[1] Eight-year-old Kenichi Taniki (Teppei Yamada) and his family live next to the Shibecha Line, in a small village near the Kushiro Marshlands.

Kenichi's father Masao (Tomokazu Miura) is a train driver, but the rail line will be closed by autumn.

After finding a new job at an insurance company in Sapporo, Masao plans a move for his family.

The children of the village learned to love nature from local forest ranger Mr. Oriya (Takuzo Kawatani).

The children's elementary school teacher Haruko (Mayumi Wakamura) even gives them the day off so they can look after the animal.

Filming took place mainly in Kushiro, Shibecha, Shibetsu and Betsukai in Hokkaido.

Cinematographer Akira Shiizuka was a specialist in animal photography who shot several animal-related films, including the 1983 blockbuster Antarctica.

The train scenes were shot on the Senmō Main Line, and Tōro Station served as the fictional, defunct terminal where Kenichi hides Lucky.