Crying Out Love in the Center of the World

Kou Shibasaki

"Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World", written by Kyoichi Katayama, was published in Japan in 2001.

The story is: In a small town in 1980s, Sakutaro "Saku" Matsumoto and Aki Hirose, classmates all through junior high, become high school students and then fall in love. They share audio diaries, go on excursions together, and enjoy summer vacation. However, Aki finds herself suffering from Leukemia and begins to weaken, rendering her unable to see Saku or go outside. Saku is desperate to take her to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Australia, a place she had wished to visit. Saku buys tickets, but Aki dies before boarding the plane.

Seventeen years later, an older, sombre Saku trudges through everyday existence. The last tape of Aki's audio diary is suddenly unearthed, leading Saku back to his hometown, and back to his memories of their last days together. (from Wikipedia)

When initially released only 8,000 copies of the book were printed, according to Wikipedia, but a year after its publication, Kou Shibasaki, Japanese actress and pop singer, introdued the book with her writing: "I read it thoroughly even though it made me cry. I wished to have a such a relationship in my life." and then it became a bestseller. By 2004 over 3 million copies were sold, exceeding the sales record of "Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami.

Movie of "Seka-chu"

In spring of 2004, it was made into a film movie, directed by Isao Yukisada. It was based on the original book and added another story what Saku became an adult whose fiancée disappears in the midst of a typhoon, leaving him to solve the mystery of their linked pasts.

The story of the movie is: In 1980s, two teenagers fell in love, and exchanged their secrets and thoughts by way of sending tape recordings to each other. More than a decade later, the boy (now grown-up and bittered) rediscovers the last recording of his long-dead lover's voice. Her words trigger a series of flashbacks illustrating the joyful beginning and tragic end of their relationship.(from IMDb)

Young Saku and Aki were acted by Mirai Moriyama and Masami Nagasawa. The firm became a big hit and brought Nagasawa recognition as a very popullar actress. Kou Shibasaki, who contributed the original book as a bestsellar, also acted an impotrant role as a disappeared fiancée.

TV Drama of "Seka-chu"

A TV drama based on the book started in summer of 2004. Like the firm version, the drama also has an original character that doesn't appear in the novel - Aki Kobayashi, a friend of the older Sakutaro, who loves him and whom he struggles to not simply take as a replacement, although her own young son already views him as a father figure.

The dram of the story is: "I thought I might be using a lifetime's happiness in a moment. I was that happy and she was that beautiful." A young boy stands on the red earth of Australia under its blue sky. It is 17-year-old Sakutaro Matsumoto. His time with the girl comes back to him. The colored sand runs through his hands and a tear appears on his cheek. He wakes up. It's 2004 and he is 34 years old and in Japan. He thinks "I have been in a world without her for 17 years." Returning home to see his old high school for the last time before it is demolished, Saku confronts anew the loss of the love of his life, Aki, to leukemia 17 years ago. Now a medical researcher at graduate school, he has been living as if half of him died with her since then. Based on the bestselling novel that sold over 3 million copies, the past and present come together in this love story that is both pure and sad.(from Amazon.com)

Masami Nagasawa

The dram was also was extremely popular among both yongs and adults. Young Saku and Aki acted by Takayuki Yamada and Haruka Ayase. Young men, during the boom of "Seka-chu", discussed that they like which one - Masami Nagasawa or Haruka Ayase. 

Kou Shibasaki was related the drama version. This ending-roll song "Katachi Aru Mono" was performed by her.

Haruka Ayase

In my opinion, the original book is not bad but slightly boring. On the other hand, the firm version moved me with tears. It is really wonderful. The TV drama has also series of emotional scenes. I couldn't have seen every chapter without Kleenex.

It is difficult to say which is better during the firm and the drama. So I recommend you see both of them and sit in the lap of the world of "Seka-chu" deeply.