Considered Nakayama’s masterpiece and awarded at the Festival International du Film Amateur in Cannes, Little Bear Story opens with a mother telling a story to her son, who struggles to fall asleep. The narrative explores themes of maternal love and independence, unfolding through bear puppets of a cub and its mother. The puppets were handmade by Nakayama’s wife, and the couple constructed an elaborate diorama in their home for the film’s production.