Noriko's Dinner Table

Seventeen-year-old Noriko Shimabara lives a quiet life in Toyokawa, Japan, but feels stifled by her surroundings. Yearning for excitement and independence, she becomes increasingly discontent with her family's expectations and her local small-town life.

Noriko discovers that her childhood friend, Tangerine, has become a successful idol, intensifying her yearning for freedom and a more vibrant life. This revelation becomes a catalyst for her desire to escape her mundane existence.

Feeling disconnected from her family, Noriko seeks validation through the online community Haikyo.com. This platform allows her to connect with others who share her feelings of loneliness and provides a sense of belonging she desperately craves.

On December 10, 2001, Noriko's frustration culminates in a life-altering decision to leave Toyokawa. She boldly plans a trip to Tokyo to meet Ueno Station 54, the enigmatic leader of the online community she admires.

Upon her arrival in Tokyo, Noriko arranges a secret meeting with Kumiko at Locker #54 in Ueno Train Station. This moment marks the beginning of their complex relationship as they navigate their unique familial and emotional struggles.

During their time together, Noriko learns about Kumiko's unusual upbringing. Specifically, Kumiko reveals that she's been provided a fabricated family by I.C. Corp., an organization that creates temporary family experiences for those seeking connection.

Six months later, a tragic incident occurs when 54 young women linked to I.C. Corp take their lives at Shinjuku Station. This heartbreaking event serves as a grim realization for Noriko and Kumiko regarding the dangers of their involvement with the corporation.

Back in Toyokawa, Yuka struggles with the implications of her sister's actions. She begins to wonder if Noriko was involved in the mass suicide, prompting her to channel her emotions into writing a story about her own possible disappearance.

Tetsuzo, Noriko's father, grapples with the loss of his daughters and his wife, Taeko, whose mental health deteriorates. As he seeks the truth behind their disappearances, he becomes engulfed in sensational media speculation concerning a potential cult behind it.

Determined to uncover what has happened to his daughters, Tetsuzo contacts I.C. Corp for answers. However, the explanations he receives regarding social roles challenge his understanding of reality and family dynamics.

To delve deeper into the mystery, Tetsuzo enlists his friend Ikeda to rent Kumiko as a wife while Noriko and Yuka assume the roles of his daughters. They attempt to recreate their family dynamic in a Tokyo apartment that eerily mirrors their former home.

As the family dynamics grow increasingly strained, Tetsuzo's true identity is revealed to Noriko and Yuka. This revelation causes emotional turmoil, leading to feelings of detachment as they cling to their roles imposed by I.C. Corp.

The situation escalates when enforcers from I.C. Corp arrive with malicious intentions. A violent confrontation ensues in the living room, leaving Tetsuzo fighting for survival amid the chaos of their manufactured family life.

Kumiko returns from an errand and suggests a shocking notion to Tetsuzo—that he must kill her to escape with Noriko and Yuka. This bewildering suggestion amplifies the sisters' confusion as they confront the dark reality surrounding them.

In a moment of clarity, Noriko asserts her identity, stating, 'I am Noriko.' This realization marks a turning point in her understanding of her life and past, setting the stage for the group to confront their intertwined destinies amidst cycles of hope and despair over two years.