The Zen Diary

Elderly writer Tsutomu lives alone with his pet dog "Prickly-ash" in a mountain cottage in Shinshū. Having been sent to serve at a Zen temple at age nine where he learned Buddhist cuisine, he now grows his own vegetables, forages for edible wild plants, and cooks. He records this daily life in his manuscripts. Occasionally, his editor and young lover Machiko visits him, eating the meals he prepares with obvious relish. Tsutomu has yet to inter the ashes of his wife, Yaeko, who died thirteen years ago.

When Tsutomu visits Yaeko's mother, Chie, she reproaches him for not having built a grave for Yaeko. Chie later passes away. Her funeral is held at Tsutomu's mountain cottage. Machiko rushes from Tokyo and is busy preparing for the funeral.

After the funeral, Tsutomu suggests Machiko move into the mountain cottage, but she replies she needs time to think about it. Shortly after, Tsutomu suffers a heart attack and collapses. Concerned, Machiko offers to live with him, but Tsutomu, who had begun deeply contemplating death, declines.

At night, even when he goes to sleep prepared to die, morning still comes unchanged. Tsutomu scatters Chie and Yaeko's ashes into the lake. Later, Machiko comes to tell him she is engaged to another young novelist. Tsutomu congratulates her and sends her on her way. In the snow-covered mountain cottage, he clasps his hands as he faces a carefully prepared meal.