Kaori Sawai

Bank on the Other Side

Itsuki, who lives on welfare with her sick mother and baby sister, has given up on her dream of becoming a nurse and been hopeless for the future. One day, a transfer student named Kazuma, who has a secret about falling behind in his previous private middle school, joins Itsuki’s class. He also struggles under pressure from his elitist father. Sparked by this encounter, they break out of their circumstances and gradually find hope for the future on their own, involving many adults around them.

Undercurrent

Kanae's husband disappeared without a trace while on a union trip. Though usually headstrong and independent, the woman becomes plagued with worry over what happened to him, and is unable to move on with her life. Thus, Kanae decides to hire a private investigator, and keeps running the public bathhouse to the best of her abilities. As he tries to figure out the truth about her husband, Kanae must deal with the stress from a work-intensive job, meddlesome neighbors, and recurring nightmares in which she is drowning.

Call Me Chihiro

An unapologetic former sex worker starts working at a bento stand in a small seaside town, bringing comfort to the lonely souls who come her way.

Thorns of Love

Momo, 24, was recently dumped by Kentaro. Spotting his new girlfriend Riko on Instagram, Momo tracks her down and confronts her, proposing a secret alliance.

Skeleton Flowers

High school student, Yo, lived with her father, Nao, after her mother, Sachiyo, left the family when she was very young. However, their life together came to an end and they started a new life as a family of four with her father's second marriage partner, Miko, and her stepdaughter, four-year-old Hinata. She confides in Riku, who belongs to the same art club as Yo, about her confusion about this new life. Yo, who has been developing curiosity for her biological mother, Sachiyo, promises to go with Riku to Sachiyo's art exhibition.

Arc

Set in the near future, Rina lives a wandering life and she meets Ema. Ema becomes a mentor for Rina and Rina begins to work for Ema. Her job is called body works, which is to plasticize dead bodies for people who lost loved ones. Meanwhile, Ema’s younger brother Amane develops technology that is finally able to achieve immortality. Rina becomes the first recipient of the technology. She can now live forever, while having a 30-year-old appearance, but ...

What Is Love?

Teruko is a 28-year-old office worker. 5 months ago, she fell in love with Mamoru at first sight. Since that time, she has not cared about her work or her friends. She then loses her job and her friends look at her coldly. Yet, Teruko is happy as long as she is with Mamoru. Meanwhile, Mamoru thinks Teruko is an easy woman for him to not love. Teruko’s unrequited love grows deeper.

Whistling after Dark

Kuroshi Mayama, age 14, lives alone with his mother Namiko. Though he was just under the age of one when he came to this town with his mom, he remembers everything from that day: Gettings on the bus in his mom's arms, an old woman who spoke some words to him, and the encounter with a poet... One night, with Kuroshi's birthday approaching, Father shows up unexpectedly. He insists that he and Kuroshi's mother had made an arrangement – that Kuroshi was to live with his mother until his 15th birthday and then live with his father. As Kuroshi's world gets turned upside down, his family, the people around him and even himself start to change.

A Lush Life

The story involves an aloof thief, a young man who turns to God after his father’s suicide, a manipulative marriage councilor, a man who recently lost his job, and several others whose lives become intertwined in various unexpected ways.