Categories: Films

Fukushi Sota and Kawaguchi Haruna are Lovely and Sweet in Manga Adapted Romance J-movie Say I Love You

Japan is on a roll with Summer movies I want to watch and one just premiered this week in the form of one genre Japan does best – the shoujo high school romance. The live-action movie adaptation of the popular shoujo manga Say I Love You (好きっていいな Sukitte Ii nayo) hits all my happy spots with the casting and trailers hinting at capturing the heady romance of a shy wallflower and the high school’s most popular boy. The leading lady is one of my fave teenage J-actress Kawaguchi Haruna, who reminds me of a mix of Ishihara Satomi‘s pillowly girl next door appeal with Horikita Maki‘s cool spirited vibe. She’s been acting consistently since breaking out as the adorable lead in Ouran High School Host Club but this is the first time I’ve seen her do a genuine romance project which is why I’m all over it like cat on cream. I would have loved if her leading man was Daito Shunsuke but he’s not right for this particular leading man character. I almost blurted out “Hoshio!” when I saw that her male lead was the ridiculously gorgeous Fukushi Sota. He’s not the best actor around but he was a big reason I kept watching the J-dorama Starman last year with him and Hirosue Ryoko. He totally looks like the smushed together best-of-both-worlds Miura Haruma and Okada Masaki. Both guys have also done their stint in famous shoujo manga romance male lead territory, Haruma famously did From Me to You (Kimi ni Todoke) while Masaki was in I Give My First Love to You (Boku no Hatsukoi o Kimi ni Sasagu). I love the trailers and movie stills so check it out for yourself. The production also secured the rights to use addictive One Direction track “Happily” for the OST.

Official plot outline:

Tachibana Mei  is a high school student. Due to a traumatic incident when she was a kid, Mei has been unable to make friends or have boyfriends. By mistake, Mei then injures the most popular male student named Kurosawa Yamato. Somehow, Yamato ikes Mei Tachibana and tells everyone unilaterally that Mei is his friend. One day, Yamato saves Mei from a stalker by kissing her. From that kiss, their love story begins.

Trailer for Say I Love You:

One Direction “Happily” Official MV Trailer for Say I Love You:

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View Comments

  • omooo!!!

    I really love the anime. Mei and Yamato is one of my best couple in anime.
    I excited for live action and reallt like the teaser especially the OST :)

      • Yes, look up 123movies and search the movie. They should have it I just finished watching it. Plus, it comes with English subtitles.

  • I haven't watched the anime, but really like the Manga. I wonder how far into the manga the movie goes into. The manga itself doesn't have that many chapters, though I am behind and not sure how far along it is, but I'm sure it's not more than 50. I will want to watch this. Please post link if you know where it's getting subbed. Thank you.

  • Ohhhh! It's looking good! I loved the manga and the anime, but this live adaption looks really promising too XD

  • oohhhhh, the male lead is gorgeous! hahaaaaa

    Not familiar with the source material but the underlying sweetness reminds me of Kimi ni Todoke. Excited to watch this!!

  • hmmm. i dont like the mei i see in the trailer. I know mei is not close to other people etc. but she is not that shy like in the trailer. She is a cool girl that doesnt spare her words in the situations and tell what is in her mind for her good. I really love the manga and never checked the anime. Because the drawings are really good in the manga and i didnt checked the anime if it wouldnt be that good. But since this is a movie not a dorama i would check it out!
    I actually didnt like the styling of characters that much compared to manga, but since this is real world adaptation some changes can be tolerable in this aspect!

    • The trailer makes her into a total wallflower which she's not. She's shy and socially awkward, but as you say she's also distinctly cool and speaks her mind even if it's an opinion that is going to make her unpopular. Her character in the manga was interesting, the manga as a whole, I found less so – too many annoying characters and I wasn't that much a fan of Yamato (forced kisses; pretty insensitive to other people's feelings, etc.).

      I don't really know the actress here, but Fukushi Sota I've always only found underwhelming at best. Makes for eye candy but his acting is not impressive. Then again, I'm expecting this to be a pretty lightweight film, the sort which you watch on a Friday night when you don't want to engage your brain much.

  • After watching Kamen Rider Fourze, I'm so not used to Fukushi Sota's hairstyle here. haven't watched the anime or read the manga, so definitely interested in this movie.

  • Just finished marathoning the anime. (What are Saturdays for?) Now I am even more excited about the movie.

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