License to Live

Twenty-four-year-old Yutaka awakens from a ten-year coma to a world that has moved on. Physically adult but mentally childlike, he struggles to adjust and to find his place within a family that has learned to live without him. His decision to reopen the family pony farm and run a milk bar becomes a test of resilience and belonging as he navigates memory, guilt, and hope.

The old, solitary friend of Yutaka's father who takes the role of caretaker after the coma. He helps with the physical work on the farm and accompanies Yutaka on a search for a new life, even as his past guilt over the accident weighs on him. Their uneasy companionship evolves into a strange loyalty that propels Yutaka toward maturity.

Yutaka's father who visits and reveals the family's divorce. He embodies parental authority and a complicated mix of disappointment and acceptance. His presence frames Yutaka’s attempts to redefine his life and reconnect with kin.

Yutaka's mother, who has divorced from his father. She works in a cloth shop and tries to maintain a connection with her son while encouraging him to lead his own life. Her warmth represents forgiveness and continuity amid upheaval.

Yutaka's sister, engaged to a man and planning to move to America. She embodies the competing pull of family duty and personal ambition. Her interactions with Yutaka highlight the strain and warmth of siblings within a changed family landscape.

A member of the family circle who interacts with Yutaka after his return; she represents the social ties and everyday life of the community around the farm. Her presence helps show how the extended family and neighborhood adapt to Yutaka's reintegration.