Late Autumn

Late Autumn

Year: 1960

Runtime: 128 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Yasujirô Ozu

DramaComedy

A woman and her daughter are each forced to contend with an increasing pressure to marry, particularly from three men who knew her late husband.

Bittersweet
Bittersweet ending
Moderately emotional
Low intensity
Slow pacing
Moderate complexity

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Late Autumn (1960)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Late Autumn (1960). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1960s

Set in the early 1960s Japan, a period of rapid economic growth and shifting gender roles. The characters navigate social norms that prize marriage and stability, while individuals challenge those expectations. The surroundings—urban offices, homes, and occasional excursions—mirror a society undergoing modernization.

Location

Tokyo, Japan

The story unfolds in a contemporary Japanese setting, blending urban office life with intimate home environments. It hints at the outskirts of the city where hiking and small trips occur, illustrating a society in transition between tradition and modern living. The backdrop reflects postwar Japan’s mix of social expectation and personal exploration.

🏙️ Urban life 🗼 Modern Japan

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:43

Main Characters – Late Autumn (1960)

Meet the key characters of Late Autumn (1960), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ayako Miwa (Yôko Tsukasa)

A 24-year-old woman living with her mother, Ayako resists being steered toward marriage and values personal autonomy. She pursues a relationship with Goto, yet she insists that romance does not have to equal marriage. Her stance reflects a desire to balance affection with independence.

💬 Independent 🧭 Modern values 💕 Romantic

Akiko Miwa (Setsuko Hara)

Miwa's widow mother, a dressmaker by trade, embodies warmth and practical wisdom. She wishes for her daughter's happiness but is wary of leaving Ayako to live alone and old. In the end, she decides not to remarry, choosing to maintain the family bond and support Ayako's decision.

👵 Maternal 💡 Wise 🔗 Open-minded

Soichi Mamiya (Shin Saburi)

One of the college friends, he is tactful yet somewhat blunt in his matchmaking efforts. He suggests Goto as a potential husband for Ayako, contributing to the plan while masking his own true intentions. His actions reveal a mix of loyalty and social pressure within the friend group.

💼 Pragmatic 🗣️ Blunt 🤝 Friend

Shuzo Taguchi (Nobuo Nakamura)

Another longtime friend, eager to see Ayako married and to help steer her future. He participates in the matchmaking scheme and embodies the well-meaning but sometimes intrusive nature of social fixers. His involvement underscores the communal pressure behind personal decisions.

🤝 Loyal 🗣️ Opinionated 🎭 Playful

Seiichiro Hirayama (Ryuji Kita)

A widower who becomes a potential remarriage partner for Akiko, initially warning against the plan. After discussing it with his son, he reconsidered and shifts toward supporting a new arrangement. His arc highlights cautious optimism about blending families.

💔 Widower 🧭 Cautious 🤝 Family oriented

Shotaro Goto (Keiji Sada)

An employee of Mamiya and the man Ayako dates, he embodies a hopeful, steady presence in Ayako's life. His eventual role as Ayako's husband reflects the possibility of romance maturing into a practical partnership. He represents a bridge between affection and commitment.

💼 Eligible 💖 Romantic 🕊️ Steady

Yuriko Sasaki (Mariko Okada)

A close friend who scrutinizes the plan and ultimately supports Akiko's remarriage when appropriate. She encourages Ayako to consider others' perspectives, helping reframe family decisions within a broader social context. Her guidance adds a pragmatic, feminist-tinged voice to the affair.

💬 Pragmatic 🧭 Socially aware 🤝 Ally

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:43

Major Themes – Late Autumn (1960)

Explore the central themes of Late Autumn (1960), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💞 Romance vs Marriage

Ayako questions the necessity of marriage, exploring the idea that romance and commitment can exist independently of wedlock. The film challenges the assumption that love must culminate in matrimony to be meaningful. The matchmaking plans by friends expose pressure to conform to traditional paths. Ultimately, Ayako's relationship with Goto and Akiko's choice to remain single offer a nuanced view on personal happiness and independence.

👵 Family Bonds and Loneliness

Akiko's life centers on her daughter and her own independence, highlighting the loneliness that can come with aging and widowhood. The mother-daughter dynamic tests how care, responsibility, and individual desires balance within a small family unit. Akiko's restraint from remarrying and Ayako's hesitation to leave her mother demonstrate mutual support as a core theme. The film portrays aging as a shared journey, not simply a solitary fate.

🤝 Friendship and Social Pressure

Three old friends jointly orchestrate a matchmaking plan, revealing loyalty and good intentions, but also meddling and social pressure. Their scheme exposes how communal expectations can shape intimate choices. Yuriko's intervention shifts the power dynamics and grants agency to the women involved. The narrative treats friendship as a force for good and a source of conflict, ultimately influencing the characters' decisions.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:43

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Narrative Summary

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Why These Movies?

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Unlock the Full Story of Late Autumn

Don't stop at just watching — explore Late Autumn in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Late Autumn is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Late Autumn Summary

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Late Autumn Summary

Late Autumn Timeline

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Late Autumn Timeline

Late Autumn Spoiler-Free Summary

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Late Autumn Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Late Autumn

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Late Autumn: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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