Memories of Tomorrow

Click here for tweets about my thoughts after watching.

A 2006 Japanese film. A hardworking salaryman at an advertising agency is one day diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. As the disease gradually strips away the things he holds dear—the work he was devoted to and his peaceful days with his family—his wife supports him with unwavering devotion. It is a moving drama that depicts the deep bond between a husband and wife.

The protagonist suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's is played by Ken Watanabe. His wife is played by Kanako Higuchi. The director is Yukihiko Tsutsumi, known for "Hayabusa" and the "Trick" series.

Based on the novel by Hiroshi Ogiwara

The original work for this film is the novel "Memories of Tomorrow" by Hiroshi Ogiwara.

It is said that the film adaptation came about after Ken Watanabe, who himself experienced a battle with leukemia in his 30s, read the novel and sent a passionate letter to the author.

The two leads are just incredible!

The protagonist, Saeki (Ken Watanabe), is 49 years old. He is a high-powered salesman at an advertising agency. He spent his days working hard with many subordinates under him. His wife, Emiko (Kanako Higuchi), is a full-time housewife.

Their only daughter, Rie (Kazue Fukiishi), is about to get married, and the Saeki couple is living happy, busy lives both publicly and privately.

In the midst of this, small changes begin to happen to Saeki.

He becomes irritable. When he goes out for business, he loses his way. He forgets appointments with important clients—.

Persuaded by his wife, he visits a hospital. He is diagnosed with "early-onset Alzheimer's." Saeki is distraught.

...

These moments of "Huh, what's going on?" and "Something feels a bit off...?"

piling up one after another. This is slowly and painfully realistic! And yet, it is concise, easy to understand, and moves the story along smoothly.

The scene where the diagnosis is delivered is, I think, the first climax of the film, but the scene on the hospital's emergency staircase, the acting of the twois just so tear-jerking!! Tears

This isn't one of those cheesy, tear-jerking scenes typical of illness dramas. It has a realism and naturalness that truly hits home for someone like me in the same generation.

The line the wife says at this moment really resonates with me.

Kanako Higuchi♡

In particular, Kanako Higuchi's performance throughout the entire film is wonderful♩

The delicacy with which she acts to avoid upsetting her husband, who is nervous and tossed about by his illness. Or the pain of having been a full-time housewife until then, only to have to go out and work because of her husband's illness and face the harshness of society... She expresses these subtle nuances of the heart brilliantly.

I've watched this movie several times, but I cry every single time I see it...

...

As an aside, Kanako Higuchi, who remains overflowing with transparency and beauty even as she ages, and who is also the wife of Shigesato Itoi, is from Kamo City, Niigata Prefecture. (Kamo High School! )

Actually, I was also born in Kamo City, Niigata Prefecture. My mother's family home—that is, my maternal grandparents' house—was in Kamo City, and even now that my grandparents have passed away, my aunt's family still lives there.

Kamoyama Park, it brings back such memories♩
Since I mostly went to Kamo during summer vacation when my mother would return home, I have a summer image of it in my memories.
I used to look forward to eating 'tokoroten' (agar noodles) and well-marinated 'konnyaku stew' at the tea shop by the pond. Eating tokoroten with just 'one' pair of disposable chopsticks is the Kamo style. The tea shop also sold 'fu' (wheat gluten) to feed the turtles in the pond, and I have fond memories of feeding them...♩
It's apparently a famous spot for autumn leaves, and it looks so magnificent!

For Kamo citizens, including my relatives, Kanako Higuchi is 'the great star born in Kamo'! We always support her with admiration and a sense of closeness♡

By the way, the lead actor, Ken Watanabe, is also from Niigata (Uonuma City)!
What a coincidence, we're from the same hometown! We're Niigata people, aren't we?♩Haha

A solid supporting cast

Below, from a review tweet.

Besides the two leads, the cast is luxurious and full of great actors.
Hideji Otaki, Kenichi Endo, Eri Watanabe, Teruyuki Kagawa, and others.

In this film, the actors supporting the leads are also all very talented.

○ The protagonist couple's younger days episode features Hideji Otaki (in a sense, he is the Cupid of their marriage. In the final act, he delivers a famous line with overwhelming presence)

○ Kenichi Endo as the high-ranking person at the advertising agency who is a contemporary of the protagonist

○ When Kanako Higuchi is forced by necessity to go out and work, she turns to an old friend to help her find a job: Eri Watanabe (She captures the essence of a woman who has worked in society for many years and has 'tasted both the bitter and the sweet' very well.)

○ The protagonist's business client and regular customer: Teruyuki Kagawa (The way he calls Ken Watanabe, the contact at the client company, 'Sae-ki-sen-shu~' is so reminiscent of a Showa-era salaryman, it's great! Haha)

The nuances that can only be felt because we are of the same generation

What makes me think 'I'm glad I've grown older' is when I watch films like this one. I'm about the same age as the main couple in the film.

Building a career, having a family, finishing raising children, seeing children get married, and having grandchildren born.

Of course, even if we are all around our 50s, the lives we have led are different for each of us. However, in terms of having 'added rings to our tree', it is the same for everyone.

Zelkova trees, camphor trees, and pine trees—even if their species and where they grow are different, they are all trees that are '50 years old'.

It is because of this age that the various aspects of life resonate so deeply. I have reached an age where I can look at 'life as a whole' from a bird's-eye view, rather than from partial perspectives like 'now,' 'the past,' or 'the future,' and feel it with genuine realization.

Although it has become rare to encounter them in recent years, I believe this film is definitely one of those 'proper Japanese films'.

Therefore, while it is a work that can move people of any age (my son watched it and sobbed), I think those of us in the 'around-50' generation might be able to feel even more from it.

A special feature on 'Hobonichi' as well.

Back in 2006, when this film was released, a special feature on 'Memories of Tomorrow' was put together on the 'Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun' website, run by Shigesato Itoi, the husband of Kanako Higuchi. You can find that page here.

○ Email exchange between Ken Watanabe and Shigesato Itoi ○ Dialogue with Director Yukihiko Tsutsumi ○ Interview with Kanako Higuchi (with Mr. Itoi present)

There are three pieces of content. The interview article where Ms. Higuchi and Mr. Itoi are shy and seem to find it awkward to be interviewed together as a married couple is quite interesting. If you are interested, please take a look!

▼ Related works by Director Yukihiko Tsutsumi

▼ Click here for an index of all works