A special metaphysical cookie to anyone who can identify the movie that the
characters Ryoko and Hideki were taken from. (Hideki's family name was 
changed
to Shiratori for this story, of course.)

A Taxing Woman, by Itami Juzo and his crew! Also known for Tampopo, A 
Taxing Woman's Return, The Funeral, Minbo, and no doubt many others I 
haven't had the pleasure of seeing yet.