Keiko, a young, confused and irresponsible single mother tasked with four children sneaks them into a new apartment, instructing them that only the eldest,12-year-old Akira, can be seen, and that the others must remain hidden. Over time, Keiko leaves them increasingly alone, eventually abandoning the children completely, only leaving behind an envelope of cash. Akira, his two sisters, Kyoko and Yuki, and their irrepressible younger brother, Shigeru,...

Fashioned as a tribute to his parents, the film depicts one day in the life of the Yokoyamas, gathered together for a celebratory ritual that only gradually makes itself clear. Rather than focus on big dramatic moments, Kore-eda relies on simple gestures and domestic routines (especially cooking) to evoke a family's entire life, its deep regrets and its daily joys.