Clover 2014

Romance

Comedy

Box Office

$5.4M

Runtime

120 mins

Language

Japanese

Directed by

Takeshi Furusawa

Made by

Toho

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Clover Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Clover (2014). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Saya Suzuki, Emi Takei, is a hotel employee at Hotel Toyo who labors under the steady gaze of her supervisor, Susumu Tsuge, Tadayoshi Okura. He is portrayed as a proud, well-educated, and career-driven man who keeps the front desk and corridors humming with a strict, but fair, professional cadence. Saya, a bit scatterbrained and prone to mistakes, often finds herself under Tsuge’s corrective eye, which creates a tense but undeniably functional dynamic at the workplace.

One day, in a moment that catches her off guard, Tsuge asks her out on a date. Reluctantly, Saya agrees, curiosity mixing with a hint of anxiety about what such an unexpected invitation could mean for her already complicated life. On the date, she opens up about a long-ago chapter with Haruki Hino, Kento Nagayama, a famous singer and aspiring theatre artist. In their school days, Saya and Haruki were deeply in love and even eloped, only to be found by the police. They believed that finding a four-leaf clover signified that they had found the one. The elopement’s failure sent Haruki to America, leaving Saya heartbroken. He returns later as a teen idol, a public symbol that stirs old emotions and new insecurities in Saya.

Tsuge, ever practical, suggests that he rehabilitate Saya—helping her move toward loving again, with time and distance. As the pair navigate an organized event together, Saya and Haruki meet again and reconnect, gradually forming a bond of friendship that is tinged with shared history and unspoken romantic tension.

Meanwhile, Tsuge’s career ambitions push him toward a foreign branch of Hotel Toyo. He accepts the opportunity, and rumors swirl about his potential romance with Shiori Tsutsui, the hotel owner’s daughter, Natsuna Watanabe. Those rumors feed Saya’s insecurities as she confronts the realities of a growing distance between them during Tsuge’s six-month work assignment.

During Tsuge’s absence, Saya and Haruki spend more time together, and their relationship—rooted in memories and mutual understanding—becomes more intimate as they lean on each other for support. When Tsuge finally returns, Shiori becomes engaged to him, and photos of Saya and Haruki appear in the media, fueling a whirlwind of gossip and doubt. Saya challenges Tsuge about the engagement and his closeness with Shiori, and he begins to doubt Saya’s relationship with Haruki. The tension peaks as Saya and Tsuge end their relationship; Haruki, sensing the opportunity, makes a move to rekindle what they once shared, but Saya chooses to stay committed to Tsuge.

Complications multiply when Shiori drugs Tsuge to spend the night with her and uses the act to blackmail him into marrying her. Their engagement is publicly announced at a gala, and the party scene becomes a clash of old loyalties and new desires. Saya is tasked with delivering a bouquet to the engaged couple, but she drops it in a moment of heartbreak and jealousy, only to search frantically for a four-leaf clover that might vindicate her feelings.

In a dramatic turn, Tsuge declares his love for Saya in front of everyone, an act that shifts the room’s mood and complicates the power dynamics at the hotel. Yet the reconciliation is not straightforward: Tsuge’s pride fractures, and he becomes increasingly submissive to Shiori, a development that strains his own sense of purpose. The hotel CEO is moved by Tsuge’s outburst for Saya and grants him the chance to keep his job, a precarious but meaningful victory.

As the story unfolds, Saya loses the clover once more but eventually discovers it tucked under a table, a symbolic sign that she may have found her true match at last. The film closes with a post-credits glimpse of a final, lasting union: Saya and Tsuge are married, their complicated history giving way to a quiet future together.

Clover Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Clover (2014) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Saya starts working at Hotel Toyo and is asked out by Tsuge

Saya Suzuki works under supervisor Susumu Tsuge at Hotel Toyo and is frequently scolded for mistakes. One day Tsuge unexpectedly asks her out, catching her off guard. She agrees reluctantly, setting the stage for a complicated relationship.

early in the story Hotel Toyo

Saya and Haruki’s past elopement and the four-leaf clover symbol

In school days, Saya and Haruki Hino fall in love and elope. They are soon found by the police, ending their attempt. Both believe that finding a four-leaf clover means they have found 'the one', a superstition that haunts Saya into adulthood.

school days School days

Haruki returns as a teen idol

Haruki is sent to America after their elopement and heartbreak. Years later he returns to the city as a teen icon, triggering Saya's lingering feelings and prompting Tsuge to help Saya move on. Saya is unsettled by Haruki's sudden reappearance.

years after elopement; Haruki's return America; hometown

Haruki and Saya reconnect during a hotel event

Tsuge proposes that he will rehabilitate Saya until she can love again, and during a hotel event Saya and Haruki reconnect. They become friends again, reviving old memories but keeping things cautious. The encounter sets the stage for future tension with Tsuge's plans.

after Haruki's return Hotel Toyo; event venue

Tsuge accepts a foreign branch assignment; rumors begin

Tsuge agrees to work at the hotel's foreign branch, a move that fuels rumors about him and the hotel owner's daughter Shiori. Saya feels insecure about the possible romance, fearing competition for Tsuge's affections. The gossip strains their fragile relationship.

before six-month overseas assignment Hotel Toyo; planning office

Six-month foreign assignment; Tsuge grows distant

Tsuge departs for the foreign branch for six months, returning with a more distant personality. During his absence, Saya's bond with Haruki grows stronger. The distance intensifies Saya's insecurity and Tsuge's perceived unavailability.

six months later Foreign branch; hometown

Return and Shiori's engagement; photos leak

When Tsuge returns, Shiori is engaged to him, and photographs of Saya with Haruki are published, fueling rumors and jealousy. Saya confronts Tsuge about his proximity to Shiori and the press attention. Tsuge's loyalty to Saya is called into question.

upon Tsuge's return Hotel Toyo; press area

Saya confronts Tsuge; relationship ends

Saya accuses Tsuge of betrayal or indecisiveness amid his engagement with Shiori. The confrontation leads to the end of Saya and Tsuge's relationship. Haruki uses the moment to try to rekindle their childhood elopement memories.

shortly after return Hotel lobby

Haruki makes a move on Saya; Saya chooses Tsuge

Haruki attempts to woo Saya by reviving childhood memories of their elopement, but Saya decides to return to Tsuge. The choice marks a turning point in her relationships and motivates the ensuing conflict. Haruki's gesture underscores the depth of Saya's commitment to Tsuge.

after breakup City; various locations

Shiori drugs Tsuge and blackmails marriage

Shiori drugs Tsuge to force him to spend the night with her and then uses the incident as blackmail to coerce marriage. The engagement with Shiori is publicly announced, heightening Saya's insecurity and prompting a dramatic confrontation. A party to celebrate the engagement is planned.

before engagement party Hotel; Shiori's room

Saya attends the engagement party; bouquet and clover

Saya attends the engagement party and is tasked with delivering the bouquet to the engaged couple. She drops the bouquet in a moment of tension, and a four-leaf clover is revealed as she searches for it. The clover becomes a symbol of destiny in their romance.

during engagement party Party hall; venue

Tsuge declares his love for Saya

In front of guests, Tsuge proclaims his love for Saya, disrupting the wedding plans and shocking the onlookers. The declaration shifts the balance of power and exposes the romantic stakes of their relationship. The crowd is left in suspense as decisions loom.

during party Party hall

Tsuge's pride wanes; he becomes submissive to Shiori

It is revealed that Tsuge loses some of his pride, becoming submissive to Shiori, which bores her and complicates the power dynamics. This turn of events humbles Tsuge and undermines his authority at times. The revelation adds a darker layer to the relationship.

after declaration Hotel/office

CEO supports Tsuge's love for Saya

Moved by Tsuge's outburst for Saya, the hotel CEO decides to let him keep his job, choosing personal loyalty over the scandal. This support helps stabilize Tsuge's standing in the company. The outcome frees Saya and Tsuge to pursue their relationship again.

after outburst Hotel CEO's office

Clover symbol finalizes the couple; they wed

Saya loses her clover momentarily and finds it again under a table as Tsuge reaches for it, symbolizing that they have found 'the one'. In the end, post-credits, Saya and Tsuge are shown getting married. The clover serves as a motif tying their childhood belief to their future.

late story; post-credits Hotel/private ceremony; post-credits

Clover Characters

Explore all characters from Clover (2014). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Saya Suzuki (Emi Takei)

Saya is a hotel employee at Hotel Toyo who is described as dimwitted and prone to mistakes, often scolded by her supervisor, Susumu Tsuge. Her past with Haruki Hino—the elopement and ensuing heartbreak—drives her longing for a stable, loving relationship. In the present, she grapples with insecurity as rumors about Tsuge and Shiori swirl, while navigating her evolving feelings for Tsuge and Haruki.

💬 Past love 🏨 Hotel life 🧭 Insecurity

Haruki Hino (Kento Nagayama)

Haruki is a famous singer and aspiring theatre artist who returns as a teen idol. In school days he and Saya eloped, believing they had found the one. He rekindles a friendship with Saya during Tsuge’s absence and re-enters her life as a potential partner, even as fame and past memories complicate their relationship.

🌟 Fame 🎤 Pop star 🕰️ Flashbacks

Susumu Tsuge (Tadayoshi Okura)

A section chief at Hotel Toyo, Tsuge is proud, educated, and career-driven. He pursues a foreign-branch opportunity, which strains his relationship with Saya and invites rumors with Shiori. His pride wavers under pressure; he becomes more submissive to Shiori, but ultimately proclaims his love for Saya, and the hotel’s CEO intervenes to allow him to keep his job.

🎯 Career-driven 🏢 Authority 💼 Relationship strain

Shiori Tsutsui (Natsuna Watanabe)

Shiori is the hotel owner's daughter who becomes entangled with Tsuge and becomes a focal point of rumors. She drugs Tsuge to spend the night with him and uses this to blackmail him into marriage. Her engagement to Tsuge is announced, and she exerts a controlling influence over the relationship, driving much of the plot’s manipulation and tension.

💎 Manipulation 🎭 Scheming 💍 Marriage pressure

Clover Settings

Learn where and when Clover (2014) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

21st century

The film is set in contemporary Japan, reflecting modern workplace culture and media dynamics. It moves between present-day hotel life and school-day flashbacks that reveal Saya and Haruki’s past. The presence of a returning teen idol and current publicity anchors the period in a modern, media-aware era.

Location

Hotel Toyo

The story centers on Hotel Toyo, a bustling property where Saya works under supervisor Susumu Tsuge. Much of the drama unfolds within the hotel’s corridors, meeting rooms, and the event halls where staff manage high-pressure obligations. The foreign-branch opportunities and social events create a backdrop of ambition, rumors, and romance that drive the plot.

🏨 Hotel setting 💼 Workplace drama 🎉 Event venues

Clover Themes

Discover the main themes in Clover (2014). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

💖

Romance

Saya and Haruki’s past romance and its emotional resonance drive the central relationship. Their renewed connection collides with Haruki’s fame, Saya’s insecurities, and the social pressures surrounding the hotel world. The narrative tests trust, heartbreak, and the possibility of choosing love over status. The four-leaf clover motif suggests that true connection may surface when expected least.

🎭

Reputation

Rumors about Tsuge and Shiori threaten Saya’s sense of security and complicate the relationships at the heart of the story. Public photos of Saya and Haruki blur lines between private life and professional perception. The hotel setting amplifies how appearances influence decisions and loyalties. The plot uses these pressures to explore what people owe to others and themselves.

💼

Power

Tsuge’s role as a section chief and his career ambitions drive many choices in the plot, including moves to a foreign branch. The dynamic with Shiori tests loyalty, control, and how power shifts within personal relationships. His pride falters under pressure, and he becomes more compliant to Shiori, creating a tense power struggle. The hotel CEO’s intervention shows that personal life and work can intersect in meaningful ways.

🍀

Destiny

Four-leaf clovers recur as a motif for finding 'the one' beyond planning. The past elopement dream versus present reality frames the idea that fate may catch up with the characters. Saya finding the clover as Tsuge reaches for it signals that true partnership has been found. The ending confirms the couple’s marriage, tying fate and choice together.

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Clover Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Clover (2014). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the polished corridors of Hotel Toyo, an ordinary employee finds herself caught between ambition and affection. Saya Suzuki moves through the bustling lobby with a mixture of earnest diligence and endearing scatter‑brained charm, navigating the demanding expectations of a workplace that values precision above all. The hotel itself feels like a character, its sleek modernity and quiet elegance framing the everyday dramas that unfold behind the front desk.

Against this backdrop, Susumu Tsuge presides as the hotel’s elite supervisor—proud, well‑educated, and fiercely career‑driven. His meticulous approach to management creates a professional rhythm that both challenges and inspires those around him, especially Saya, whose occasional missteps spark a dynamic of correction, tension, and unexpected connection. The atmosphere hums with a blend of corporate formality and undercurrent of personal yearning, hinting at possibilities that extend beyond the polished veneer.

The story also glimmers with the memory of a past love, embodied by Haruki Hino, a charismatic former classmate turned public figure. Their shared history, marked by youthful idealism and a symbolic four‑leaf clover, lingers in Saya’s thoughts, adding layers of nostalgia and intrigue to her present choices. Meanwhile, the hotel’s owner’s daughter, Shiori Tsutsui, moves through the same circles, her presence subtly influencing the delicate balance of relationships. Together, these characters inhabit a world where professional aspirations, lingering sentiments, and quiet symbols intertwine, setting the stage for a delicate exploration of growth, desire, and the search for something truly rare.