Memories of Akira Tachibana

Directed by Akira Nagai, Koi Ame aka After the Rain (恋は雨上がりのように) is a live action movie starring Nana Komatsu, Yo Oizumi, Nana Seino, Honoka Matsumoto, Hayato Isomura, Shono Hayama, Maika Yamamoto, Yo Yoshida …

Synopsis from Asian Wiki: Akira Tachibana is a 17-year-old high school student. She was once a promising athlete, but an injury has prevented her from taking part in track and field. One day, Akira Tachibana goes to a family restaurant and the manager talks to her in a tender voice. This makes Akira Tachibana begin working part-time at the restaurant. The manager is 45-year-old Masami Kondo (Yo Oizumi) and he is divorced with a child. Akira Tachibana falls in love with him.

film posters

From Cinema Escapist: “While the romance — given the age difference — was never meant to be, seeing someone young and passionate like Akira rekindles Masami’s own forgotten feelings of youthful passion towards literature (…) their romance touched both of them deeply and made them rediscover something both of them had forgotten — how much they loved their own passions (…) After the Rain did a great job of handling Akira and Masami’s relationship in a nuanced, tasteful way”

official Stills

From Asian Movie Web: “After the Rain” succeeds in creating more than enough three-dimensionality with its hints. That this isn’t your classic love story can also be made out by the fact that director Akira Nagai doesn’t use interior shots flooded with sunlight as is common in the genre, but captures his pictures with a down to earth style. The relationship between Masami and Akira is difficult and Masami is more than enough of a realist to not just indulge in this love which certainly is flattering to his ego. Yet, he doesn’t attempt to simply reject Akira, but helps her on her way to deal with the situation – and not just with her love for him, but also where she’s at in life at the moment. A movie which accordingly comes across as very mature and still remains a romantic movie in parts. A well-achieved balance.

making of Gallery (official pics)

Special Reports (Japanese)

In the first video, Nana Komatsu and co-star Yo Oizumi revisit some of the places where the shooting took place, in Yokohama. The second video is from the making of.

Bonus clips from the making of

Movie scene: training and stretching

FRONT MEMORY – THEME SONG

Produced by Seiji Kameda (Tokyo Jihen, Shiina Ringo) and performed by Emiko Suzuki, Front Memory is a cover of Japanese alternative rock band Shinsei Kamattechan (神聖かまってちゃん). Here’s two versions: the video version with original footage from the movie and the CD version with lyrics (original Japanese plus romaji transcription)