10 Promises to My Dog

Akari longs for companionship; a Golden Retriever puppy appears in the garden and Akari adopts it. Her mother names him Socks because of the white paws and asks Akari to promise she will follow The Ten Commandments of Dog Ownership.

A few months after, Akari's mother dies; Socks has been placed in the garden by the mother. The family moves to Sapporo for a lecturer post, cannot bring Socks, and Akari entrusts Socks to Susumu for care.

With the move to Sapporo, Akari leaves Socks in Susumu's care, hoping the dog will be safe and loved until they can be reunited.

On the day Susumu is to leave for Paris, Akari is delayed seeing him off because her father is suddenly called back to the hospital for an 'emergency' operation. The moment is tense, and the departure is fraught with guilt.

The 'emergency' operation turns out to be minor, but the guilt from disappointing Akari leads Susumu to resign from the music program in Paris, changing the course of his career.

The family returns to Hakodate, and Socks is brought back to live with them. Akari's father starts a home clinic, which becomes popular with the locals and helps anchor the family's life.

Ten years pass and Akari studies to become a veterinarian. She sees a poster for Susumu's upcoming performance, and they share a tearful reunion that soon becomes a romance.

As their relationship grows, Akari feels Socks is a constraint on her life, yet Socks remains a steadfast companion that inadvertently helps Susumu regain the courage to play guitar after a setback.

As Socks grows feeble, Akari is shocked by his weakening appearance. She promises to visit more often, but her heavy workload makes frequent trips difficult and infrequent.

Hearing that Socks is dying, Akari rushes back just in time. As Socks' energy wanes, she revisits the Ten Commandments of Dog Ownership to reflect on the promises she made a decade earlier.

After Socks' death, Akari and her father discover long-lost photographs and a letter from her mother explaining that Socks was meant to replace her, though Socks would not live as long as Akari. They are reminded of the sacrifices her father made for Akari.

In the wake of the memories and the dog they shared, Akari and Susumu decide to marry, honoring Socks and the intertwined paths of their lives.