"Bijo Kan" (Beauty Canned), broadcast in 2005. A masterpiece of romance, a rare genre for the show. Despite the outlandish premise of an ideal woman emerging from a tin can, the story is lyrical and beautiful, and the depiction at the end is sure to have left many viewers with a tight feeling in their chests. The vibrant tones coloring the entire visual presentation and the lingering direction continue to capture the hearts of many fans to this day. The fresh performances of starring actors Satoshi Tsumabuki and Asami Usuda also shine, making it a film that lets emotions slowly sink in after watching. It is a highly acclaimed masterpiece among the romantic episodes of the series. (Starring: Satoshi Tsumabuki / Written and Directed by Masaya Kakei)
Synopsis Yuta (Satoshi Tsumabuki) is an unemployed freeter looking for work. He notices a plain-looking middle-aged man living next door, who constantly has beautiful women coming in and out of his room, and finds it suspicious. While his live-in girlfriend Haruko is away on a business trip, Yuta, driven by curiosity, sneaks into the man's room. There, he finds a can called "Beauty Canned" along with an instructional DVD, and takes them back to his own room. Following the instructions on the DVD, a 20-year-old girl named Saki appears.
Yuta immediately tries to initiate an erotic encounter, but Saki runs out of the room, saying, "Not all girls are like that." Yuta chases after her, and seeing the desperate look on her face when he finally finds her, he promises, "I won't do anything else," puts his jacket on her, and brings her back to his room. A strange cohabitation life begins. Saki cooks meals, cuts his hair... Learning from the instructional DVD that Saki was born and raised by the sea and loves it, Yuta invites her on a date to the beach. They spend a fun time together, and their feelings grow closer.
Yuta watches the rest of the instructional DVD and learns that Saki's "shelf life" has only a little time left. He goes out to buy an accessory that Saki wanted. While Yuta is out of the room, Saki accidentally finds her own instructional DVD and realizes that she is a "Beauty Canned" product. When Yuta returns to the room, he sees the instructional DVD left on the desk, grasps the situation, and tries to go look for Saki. Just then, Haruko returns from her business trip.
Haruko asks a flustered Yuta what is wrong, but Yuta covers by saying it's nothing and that he just needs to go out for a bit, and starts changing his clothes. A barcode stamped on the lower back of Yuta peeks out. It's the stamp of the shelf life. Yuta's expiration date is today. Seeing that, Haruko's expression darkens.
Yuta's back recedes into the distance. Haruko sits on the bed, deep in thought with a gloomy expression. There sits a woman who is neither beautiful nor young anymore, exhausted from being chased by work.
Yuta runs through the rain, searching for her. She was at a park overlooking the sea. Saki sits alone on a bench in the rain, looking devastated. Yuta rushes to her side. However, his thoughts cannot find words. The two continue to stand in the rain as dusk falls. The screen fades to dark. The credits for "Tales of the Unusual" roll.
What is the meaning of the ending? Question I just watched a video of "Tales of the Unusual," but the ending of Satoshi Tsumabuki's "Beauty Canned" was too dark to see clearly, and I didn't understand the meaning at all. If anyone remembers it or understands what the ending meant, please, I'd really like you to explain it in detail (>_<)
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