Les Misérables - An Endless Journey (2019)

I personally like this new Japanese version than the 1998 version (the one with Liam Neeson). I'm going to write a long synopsis so those who are curious and want to compare this with the book could get an idea. For those who want to watch the movie, you'd better not continue reading. There will be spoilers.


1994 - Kobe
18 year-old Baba Jun escaped from prison because his younger brother needed a transplant, but he was too late. His younger brother has been dead. He then found refuge in some kind of youth center, where he met Watanabe Takumi and the two became friends. Takumi died during the Kobe earthquake in January 1995 and Baba Jun used Takumi's identity to begin a new life.

Baba Jun had gone into a juvenile detention center as a minor because he accidentally killed Mr Saito, who had cheated Baba Jun's mother out of her money. With a good attorney, Baba Jun actually should not have gone into prison; but unluckily his family was poor.

The late Mr Saito had a son, Saito Ryosuke. He was harassed by society because of his father's crime. Thus he held a grudge against Baba Jun, who had killed his father.

2004 - Tokyo
Baba Jun - now known as Watanabe Takumi - worked as a lawyer. He lived with Takumi's girlfriend.  In the course of his work, he met a young woman, Fuwa Yui, who had a little daughter named Kozue. Fuwa Yui, due to her work, entrusted Kozue to an illegal child care, managed by Mr & Mrs Tanabe. When Fuwa Yui died, Baba Jun took Kozue away and left Tokyo; after reporting the illegal child care to the authorities. Meanwhile, Saito Ryosuke - now a police detective - had found out Baba Jun's real identity, but there was no proof.

2018 - Fukushima
Kozue was now a beautiful young lady, met Usui Shin - a young politician, and the two fell in love. Shin's grandfather was against the relationship because Kozue's father's identity was unclear. 
The Tanabes, now bicycles thieves, found out about Kozue and Shin - from their daughter Erika, who worked at Shin's office. [Erika was much luckier than Éponine. She was clean and educated, not a beggar. Later she realized that her parents didn't love her as much as Baba Jun loved Kozue.] The Tanabes blackmailed Baba Jun: if he didn't give them money, they would announce that Shin's future wife's father was a murderer and a fugitive.

Baba Jun told Kozue to break off her relationship with Shin. She later told Shin that if she had to choose between Shin and her father, she would choose her father, because he loved her even though she was not his natural daughter.

When the police raided those bicycles thieves, the Tanabes attempted to kill Saito. They went into the woods to bury him, but Baba Jun came and saved the detective.

Shin suffered from hepatitis and needed a transplant. Baba Jun became the donor. It was then he realized why he had been living. Baba Jun asked Shin's grandfather to give consent to Shin - Kozue's marriage, and he himself would leave to avoid future troubles.

The scene where Baba Jun met Saito Ryosuke in the hospital showed the contrast between the two: one was serene and peaceful, while the other hateful and angry. 

It ended with Saito Ryosuke rode a car together with Baba Jun, perhaps heading to prison.