Kikuo Hasumi (Kenichi Takito) is a quiet pharmacist living with his vibrant and positive wife Minako. Since they live a low-key life , Kikuo is shocked when Minako suddenly quits her job and makes plans to take a trip to France! He can’t understand why she would do this on what seems like the spur of the moment, but knows she knows best.
In her beloved Honda she affectionately calls “Grace”, she says her goodbyes before leaving for Narita Airport where she’ll board the flight for France. She worries that he’ll be lonely without her, but he assures her that being alone is like second nature to him and that she should enjoy her vacation!!
Kikuo sends her off with a smile, but what he doesn’t know is that this is the last time he will ever see her alive. Some weeks later, Kikuo gets word of a horrible accident involving a Tour Bus in France, and his worst fears are confirmed when he arrives and she is among the passengers who died in the tragedy.
For the next few weeks, Kikou is a wreck, and he spends his days lying listlessly in the house alone. It’s only when Minako’s car is returned to him that he is forced to come out and interact with people.
The Car is among the items willed to Kikuo by Minako, with the written hope he will use it and learn to enjoy driving it like she did. Kikuo has never driven before, so must take lessons before he can get behind the wheel of Grace. But when he does, he finds a curious thing in the car’s GPS tracking system… A record of a FULL WEEK worth of traveling in Japan BEFORE her flight to France!
MAN, this was one heart-wrenching and bittersweet drama! Very sombre and slow paced, I had to take the drama in small doses to really appreciate what it had to offer. Loved going along with Kikuo on his spiritual journey and thought the ending was just achingly perfect!
This was a drama from last season that I only now finished, and have to say it’s one of the season’s finer ones!
