Making charcoal (binchotan) is a traditional craft handed down from father to son. The work is time-consuming, and preparing the material and tending the fire is complex. Binchotan is an indispensable part of many traditional Japanese disciplines. Hiroshi takes his role in continuing the tradition seriously, neglecting his wife and his teenage son who faces bullying but keeps it secret from his parents. The charcoal no longer sells as well as it used to, raising Hiroshi’s concerns about his family’s future. Another character is Mitsuhiko, a single man without children. His primary concerns are his old father and his job at a user car dealership. The third man in the plot, the visibly traumatised Eisuke returns to the abandoned house left behind his mother following years spent in Japanese Self-Defence Forces. Following an initially awkward encounter, the three middle-aged men become inseparable friends again. The little boy never disappears from an adult man’s soul. Paradoxically, not one of the three friends can tackle his own issues but is able to help the others. Hiroshi gets to realise the importance of his own family. Another World shows the world of men where violence is simply inevitable in certain situations. A severe plot twist at the end will test the strength of friendship and family ties.
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