The Neighbor (2011)

"What exactly have I been waiting on"

The Neighbor was an odd story of orphans, loss, and found family. A four-hundred-year-old missing treasure complicates the lives of Takeda and Setsu, but never overshadows the bonds being created.

Government worker Takeda Shunsuke lives in a “don’t ask, don’t tell” existence he has created. Orphaned at a young age, he refuses to create any new relationships. He asks no questions about others and expects the same courtesy in return. Though he tries to keep people at a distance he takes in a “gay, suicidal, drug addict.” Initially complaining about his octogenarian neighbor’s late-night singing, he eventually befriends Isumi/Sanada Setsu who believes she has waited 400 years for him to marry her. Takeda also forms a bond with a mute orphan who has created problems for the orphanage he’s been assigned to. For a guy who doesn’t want anyone close to him, he manages to take in all the strays in his vicinity.

A historian believed that Setsu was the missing “princess” from his uncle’s mountain village and knew where a four-hundred-year-old treasure of gold was hidden. He planned to take custody of her so that the remaining villagers and their heirs would receive the treasure after her passing. When Takeda worked to make Setsu’s vision come true he ran into a mountain of bureaucracy trying to “protect” Setsu though they’d never done a thing to help the older women in her 60 years of isolation.

Takeda’s life changed as he reached out to the people around him. In the process he and Setsu began healing their traumas and pain. The “treasure” was unimportant to Takeda and Setsu, yet each unearthed gifts worth far more than gold as they stopped waiting and started living.

24 June 2026

Trigger warning: Suicide

Genre/tag notes: This was not a Mystery or Investigation in the typical way. Takeda did some research to better understand Setsu to help her, but nothing like a treasure hunt or criminal investigation or mystery. This was a story of healing old wounds and creating meaningful relationships.

Acting note: Ogaki Tomoya played Takeda Shunsuke. I only say three cast listings for him.

Minor spoilery thought below:


















The “treasure” ended up being reminiscent to the treasure discovered in the old folk song “One Tin Soldier.”

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