The latest film adapted from the works of manga artist Rieko Saibara, whose positive attitude toward life's difficulties has won legions of fans, will open Saturday in theaters nationwide.

The fifth feature film based on her manga is "Mainichi Kasan" ("Everyday Mom"), a humorous yet touching depiction of Saibara's own struggles in life — being a mother of two and the wife of an alcoholic, getting divorced and then taking her dying ex-husband back into her home as he battles cancer.

The original manga series has sold more than a million copies and was made into a weekly animated TV series still on the air.