Year: 2021
Runtime: 124 min
Language: Japanese
Directors: Hayato Kawai, Yoshihiro Mori
As he reconnected with a past love, a man's journey through nostalgia was sparked, transporting him back to the vibrant era of the 1990s, where hope and passion burned bright.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen We Couldn't Become Adults yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of We Couldn't Become Adults (2021), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
The narrative intricately weaves through the timelines of Makoto’s life, oscillating between the years 2020 and 1998, and meticulously explores his career alongside his past romantic encounters in an evocative manner.
The tale opens dramatically with Makoto tumbling into a heap of garbage on the dimly lit streets of Tokyo during a late-night escapade with a friend. In this encounter, his friend philosophically posits that only 1% of the world can claim true happiness due to their ignorance, which deeply resonates with Makoto and drives him to reflect on the trajectory of his life.
As the plot unfolds, we witness Makoto attending a farewell gala for an enduring television show, an event masterfully hosted by Mitsuo Oguro. Amidst mingling with acquaintances, he shares with a performer about his past role as a graphics designer for the show. Their connection leads to a fateful night spent together in Makoto’s hotel room.
The storyline skillfully shifts back to an earlier chapter when Makoto is in a strained relationship with Megumi Ishida. Their fleeting romance culminates in divorce, marked by a poignant scene where she collects her belongings. Among her possessions, Makoto stumbles upon a postcard depicting a serene sunset, a memento from an earlier love, which he decides to keep as a symbol of nostalgia.
Regrettably, Makoto’s thoughts drift towards various past relationships as he navigates through recollections of his life. One significant encounter takes place at his favorite haunt, run by Nanase, a crossdressing pub owner, where he meets Su. However, the evening takes a sobering turn when he discovers that Su is involved in prostitution.
As the film progresses, Makoto grapples with the weight of his experiences and failed romances. We see a striking juxtaposition of his career path transitioning from humble beginnings in a tiny office to a formidable presence in a larger establishment, yet it becomes evident that these advancements come at the cost of personal happiness, as late nights at work have perpetually overshadowed his relationships.
At a pivotal moment, he receives a Facebook friend request from Kaori, the ex-girlfriend who sent him the postcard. Upon investigating her profile, he learns she has settled into the life she once eschewed—married with children. This revelation hits hard as it becomes apparent that while he clung to her ideals, she had embraced the conventional life.
In a reflective delve into the past, the plot also revisits Makoto’s first love, a spirited girl passionate about music with a unique sense of style. Their youthful romance blossoms as Makoto works at a bakery, where his manager, Nanase, encourages him through a personal advertisement to find love. This serendipitous exchange leads him to a pen-pal relationship with a girl named Inu-cara, eventually leading to intimate moments spent together.
As the narrative progresses, their relationship is depicted, showcasing her free-spirited nature and resilient desire to avoid an ordinary life, in stark contrast to Makoto’s demanding job that consumes his time and passion. Ultimately, the strain results in her departure, leaving him in a cycle of unfulfilled potential.
Returning to the present, Makoto encounters Nanase once again, who finds himself struggling after his pub’s unfortunate closure. This encounter brings the film full circle as they reflect on their turbulent lives, culminating back at the scene where they both once found themselves on the ground. After a ride in a taxi, Makoto disembarks and wanders through the evocative streets adorned with memories of Kaori. The love hotel where they shared beautiful moments is now shut down, and as he revisits various poignant locations, he grapples profoundly with the sentiments surrounding his relationships and the ceaseless path to adulthood that constantly eluded him.
Last Updated: December 03, 2024 at 14:27
Still wondering what the ending of We Couldn't Become Adults (2021) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.
In the final moments of “We Couldn’t Become Adults,” Sato’s realization hits hard. After many years, he reconnects with Kaori through Facebook, only to discover she is happily married with children. This revelation surprises him because he’d held onto her memory as the person who defined what was ‘not ordinary’ in his life and who inspired him to rebel against the mundane. He had believed that living by his own rules meant avoiding the “ordinary,” but now he sees that his obsession with being different kept him trapped in a kind of emotional immaturity.
Kaori’s words haunted him — “It’s not where you go but who you go with” — emphasizing that life’s richness comes from the connections and relationships, not from trying to stand out or be unique for the sake of it. Sato had spent decades pretending to be extraordinary, but in doing so, he missed out on real growth and genuine happiness. His life, which he always viewed as ‘ordinary,’ was actually filled with moments and experiences that he failed to appreciate because he was obsessed with avoiding the ‘ordinary’ and living in a dream of his own making.
Ultimately, the film’s ending reveals that Sato’s inability to fully embrace adulthood wasn’t just about age; it was about his refusal to accept the reality of life’s ordinary, yet meaningful, stages. His youthful rebelliousness kept him from truly maturing. The story closes on his quiet reflection, acknowledging that true growth involves accepting life as it is — messy, ordinary, and often unpredictable — rather than trying to live a version of life that’s always just out of reach. In the end, Sato understands that growing up means recognizing the value in the simple, everyday moments he once dismissed as boring or meaningless, and embracing them as part of what it truly means to be an adult.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:58
Don't stop at just watching — explore We Couldn't Become Adults 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 We Couldn't Become Adults is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
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