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.
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.
Shoko and Mutsuki get married to satisfy their worried parents, but she is well past the age at which a 'good' Japanese woman should marry, and he is in love with a young male college student. The film is less a realistic exploration of gay life than a fairy tale of three young Japanese trying to construct an alternative to the sexual and familial roles given to them by a society turning increasingly emotionally barren.L.
