Izumi Takahashi

Traditional Japanese wooden Daruma dolls have no ears. The classmates of this film’s hearing impaired heroine gave her the nickname ‘Dari Marusan’ in reference to such dolls. While Dari has now adopted the name as her own, she hasn’t got over the hurt.

"The Soup, One Morning" depicts the gradual dissolution of a relationship caused by mental illness. Kitagawa and Shizu are lovers and roommates. Suffering from a panic disorder, Kitawgawa estranges himself from the world and entraps himself in the claustrophobic confines of the apartment. He leaves only to attend his new seminar. Initially heartened by his interest in this new venture, Shizu senses something fishy when he shows up with a strange amulet and begins to fill their place with unfamiliar furniture. When he commences rambling about the karmic life, she realizes that the man she cares for has become a complete stranger.