Kōhei's mother endures the harsh realities of post-war Japan, marked by extreme scarcity and profound poverty. Struggling to provide basic nutrition or care for her young son, she confronts dire circumstances with no means to sustain him. In an act of desperate maternal sacrifice, she leaves Kōhei at the gate of Takae Tsuneo's orphanage, believing this offers his sole chance for survival. Her brief but pivotal appearance centers entirely on this emotionally charged moment, embodying the severe struggles faced by civilians—particularly mothers—in the war's immediate aftermath. Her decision directly galvanizes Takae Tsuneo's intensified dedication to supporting destitute children through his orphanage, crystallizing the era's human cost in a single narrative instance.