Japanese Drama: The Second to Last Love
Synopsis
By the time people reach their forties or fifties, it seems they no longer expect to fall in love. Chiaki Yoshino (played by Kyoko Koizumi), 45 years old, single, works as a television drama producer. She has a good income and close friends but no longer holds hope for love. Thinking about growing old alone, Chiaki, considering long-term care, spends all her savings to buy an old house in the ancient city of Kamakura. While inspecting Kamakura, she meets the local tourism promotion officer, 50-year-old Kazuhira Nagakura (played by Kiichi Nakai). The two form a fateful bond, much like Tom and Jerry. By coincidence, Chiaki's neighbor is the Nagakura family, and Kazuhira's younger brother, Shinpei (played by Kenji Sakaguchi), runs a café. The healing-spirited Shinpei reignites Chiaki's desire for love, bringing her closer to the Nagakura family. Besides Shinpei and Kazuhira, there are the talkative eldest daughter Noriko (played by Naoko Iijima) and the shy and reserved Mariko (played by Yuki Uchida), leading to a series of amusing incidents.
At 45, life is already halfway gone, and one becomes an 'auntie' in the eyes of others. The word 'love' can be intimidating and awkward but remains genuinely beautiful. The next time one falls in love, consider it the penultimate love. Even in the future as an 'auntie,' there is still hope and expectation.