Yearning (1964): Cast & Plot
Yearning is a 1964 romantic drama directed by Mikio Naruse, starring Hideko Takamine as Reiko Morita, Yûzô Kayama and Yumi Shirakawa. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Mikio Naruse
- Original language
-
Japanese - Studio
- Toho
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Yearning About?
The premise of Yearning without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After her husband dies in the war, Reiko takes over the family’s modest grocery shop, restoring it and running it from their home. Decades later, a new supermarket opens nearby, jeopardizing the shop’s clientele, and her in‑laws plot to replace the small store with a modern supermarket, threatening Reiko’s livelihood.
Yearning Themes & Keywords
· 21 tags- train
- train station
- love
- suicide
- motorcycle
- police station
- telephone call
- fight
- drunk
- bar
- egg
- family relationships
+9 more Show fewer
- brother in law sister in law relationship
- brother in law
- widow
- supermarket
- grocery store
- shop
- japan
- 1960s
- one word title
Yearning Cast & Characters
Hideko Takamine leads the cast as Reiko Morita, with Yûzô Kayama as Koji Morita and Yumi Shirakawa as Takako Morita. Directed by Mikio Naruse; 21 actors are credited in all.
- Director Mikio Naruse
- Hideko Takamine as Reiko Morita
- Yûzô Kayama as Koji Morita
- Yumi Shirakawa as Takako Morita
- Aiko Mimasu as Shizu Morita
Also Starring in Yearning
· 17 more- Kumeko Urabe Bar Madam
- Mie Hama Ruriko
- Haruo Nakajima Shopkeeper
- Chieko Nakakita Mrs. Kaga
- Yutaka Sada Mr. Murata
- Mitsuko Kusabue Hisako Morizono
- Yû Fujiki Mr. Nomizo
- Kazuo Kitamura Mr. Morizono
- Hisao Toake Mr. Okamoro
- Kan Yanagiya Mr. Kaga
- Gen Shimizu
- Yutaka Nakayama
- Yasuzō Ogawa
- Yasuhiko Saijō
- Toshiko Yabuki
- Wakako Tanabe
Show all 21 cast members Show fewer cast members
More from Mikio Naruse
More films directed by Mikio Naruse: Moment of Terror, The Thin Line, A Woman’s Life and A Wanderer’s Notebook.
Yearning Plot Summary
What happens in Yearning from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
For 18 years, war widow Reiko Morita Hideko Takamine has run a grocery shop within the house of her late husband’s family. A new supermarket threatens to push the little store out of business, and Reiko’s sisters-in-law quietly conspire to transform the family’s shop into a supermarket of its own, hoping to push her aside. Among the family, the only one who stands with Reiko is her brother-in-law, the 25-year-old Kōji Morita Yūzō Kayama. He is often drawn into drunken brawls, yet his loyalty to Reiko remains clear, and he eventually confesses that he has always loved her. She responds that her feelings for him are those of a family bond, not a romantic one.
Full summary
The whole story of Yearning, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Yearning?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What kind of shop has Reiko Morita been running for the past 18 years?
Seen Yearning?
Movies Like Yearning
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Rendezvous, Marriage and Late Spring.
Yearning FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Yearning, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Yearning?
Yearning runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was Yearning released?
Yearning was released on January 15, 1964.
Who directed Yearning?
Yearning was directed by Mikio Naruse.
More films by Mikio Naruse Who is in the cast of Yearning?
Yearning stars Hideko Takamine as Reiko Morita, Yûzô Kayama as Koji Morita and Yumi Shirakawa as Takako Morita, among 21 credited actors.
Does Yearning have a post-credit scene?
No. Yearning has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Yearning in?
The original language of Yearning is Japanese.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
