Tsunako Mitamura - First Daughter, Makiko Satomi - Second Daughter, Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Sakiko Kamiuchi - Fourth Daughter Location: Family gathering
• Tuesday and Thursday Excuses — The daughters recognize that Kotaro has been leaving on Tuesdays and Thursdays under the pretense of going to work. Characters: Kotaro Takezawa, Tsunako Mitamura - First Daughter, Makiko Satomi - Second Daughter, Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Sakiko Kamiuchi - Fourth Daughter Location: Family home
• The Sisters Investigate — The sisters try to uncover the truth about their father's absences. Characters: Tsunako Mitamura - First Daughter, Makiko Satomi - Second Daughter, Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Sakiko Kamiuchi - Fourth Daughter Location: Family home
• Respectability Unravels — The investigation begins to undermine the family's carefully maintained appearance of respectability. Characters: Tsunako Mitamura - First Daughter, Makiko Satomi - Second Daughter, Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Sakiko Kamiuchi - Fourth Daughter Location: Family home

Takiko Loses Her Evidence

As the family investigation strains its respectable appearance, Takiko's storyline includes her connection with Hidemitsu. A fire destroys her apartment, photographs, and evidence, while also freeing her from spying on Kotaro.

Key Events

• Respectability Unravels — The investigation begins to undermine the family's carefully maintained appearance of respectability. Characters: Tsunako Mitamura - First Daughter, Makiko Satomi - Second Daughter, Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Sakiko Kamiuchi - Fourth Daughter Location: Family home
• Takiko and Hidemitsu — Takiko's personal connection with professional boxer Hidemitsu is part of her storyline. Characters: Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Hidemitsu Jinnai Location: Unspecified
• Takiko's Apartment Burns — A fire destroys Takiko's apartment, including her photographs and evidence. Characters: Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter Location: Takiko's apartment
• Evidence Lost in Fire — The fire's destruction makes Takiko's collected photographs and evidence unavailable. Characters: Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter Location: Takiko's apartment
• Freedom from Spying — Despite the loss, the destruction frees Takiko from spying on Kotaro. Characters: Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter Location: Unspecified
• Takiko Moves into the Study — With nowhere else to stay, Takiko is allowed to move into her father's study. Characters: Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Kotaro Takezawa Location: Kotaro's study

Secrets Break into the Open

Takiko moves into Kotaro's study and encounters Shizuo, becoming more aware of the secrets around her father. A confrontation involving a suspicious telephone call and black shoes exposes the bitterness and loneliness linked to the deception, while Fuji's silence conceals what she already knows.

Key Events

• Takiko Moves into the Study — With nowhere else to stay, Takiko is allowed to move into her father's study. Characters: Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Kotaro Takezawa Location: Kotaro's study
• Takiko Encounters Shizuo — Takiko encounters Shizuo in the study and realizes how many secrets surround her father. Characters: Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Shizuo Katsumata Location: Kotaro's study
• The Affair Becomes Visible — The affair becomes increasingly difficult to keep concealed from the family. Characters: Kotaro Takezawa, Takezawa Fuji Location: Unspecified
• A Suspicious Telephone Call — A woman connected to Kotaro confronts another woman over a suspicious telephone call. Location: Unspecified
• The Pair of Black Shoes — A pair of black shoes contributes to the confrontation and exposes bitterness and loneliness. Location: Unspecified
• Fuji Knows the Truth — Fuji has discovered where Kotaro goes but has remained silent to preserve the appearance of a peaceful marriage. Characters: Takezawa Fuji, Kotaro Takezawa Location: Unspecified

The Family Faces Its Wounds

Fuji collapses near the other woman's home, prompting the daughters to confront Kotaro about his betrayal and their mother's loneliness. After Kotaro insists that he has suffered too, the daughters gather around Fuji and the family ending carries both affection and resentment.

Key Events

• Fuji Knows the Truth — Fuji has discovered where Kotaro goes but has remained silent to preserve the appearance of a peaceful marriage. Characters: Takezawa Fuji, Kotaro Takezawa Location: Unspecified
• Fuji Collapses — Fuji collapses near the other woman's home. Characters: Takezawa Fuji Location: Near the other woman's home
• Daughters Confront Kotaro — The daughters accuse Kotaro of betraying their mother and making her endure loneliness. Characters: Tsunako Mitamura - First Daughter, Makiko Satomi - Second Daughter, Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Sakiko Kamiuchi - Fourth Daughter, Kotaro Takezawa Location: Unspecified
• Kotaro Defends Himself — Kotaro insists that he too has suffered, but the daughters reject his excuses. Characters: Kotaro Takezawa, Tsunako Mitamura - First Daughter, Makiko Satomi - Second Daughter, Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Sakiko Kamiuchi - Fourth Daughter Location: Unspecified
• The Daughters Gather around Fuji — The daughters gather around Fuji and remember her devotion, her old lipstick, and the life she gave the family. Characters: Takezawa Fuji, Tsunako Mitamura - First Daughter, Makiko Satomi - Second Daughter, Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Sakiko Kamiuchi - Fourth Daughter Location: Family home
• An Ironic Wedding Invitation — Wedding preparations and plans to honor Fuji frame an ending marked by exposed jealousy, guilt, love, and resentment. Characters: Tsunako Mitamura - First Daughter, Makiko Satomi - Second Daughter, Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter, Sakiko Kamiuchi - Fourth Daughter, Takezawa Fuji Location: Family home

Story Breakdown

• New Year Suspicion — The sisters discuss signs that Kotaro may be seeing another woman.
  • Family Gathering — The four daughters meet during a New Year's gathering.
  • Secret Relationship — The sisters react to the possibility that their father has another woman.
• The Regular Absences — The daughters connect their suspicion to Kotaro's repeated claims that he is going to work.
  • Tuesday Departures — Kotaro has been leaving the house on Tuesdays.
  • Thursday Departures — The daughters also identify his Thursday absences.
• Takiko's Disruption — Takiko's investigation and personal circumstances are disrupted by a fire.
  • Hidemitsu Connection — Takiko has a connection with professional boxer Hidemitsu Jinnai.
  • Apartment Fire — A fire destroys Takiko's apartment, photographs, and evidence.
• Secrets in the Study — Takiko's move into Kotaro's study brings her into contact with more of the secrets surrounding her father.
  • A Place to Stay — After losing her apartment, Takiko is allowed to stay in Kotaro's study.
  • Meeting Shizuo — Takiko encounters Shizuo Katsumata in the study.
• Deception Exposed — A confrontation and Fuji's concealed knowledge reveal the damage caused by Kotaro's secret.
  • Telephone and Shoes — A suspicious call and black shoes figure in a confrontation between two women.
  • Fuji's Silence — Fuji has discovered where Kotaro goes but has kept quiet.
• Confronting Kotaro — Fuji's collapse leads the daughters to challenge their father over his treatment of their mother.
  • Fuji Collapses — Fuji collapses near the other woman's home.
  • Daughters Accuse — The daughters confront Kotaro over Fuji's loneliness and his betrayal.
• A Bittersweet Ending — The family turns toward Fuji while ordinary preparations coexist with newly exposed resentment.
  • Remembering Fuji — The daughters remember their mother's devotion and old lipstick.
  • Wedding Invitation — An invitation and preparations to honor Fuji frame the ironic ending.

Directed by

Yoshimitsu Morita

Key Cast

• Shinobu Otake — Tsunako Mitamura - First Daughter
• Hitomi Kuroki — Makiko Satomi - Second Daughter
• Eri Fukatsu — Takiko Takezawa - Third Daughter
• Kyoko Fukada — Sakiko Kamiuchi - Fourth Daughter
• Tatsuya Nakadai — Kotaro Takezawa