A film adaptation of the Naoki Prize-winning novel by Kadoi Yoshinobu, Father of the Milky Way Railroad, offers a moving portrayal of the family that supported poet and author Miyazawa Kenji. Directed by Narushima Izuru (Rebirth), the film delves into the personal and emotional struggles behind Kenji’s literary legacy. 

Kenji (Suda Masaki), the eldest son of wealthy pawnbroker Masajiro (Yakusho Koji), is raised to inherit the family business. Rejecting this path as “bullying the weak,” he escapes to Tokyo in pursuit of a spiritual life. Back home, his beloved sister Toshi (Mori Nana), the one who understands him most, is diagnosed with tuberculosis. To encourage her, Kenji begins writing heartfelt stories — works that would become the foundation of his literary legacy.