Tamaki Mahiro

A short film by Toshio Lee.

A man carrying the remains of his dead wife wanders around, looking for a place to die. He sees a resemblance of his wife, to a woman in a “lantern girl” poster. The man starts working as an apprentice, but the feeling of loss lingers on. On the day of the lantern festival, a woman appears before him, strange phenomena surrounds the man.

Yoshiko loses her beloved cat. Upon discovering it, her neighbour Hotaru joins her in holding a quiet, heartfelt funeral. This small event becomes the catalyst for the family to come together once more. For their own reasons, Yoshiko's three daughters return to the family home one by one, resuming life under the same roof. During their time together, the initial distance and unspoken tensions slowly give way to understanding. Thirty years of misunderstandings begin to dissolve through shared daily moments: quiet conversations in the kitchen, silent gestures at the dining table, and afternoons spent tending the garden. Each ordinary act brings a renewed sense of warmth and connection.