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My Dad and Mr. Ito (2016) movie poster

Timeline

My Dad and Mr. Ito (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 119 mins · Japanese
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Directed by
Yuki Tanada
Starring
Lily Franky, Eri Watanabe, Tatsuya Fuji, Juri Ueno, Tomoharu Hasegawa, Sei Ando

A man suggests his aging father move in with his sister, but the father has other plans. He unexpectedly arrives at her apartment with his belongings, disrupting her life. She already lives in a small space with her boyfriend and doesn't want to take on the responsibility of caring for her father. The situation creates humorous conflict as they navigate their complicated relationship and adjust to living together.

Comedy Drama Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

My Dad and Mr. Ito Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of My Dad and Mr. Ito (2016) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Aya and Mr. Ito's quiet life in Tokyo

    Aya and Mr. Ito lead a quiet life in a small Tokyo apartment. They met years earlier while working at a convenience store, and their routine is settled and simple. The film sets the stage for an upcoming family obligation that threatens that quiet life.

    Where
    Tokyo, Japan – Tokyo apartment

  2. Brother asks Aya to look after their father

    Aya's brother asks her to look after their father for the next half year. He hopes to manage the situation through her care. The request introduces the central conflict that will test Aya's life and relationships.

    Where
    Tokyo, Japan

  3. Aya declines to take on caregiving

    Aya declines the offer because she no longer lives alone, a detail her brother does not yet know. She weighs the burden of caregiving against her independence and relationship with Mr. Ito. The decision foreshadows the friction to come.

    Where
    Tokyo, Japan – Aya's home

  4. Father arrives at Aya's home

    When Aya returns home, she finds that her father has already arrived. The reunion is tense and reveals early strains between generations and expectations. The father’s sudden presence unsettles the couple.

    Where
    Tokyo, Japan – Aya's home

  5. Father disapproves of Aya's relationship

    Aya's father disapproves of her relationship with Mr. Ito, noting his age, divorce, and work in a school cafeteria. He also criticizes Aya's job at the bookshop. The disagreement underscores the cultural and personal divides that shape their interactions.

    Where
    Tokyo, Japan – Aya's home

  6. Months of strain; Aya grows closer to father

    Months of pressure follow, and Aya begins to understand her father better. He grows closer to Mr. Ito, eventually referring to him as his son-in-law. The evolving bond changes the dynamics at home.

    Where
    Tokyo, Japan – Aya's home

  7. Father disappears; pursuit to old family home

    The father disappears, prompting concern from Aya and Mr. Ito. Mr. Ito tracks him to the family's old house outside Tokyo.

    Where
    Outside Tokyo – old family house

  8. Visit to old house; overnight plan

    Mr Ito leaves Aya and her brother at the old house for the night, hoping they can resolve their differences. The plan only partly succeeds, with some tensions remaining unresolved. The old house becomes a fraught symbol of the family's rift.

    Where
    Old family house outside Tokyo

  9. Lightning strike and fire destroy the house

    A bolt of lightning strikes the old fruit tree in the garden, and the tree and the house burn down. The sudden disaster forces the characters to confront loss and displacement.

    Where
    Old family house garden

  10. Father moves back in; later retirement home

    After the fire, Aya's father moves back in with Aya and Mr. Ito. It soon becomes clear that he has found a place in a retirement home.

    Where
    Tokyo, Japan – Aya's home

  11. Father leaves for retirement home; plea to stay

    When the father finally leaves for the retirement home, Mr. Ito urges Aya not to let him go alone. He promises to wait for them, signaling his commitment to the family.

    Where
    Retirement home

  12. Ending: Aya chases after her father

    The film ends with Aya running after her father, a poignant act that signals continued care and possible reconciliation. The conclusion suggests that family bonds endure despite upheaval.

    Where
    Street near Aya's home, Tokyo

Last updated: February 24, 2026 at 14:19

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Timeline questions answered

My Dad and Mr. Ito Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of My Dad and Mr. Ito (2016): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Aya's father show up at her apartment without warning?

After Aya's brother Kiyoshi asks her to look after their father for six months, Aya declines, explaining she no longer lives alone. However, her father arrives at her Tokyo apartment with his belongings before she can fully explain the situation. He apparently decided to move in regardless, catching Aya off guard and disrupting her settled life with Mr. Ito.

Foreshadowing: The brother's request establishes that the father needed care, setting up his unexpected arrival.

  • father arrives
  • unannounced visit
  • Tokyo apartment
  • family obligation
Q2

Why does Aya's father disapprove of Mr. Ito?

Aya's father, a retired teacher, disapproves of her relationship with Mr. Ito for several reasons: Mr. Ito is twenty years older than Aya, he is divorced, and he works in a school cafeteria, work the father views as humble. These objections reflect his traditional values and concern for his daughter's future.

  • disapproval
  • Mr Ito
  • age gap
  • divorce
  • traditional values
Q3

How does the relationship between Aya's father and Mr. Ito improve?

Over the difficult months of living together, Aya's father gradually warms to Mr. Ito despite his initial disapproval. The exact moments of bonding aren't detailed, but by the time the father disappears, he has grown fond enough of Mr. Ito to refer to him as his son-in-law, signaling genuine acceptance.

  • father
  • Mr Ito
  • son-in-law
  • relationship
  • growth
  • bonding
Q4

Why does Aya's father disappear and go to the old family house?

Aya's father leaves without notice, prompting concern from the family. Mr. Ito tracks him to their old family home outside Tokyo, where the father has returned to a place connected to his past. The disappearance suggests he wanted to escape the pressures of city life and reconnect with his roots.

  • father disappears
  • old house
  • family home
  • Tokyo escape
Q5

Why does Mr. Ito leave Aya and her brother at the old house overnight?

Mr. Ito intentionally leaves Aya and her brother Kiyoshi at the old house for the night hoping they would resolve their lingering differences with their father. It was a deliberate strategy to force them to confront each other without his mediation, though the plan only partly succeeds.

  • Mr Ito
  • old house
  • overnight
  • family resolution
  • confrontation
Q6

What causes the house to burn down and what does it symbolize?

A bolt of lightning strikes the old fruit tree standing in the garden of the old family house, and both the tree and the house burn down. This sudden disaster represents the destruction of the family's past and forces the characters to confront loss, displacement, and the end of an era.

  • lightning strike
  • fire
  • house burn
  • symbolism
  • old house
  • loss
Q7

Why does Aya's father decide to move to a retirement home?

After living with Aya and Mr. Ito following the fire, Aya's father reveals he has found a place in a retirement home. This decision appears to be his way of balancing his desire for independence with his family's needs, accepting care without burdening his daughter and her partner indefinitely.

  • retirement home
  • father moves
  • independence
  • better solution
Q8

What does the ending mean when Aya runs after her father?

The film ends with Aya running after her father as he leaves for the retirement home. This poignant moment shows that despite all the friction and complications, Aya still cares deeply and doesn't want him to face this transition alone. It represents a fragile but enduring family bond despite pride and circumstance keeping them apart.

  • ending
  • reconciliation
  • father
  • aya runs
  • family bond
  • hope
Q9

Why does Mr. Ito tell Aya not to let her father go alone?

When Aya's father leaves for the retirement home, Mr. Ito encourages Aya to go with him, saying he will wait for them. This shows Mr. Ito's compassion and commitment to Aya and her family, he wants her to support her father during this significant life change rather than abandon him.

  • Mr Ito
  • encouragement
  • support
  • father
  • retirement home
  • family

Movie threads

More Movies Like My Dad and Mr. Ito, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes My Dad and Mr. Ito tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about unconventional families like My Dad and Mr. Ito

Stories of makeshift families learning to live together in tight quarters. If you enjoyed the awkward warmth of My Dad and Mr. Ito, explore other movies about makeshift families navigating life in close quarters. These films focus on the humor and heart of unconventional family setups, blending domestic conflict with moments of quiet connection and personal growth.

  • familial
  • awkward
  • warm
  • domestic
  • quirky
  • reflective
  • Tone: bittersweet, warm
  • Pacing: slow, observational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a disruption to a settled domestic life, often by the arrival of an outsider or a family member who doesn't fit. The plot revolves around the daily adjustments, clashes of personality, and gradual acceptance or understanding that occurs within the confined space of a shared home.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a focus on domestic life, intergenerational or unconventional relationships, and the specific dynamics that arise from living in close proximity. They balance comedic awkwardness with genuine emotional weight, creating a bittersweet and often heartwarming viewing experience.

Macadam Stories movie poster

Macadam Stories

2015
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Driveways

2020
My Dad and Mr. Ito movie poster

My Dad and Mr. Ito

2016
Late Autumn movie poster

Late Autumn

1960
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5 Flights Up

2015
Kitchen Stories movie poster

Kitchen Stories

2004
The Laundromat movie poster

The Laundromat

1985
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Good Posture

2019

Movies about bittersweet family bonds like My Dad and Mr. Ito

Character-driven stories where imperfect connections lead to personal growth. For viewers who liked the nuanced relationships in My Dad and Mr. Ito, this list features similar stories about complicated family dynamics and personal growth. These films share a gentle pace, a bittersweet tone, and a focus on how difficult life adjustments can foster unexpected understanding.

  • melancholic
  • nostalgic
  • reflective
  • quiet
  • familial
  • heartwarming
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic
  • Pacing: slow, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative journey typically involves characters resisting a new responsibility or relationship, followed by a slow-burn process of adaptation. The resolution is not a perfectly happy ending but a nuanced acceptance of a new, imperfect normal, emphasizing the emotional growth of the characters over a tidy conclusion.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their bittersweet tone, slow pacing, and medium emotional weight. They prioritize realistic character arcs and the complex emotions of familial duty over plot-driven action, creating a reflective and poignant mood that resonates with viewers seeking grounded, human stories.

Happiness movie poster

Happiness

2016
On Golden Pond movie poster

On Golden Pond

1981
Driveways movie poster

Driveways

2020
Late Autumn movie poster

Late Autumn

1960
Bernard and Doris movie poster

Bernard and Doris

2006
The Trip to Bountiful movie poster

The Trip to Bountiful

1986
Roommates movie poster

Roommates

1994
A Simple Life movie poster

A Simple Life

2012

Every angle

My Dad and Mr. Ito (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about My Dad and Mr. Ito in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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