Little Forest: Summer/Autumn

Ichiko leaves the city behind after a heartbreak to return to her rural hometown of Komori. Living in isolation, she sustains herself through the land, growing her own vegetables and baking bread. As she navigates the challenges of the seasons, from humid summer rains to the autumn harvest of rice and sweet potatoes, she reflects on her decision to leave the village five years prior. The story focuses on her connection to nature and the process of preparing food from seasonal ingredients.

Directed and written by Junichi Mori, this drama was the first of two films in the series, followed by Little Forest: Winter/Spring in 2015. The film stars Ai Hashimoto as Ichiko, with a supporting cast that includes Takahiro Miura, Mayu Matsuoka, Yoichi Nukumizu, Karen Kirishima, and Momone Shinokawa. Produced by companies including Robot Communications and Shochiku, the movie has been well received by viewers. It holds a rating of 7.6 on IMDb based on 4,000 votes and a 7.8 on TMDB from 124 votes.