Machisu is a painter. He never had the success he thinks he is entitled to. Regardless of this, he always remains trying to be successful. His wife Sachiko keeps supporting him, despite all setbacks.

Sakiko, works independently at a travel agent in Tokyo. She was raised by her mother, Tatsuko, is hospitalized, Sakiko returns to her hometown Tokushima on Shikoku. The town is famous for its annual Awa Dance Festival. She is told by doctor, Terasawa Daisuke, that her mother has terminal cancer.

Yoshida, a former parliamentarian's secretary, took the fall for a murder in place of the trusted politician and ended up in prison. He awaited the day when the said politician would prove his innocence and get him released from prison. One day, while sharing a four-person cell, Machida was sent to solitary confinement for losing his temper. There were rumors within the prison that those sent to solitary confinement for punishment would mysteriously die and never return. However, Machida came back unharmed. Yet, the rumors continued, stating that returning from solitary confinement without a mysterious death was the real issue.

High-concept Sci-Fi adventure about an island that actually is a computer called Kyron 5, itself created to design and manufacture super-advanced robots to be used as slaves for the rest of the world. One day Kyron decides that human beings are unnecessary, so it declares war on the world. But Kyron cannot be tamed, and after many lives are lost in the attempt, mankind decides to leave Kyron to its own devices.

A man’s body is found in the suburbs of Tokyo. The dead man was hit by a car and his head beaten by the reckless driver after the accident. The dead man had a wife named Noriko. She likes fancy things and she has a lover named Tsukada. It's also learned that the dead man was insured for 300 million yen. The media and the public look at Noriko and her boyfriend Tsukada with suspicion, but they have perfect alibis. Then, Detective Hibiki, who is in charge of the case, and Private Detective Kono become involved in a series of mysterious murder cases.

Manami, who runs a small pharmacy, learns that junior high schooler and frequent customer Emi has a crush on a classmate, and is reminded of her own youth. Eventually, Manami's desire to support Emi gets out of hand.

An ambitious, young freelance journalist takes on the closed case of a famous fine arts photographer whose beautiful female subject died on set in a gruesome fire.

When nurse Ibuki visits the home of a boy who was brought to the infectious disease ward by mistake, she sees a horrifying scene there.

Director Jun Ichikawa spins this affectionate portrait of the people who populate Shimokitazawa, a bohemian corner of Tokyo filled with small theater companies and smoky coffeehouses.