Hanamizuki (2010)

Director:

Nobuhiro Doi

Writer:

Noriko Yoshida (screenplay)

Stars:

Yui Aragaki, Tôma Ikuta, Manatsu Hayashi

Cast

Credited cast:
Yui Aragaki	...	Sae
Tôma Ikuta	...	Kohei
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Manatsu Hayashi
Arata Iura	...	Keiichi hirasawa (as Arata)
Yûta Kanai	...	Tamotsu ohno
Kelly Karavites	...	Himself (credit only)
Yûichi Kimura
Yû Koyanagi
Yutaka Matsushige
Kaori Mizushima
Anastasia Morsucci	...	Co-Worker
Osamu Mukai
Hiroo Ohtaka
Misako Renbutsu
Ana Lucia Souza	...	Herself

Storyline

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

21 August 2010 (Japan)

Filming Locations:

Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan

Box Office

Budget:

$5,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chubu-nippon Broadcasting Company (CBC), Film Face Productions, Hokkaido Broadcasting Co.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Hanamizuki"
Performed by Yo Hitoto

User Reviews

Just loved it!

After watching a lot of Japanese romances, finally this one managed to touch me. All it takes is a simple script, beautiful acting and beautiful Hokkaido landscapes.

Sae lives in a small town in Hokkaido, she is hardworking and ambitious, trying to get into a university in Tokyo. She meets Kohei, a local boy who is training to be a fisherman. Even though their backgrounds are very different, they fall in love. The circumstances separate them and they have to struggle to keep their love alive.

For me, the best part of the movie was the beginning, when Sae and Kohei meet and gradually fall in love. It was innocent and sweet, a beautiful portrait of two teenagers in love. As the story continues, the plot either progresses too slowly, or has some far-fetched twists (like the almost-meeting in Canada), so the film is mostly kept together by the performances.

Tôma Ikuta gives a brilliant performance as Kohei. Sweet and lovable, hopelessly in love, a child facing adult decisions and responsibilities. He makes you smile and he makes you cry. Yui Aragaki was cute too, but definitely overshadowed by Ikuta.

I can't say it was flawless, but if you are a fan of Japanese romance, or even just romance actually, this is a must-see. And be ready for some tears and lots of "oh how cute..."!