Chihayafuru: Kami no Ku (ちはやふる 上の句) is a 2016 Japanese sports romantic teen drama film written and directed by Norihiro Koizumi[3] and starring Suzu Hirose, Shūhei Nomura, Mackenyu, Mone Kamishiraishi, Yūma Yamoto, Yūki Morinaga, Hiroya Shimizu, Miyuki Matsuda and Jun Kunimura. It is the first of three live action film adaptations of the manga series Chihayafuru, written and illustrated by Yuki Suetsugu.[4] The film was released in Japan by Toho on March 19, 2016.[5] It was followed by Chihayafuru: Shimo no Ku, released in Japan on April 29, 2016. Chihayafuru: Musubi, the third and final film in the series, was released in Japan on March 17, 2018.[6]
| Chihayafuru: Kami no Ku | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Japanese name | |
| Kanji | ちはやふる 上の句 |
| Directed by | Norihiro Koizumi |
| Screenplay by | Norihiro Koizumi |
| Based on | Chihayafuru by Yuki Suetsugu |
| Starring | Suzu Hirose Shūhei Nomura Mackenyu Mone Kamishiraishi Yūma Yamoto Yūki Morinaga Hiroya Shimizu Miyuki Matsuda Jun Kunimura |
| Music by | Masaru Yokoyama |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Toho |
Release date |
|
Running time | 111 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Box office | ¥1.63 billion[2] |
Plot
editIn elementary school, Chihaya Ayase forms a bond, through competitive karuta, with two of her Tokyo classmates; recent Fukui transfer student Arata Wataya and Taichi Mashima, her childhood friend. Arata is a prodigious karuta player whose dream is to become Meijin, the men's division karuta champion in Japan, equivalent to the women's division Queen title. He believes that Chihaya has the potential to become a great player. Inspired, Chihaya commits to a new dream, becoming Japan's best karuta player. Not content with only participating in their school's tournament, the trio team up and join a local karuta society. They are soon separated, at the end of primary school, when Arata moves back to Fukui while Taichi and Chihaya enrol in different middle schools. but not before promising each other to remain connected through karuta. In her first year in high school, karuta obsessed Chihaya is reunited with Taichi, when she is recruiting students to join her for karuta competitions. Together, they form the Mizusawa Karuta Club. Participation in tournaments enables them to reconnect with Arata. Unbeknownst to Chihaya, the two boys have fallen in love with her. With her teammates and friends supporting her, Chihaya continues to strive to become the best karuta player in the world, while forging relationships with other players.
Cast
edit- Suzu Hirose as Chihaya Ayase[7]
- Shūhei Nomura as Taichi Mashima[7]
- Mackenyu as Arata Wataya[7]
- Mone Kamishiraishi as Kanade Ōe[7]
- Yūma Yamoto as Yūsei Nishida[7]
- Yūki Morinaga as Tsutomu Komano[7]
- Hiroya Shimizu as Akihito Sudō[7]
- Mayu Matsuoka as Shinobu Wakamiya
- Miyuki Matsuda as Taeko Miyauchi[7]
- Jun Kunimura as Harada Hideo[7]
- Ryōtarō Sakaguchi as Hiro Kinashi[7]
- Alice Hirose as Chitose Ayase, Chihaya's sister (cameo)
- Masane Tsukayama as Hajime Wataya
Production
editThe film was shot at the Omi Shrine in Shiga Prefecture.[7] The theme song of the film is "FLASH" by the Japanese group Perfume.[8] The original soundtracks are composed by Masaru Yokoyama.
Release
editThe release date of the film was announced in December 2015 for March 19, 2016.[7][9]
Reception
editThe film reached the fourth place by admissions at the Japanese box office on its opening weekend, with 146,299 admissions and a gross of ¥179 million.[10]
Sequels
editA sequel, titled Chihayafuru: Shimo no Ku, was released in Japan on April 29, 2016.[7] Another sequel was announced at Chihayafuru: Shimo no Ku's premiere. This third and final film, titled Chihayafuru: Musubi, was released on March 17, 2018.
Awards
edit| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Recipients | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 41st Hochi Film Award | Best Picture | Chihayafuru | Nominated |
| Best Director | Norihiro Koizumi | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress | Suzu Hirose | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Mayu Matsuoka | Nominated | ||
| Best New Artist | Nominated | |||
| Mackenyu | Nominated | |||
| 2017 | 40th Japan Academy Prize | Best Actress | Suzu Hirose | Nominated |
| Newcomer of the Year | Mackenyu | Won |
References
edit- ^ "Chihayafuru Parts 1 and 2 Production Committee". Google Translate.
- ^ "2016". Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "ちはやふる -上の句-(2016)". allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
- ^ "Live-Action ERASED Film Opens at #2, Chihayafuru at #4". Anime News Network. March 23, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
- ^ "ちはやふる 上の句". eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved March 24, 2016.
- ^ "Chihayafuru Sequel Film Reveals 4 New Cast Members, 2018 Opening". April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Live-Action Chihayafuru Films Slated for March 19, April 29". Anime News Network. December 1, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
- ^ "Perfume Sings Live-Action Chihayafuru Films' Theme Song". Anime News Network. December 3, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
- ^ "Two "Chihayafuru" Live-Action Films Gets Release Dates in Japan". Crunchyroll. December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- ^ "Japan Box Office Report – 3/19~3/20". tokyohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. March 22, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.