Fujiwara, Chiyoko

藤原千代子

Chiyoko spent her youth in Japan during World War II, managing a confectionery shop alongside her domineering mother, until a film studio director approached her with an invitation to act in their next production. Without consulting Chiyoko, her mother intervened and sharply rejected the offer, dismissing acting as a "dubious profession."
Later that day, Chiyoko was accidentally knocked over by a mysterious man fleeing from police. Despite his haste, he paused to help her up and apologize for the collision. This gesture of kindness impressed Chiyoko, prompting her to distract the officers while he hid. She secretly allowed him to stay in her shop's storage room, where he shared stories of his homeland and expressed his hope to complete a painting of a snowy landscape once the war ended. Chiyoko soon noticed a skeleton key around his neck, which he described as the key to "the most important thing there is." She asked him to wait until the following day to reveal what that important thing was.
Unfortunately, that opportunity never arose. Upon returning to school, Chiyoko learned that the police had discovered the man hiding in her storage room. She found his key outside, stained with blood from his injuries. A shop clerk hinted that he had fled to the train station, and Chiyoko rushed to pursue him. She ultimately failed to reach him in time to stop him, but made a vow to return his key to him under any circumstances. This resolve led her to defy her mother's wishes, and Chiyoko began making movies.