is a 1931 Japanese silent film directed by Yasujirō Ozu and starring Tokihiko Okada and Emiko Yagumo. It was based on various stories in the Shoshimin-gai (Middle Class Avenue) series and shares influences with King Vidor's The Crowd. Most of the film takes place in Tokyo during a depression-like time in the beginning of the Shōwa period.

Plot

The story starts with a group of young men attending school drills under the direction of Mr. Omura (Tatsuo Saitō). Shinji Okajima (Tokihiko Okada) is seen goofing off, misbehaving, and upsetting his teacher. Okajima is disciplined, the drills resume. and the boys eventually graduate and go into the working world. Okajima has grown up, has a family, and works as an insurance salesman. On the day of their annual bonuses, the men are all anxious. Okajima's son (Hideo Sugawara) has his heart set on a bicycle. After receiving his bonus, Okajima writes the list of presents he will buy for his family. A co-worker named Rou-Shain Yamada (Takeshi Sakamoto) is laid off because his last two clients died shortly after signing their policies. Upset for him, Okajima gathers the other workers to "protest at least once" to the boss, but the others back down, and one such worker (Isamu Yamaguchi) challenges Okajima to make the protest himself. Okajima takes the challenge. While in the office, the boss is offended at the subject, and the two begin a comedic fight. By the end of the fight, Okajima is fired and bows as he leaves. He returns home with a scooter for his son, who immediately is disappointed and throws a tantrum. His wife Tsuma Sugako (Emiko Yagumo) returns from the market and tries to calm the boy while Choujo tells her what happened.