The Happy Yellow Handkerchief [Film and TV Commentary]

Coal miner Yusaku (Takakura Ken) accidentally beat to death a gangster who was provoking trouble and was sentenced to prison. In prison, he missed his wife Mitsue (Chieko Beisho) very much, but because he was afraid of delaying her life and future, he took the initiative to file for divorce and sincerely persuaded her to remarry. Before he was released from prison, Yongsaku wrote a letter to Guangzhi, saying that if she had not married someone else and was still waiting for his return, he would hang a yellow handkerchief on the flagpole in front of his house. If he could not see the yellow handkerchief, he would leave home. On the way home, Yusaku, who was worried about gains and losses, met a young couple (Tetsuya Takeda and Kaoru Momoi) who were driving and took their car to travel around some places. After that, he plucked up the courage to return to his hometown.