Satoko Ôshima

Shinichi and Chikako Ohara have been married for 50 years. After Shinichi retired from his job, he has stayed at home, which Chikako stresses over. They are on the verge of having a divorce. Meanwihle, their daughter, Aya runs a food truck. She meets Ryota Kanno who is her customer. Ryota recently began working as a funeral undertaker and invites Aya to attend the Oshukatsu Fair. Aya also recommends to her mother Chikako to attend the Oshukatsu Fair. Chikako gets the latest information on preparing for death at the fair, but Shinichi doesn't like that. Their relationship gets even worse.

The Story of the 1 Litre of Tears special takes place after the events in the main drama. The Special takes the view of Asou Haruto who is remembering life the way it used to be before the events of the last episode of the series.

Elementary schoolgirls find a puppy and decide to take care of it. Learning and giving lessons in supportive-ness, loyalty, and friendship.

An officer struggles to solve a murder case despite being at odds with his lieutenant. Officer Tetsubei discovers the body of a man whose face has been crushed and his fingerprints erased. Tetsubei describes the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body, including his own theory, and is angered by Lieutenant Yukari. That night, Tetsubei visits the shop of Kanako, whom he has a secret crush on. There, Mizutani, Kanako's husband, who has been missing for seven years, appears.

フリーでイタリア語の翻訳をしている香山笑子は親の勧めで見合いをすることになった。相手は30歳の医師・岸田睦月。笑子は情緒不安定でアルコール依存症、睦月は同性愛者だったが、それを納得して2人は結婚する。新婚生活がしばらく過ぎた頃、笑子は睦月の恋人・藤島紺に接触しようとする。最初は警戒した紺だったが、ある夜、睦月が帰宅すると紺がやって来ていた。3人の間には、友情とも愛情ともつかぬ不思議な関係ができあがりつつあった。睦月は笑子を好きになっていたが、彼女を抱くことはできず、彼女の親友・瑞穂に笑子に恋人を紹介してやってほしいと言う。それを知った笑子はショックを受けた。紺もまた笑子の方に同情的だった。やがて笑子の両親に、瑞穂を通して睦月が同性愛者であることが知れ渡り、離婚騒ぎになる。笑子は睦月と別れないためにも、人口受精で子供を作ることを考えるが、睦月は猛反対する。関係のバランスの崩れた笑子、睦月、紺の3人は気まずい気持ちのまま夜の街を車で走っていく。途中、笑子がひとり車を降りて夜の闇の中に走り去る。睦月を責める紺。夜明けが来た。倒れるまで走り続けた笑子の前に、睦月と紺の優しい笑顔があった。