In This Corner of the World

In her picturesque seaside town of Eba, Suzu creates a heartfelt painting for her classmate Tetsu. This painting signifies her compassion and awareness of Tetsu's sorrow over the loss of his brother, a sailor who tragically drowned at sea.

In 1943, Suzu marries Shusaku, a military clerk she befriended during childhood. After their marriage, she moves into his family home in Kure, a bustling naval port city, as the realities of war begin affecting their lives.

As Suzu settles into her new life, the shadow of the Pacific War begins to loom over her community. Food shortages prompt the government to enforce strict rationing, and the townspeople are unsettled by warnings of potential air raids.

Suzu embraces her role as a housewife, partaking in the Tonarigumi’s efforts for food distribution and participating in air raid drills. This new lifestyle immerses her deeper into the challenges faced by families amidst the war's pressures.

In December 1944, Tetsu visits Suzu, now married and living in Kure. During this emotional meeting, Tetsu confesses his love for her, but Suzu reassures him of her commitment to Shusaku, recognizing the gravity of their circumstances.

The following spring, Shusaku is deployed to serve in the military, stationed 40 miles away in Otake City. His absence weighs heavily on Suzu as she navigates the challenges of war and motherhood.

As 1945 begins, the United States begins air raids on the Japanese mainland, particularly targeting Kure’s port. This escalation of conflict brings about a series of tragic events that deeply affect Suzu and her community.

Amidst the bombings, Suzu experiences devastating tragedies, losing her brother Yōichi and sustaining a severe injury that costs her her right hand. Despite her injuries, she also grieves the loss of her niece Harumi, killed by a bomb explosion.

One fateful morning, Suzu and her sister-in-law Keiko witness an ominous light followed by a violent tremor. They gaze toward Hiroshima City and are struck by the catastrophic news of the bomb that has devastated the city and taken countless lives.

Days after the bombing, the Emperor of Japan announces the end of the war through a painful radio address. The announcement plunges Suzu into a deeper despair as she grapples with the harsh realities of her immense losses.

With the American forces occupying Kure, they bring much-needed food aid to the grateful residents. This shift introduces a new era of change and adaptation for Suzu and the rest of the local community.

Suzu travels to her grandmother Ito's home in rural Kusatsu, where she reunites with her sister Sumi, the sole survivor of their immediate family. Sumi shares the heartbreaking stories of their parents' fates amidst the war’s devastation.

Eventually, after the turmoil settles, Shusaku returns to Suzu. Together, they find an orphaned girl whom they decide to adopt, symbolizing hope and the beginning of healing in their shattered lives.

With the support and love of her friends and family, Suzu gradually rekindles her spirit for life. The film concludes with their adopted daughter thriving in the Hojo household, learning to sew and embracing the process of rebuilding post-war Japan.