''Initiation Love'' (

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

: イニシエーション・ラブ) is a Japanese

romance film Romance films involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion (emotion), passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their ...

directed by

Yukihiko Tsutsumi is a Japanese television and film director. He began directing commercials and music promotion videos as an employee of Nippon Television. After spending time abroad, he returned and started his own production company, ''Office Crescendo'', from ...

. It was released in Japan on May 23, 2015. The film is based on a novel of the same name by Kurumi Inui.

Plot

During the 80s in Japan, a college student named Suzuki falls in love with Mayu, a dental hygienist. But dreams beckon him to Tokyo, forcing their relationship to become a long-distance one. As he develops insecurities in their long distance arrangement, his relationship with Miyako, a colleague, begins blurring the lines of friendship and temptation. Under this strain on their relationship, Mayu and Suzuki begin drifting apart.

Cast

Atsuko Maeda is a Japanese actress and singer. She is a former member of the idol girl group AKB48, and was one of the most prominent members in the group at the time, regarded as the group's "absolute ace", "immovable center", and the "Face of AKB." After ...

as Mayuko "Mayu" Naruoka *Kanro Morita as Suzuki from Side A *

Shota Matsuda is a Japanese actor. Matsuda is best known for his roles in the Hana Yori Dango (TV series), ''Hana Yori Dango'' series, the Liar Game (2007 TV series), ''Liar Game'' series, and ''Love Shuffle''. Personal life Matsuda was born on September 10, ...

as Suzuki (also known as Takkun) *

Fumino Kimura is a Japanese actress. Filmography Film * ''Kaze no Dadu'' (2006), Ayumi Asano * ''Adan'' (2006), Adan * ''Paradise Kiss'' (2011) * ''Run60'' (2011), Maki * ''Gokudō Meshi, Sukiyaki'' (2011), Shiori Mizushima * ''Ramo Trip'' (2012), Mari Ijic ...

as Miyako Ishimaru * Takahiro Miura as Kaido * Tomoya Maeno * Noritake Kinashi as Shizuoka Branch Manager * Satomi Tezuka as Shiho Ishimaru * Tsurutaro Kitaoka as Kouki Ishimaru * Miyabi Matsuura as Natsuko * Ayako Yoshitani as Yuko * Ryô Satô as Madoka

Reception

As of June 14, 2015, the film had grossed at the Japanese box office. On

Film Business Asia ''Film Business Asia'' was a film trade magazine based in Hong Kong. The magazine was created in 2010 by Patrick Frater, former journalist for '' Variety'', ''The Hollywood Reporter'', and ''Screen International'' and Stephen Cremin, co-founder o ...

, Derek Elley gave the film an 8 out of 10 and called it a "well-cast, slickly entertaining '80s rom-com

hat A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...

has more than just its Big Twist."

References

External links

* * 2015 romance films Films directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi Nippon Television films Films set in the 1980s Films set in Shizuoka Prefecture Toho films 2010s Japanese films Japanese romance films {{2010s-romance-film-stub