Early Summer

Noriko, a 28-year-old secretary, lives with her extended family in Kamakura, Kanagawa. The arrival of an elderly uncle disrupts the family's equilibrium and brings societal expectations of marriage to the forefront for Noriko.

At her workplace, Noriko's boss, Satake, proposes a match for her with a 40-year-old businessman and golfer, Mr. Manabe. This suggestion highlights the pressure on Noriko to settle down amidst her divided friend group.

Noriko's social circle is defined by two distinct groups: the married and the single. Aya Tamura emerges as her closest friend within the single group, providing companionship and light-hearted banter amid mounting familial and societal pressures.

Kenkichi Yabe, Noriko's childhood friend and a widowed doctor, reconnects with her, bringing along a sheaf of wheat as a heartfelt gift. This sheaf symbolizes connection, being a cherished token from her deceased brother, which Yabe was entrusted to pass on.

Circumstances lead Yabe to be assigned to Akita, a rural area often teased by Noriko and Aya. Despite their light-hearted mockery, this assignment portends a significant shift in Noriko's life as familial pressures surrounding marriage intensify.

Yabe's mother, Tami, unexpectedly proposes that Noriko marry her son and move with them to Akita. Faced with this impulsive suggestion, Noriko chooses to accept, leading to a wave of quiet devastation among her family.

Noriko's decision to pursue marriage with Yabe creates an atmosphere of silent despair among her parents and brother. They worry that this choice may not be the best for her future, prompting her to reflect on her decision.

Despite their initial disappointment and concerns, Noriko's family gradually begins to accept her decision to marry Yabe. The acceptance becomes evident during a moving family photograph session, symbolizing unity in the face of change.

As Noriko prepares for her new life, her parents make plans to move to the countryside alongside her elderly uncle. Their change in residence illustrates the family's adaptation to a new phase in their lives following Noriko's decision.

The film reaches a poignant climax as Noriko's parents witness a bride in traditional attire walking down a serene country road. This symbolic moment, along with a ripening barley field, beautifully captures the family's evolving relationships and the bittersweet nature of life's transitions.