A Song To The Sun
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is a 2006 Japanese film directed by Norihiro Koizumi starring
Yui Yui may refer to: People * Yui (name), a Japanese name *Yui (singer) (born 1987), Japanese singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actress * Yui people or Ibi, a Timucuan-speaking people in what now is Georgia, United States Places * Yui, Sh ...
. Upon release, ''A Song to the Sun'' was financially successful and helped launch Yui's music career. In addition, Yui also won the Best Newcomer Actress at the 30th
Japan Academy Film Prize The , often called the Japan Academy Prize, the Japan Academy Awards, and the Japanese Academy Awards, is a series of awards given annually since 1978 by the Japan Academy Film Prize Association (日本アカデミー賞協会, ''Nippon Akademii- ...
for her role. Several adaptations of the film were made, including a 2006 television series, a 2018 American
remake A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the same ...
, and stage plays.


Plot

Kaoru has
Xeroderma Pigmentosum Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a genetic disorder in which there is a decreased ability to repair DNA damage such as that caused by ultraviolet (UV) light. Symptoms may include a severe sunburn after only a few minutes in the sun, freckling in sun- ...
, a medical condition that forbids its bearer from being exposed to direct sunlight. She sleeps during the day, and is active at night. She busks every night in front of a station, playing the
guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
. Outside her bedroom window, she spots a high school boy with a
surfboard A surfboard is a narrow plank used in surfing. Surfboards are relatively light, but are strong enough to support an individual standing on them while riding an ocean wave. They were invented in ancient Hawaii, where they were known as ''papa he'e ...
. She watches him and his friends visit the ocean every morning before going to sleep. One day, she introduces herself to him without letting him know about her medical condition. The man identifies himself to be Kōji Fujishiro. When her friend drags her home, they sit by her window, while they watch Kōji meet his friends. Kaoru explains everything, and her friend notes that she probably goes to the same school as him, and offers to spy on him for her. The next evening, she sits by the bus stop. Kōji arrives on his scooter. Both embarrassed, they start talking, with Kōji eventually promising to meet her, and listen to her sing another night, at the start of the school holidays. When they meet up, another obnoxious street performer has taken her spot. Kōji decides to take her to the city, where after seeing the sights, she starts playing in a square. A substantial crowd gathers to hear her sing. Afterwards, they watch the ocean, and Kōji asks her out. Their date ends abruptly as the sun rises and Kaoru rushes back home. Kōji is soon informed of Kaoru's condition, and is taken aback. For a while, Kaoru stubbornly refuses to see him. Kōji learns of a
recording studio A recording studio is a specialized facility for sound recording, mixing, and audio production of instrumental or vocal musical performances, spoken words, and other sounds. They range in size from a small in-home project studio large enoug ...
, where Kaoru could record her debut single, and takes up small jobs to earn the money and pay for it. Her father, out of concern, invites Kōji over one night. At dinner, Kōji reveals his plans for Kaoru's CD. As they walk home that night, the two begin to talk, and Kaoru slowly realizes how much Kōji truly cares for her. As her medical condition begins to worsen over time, she loses feeling in her hands, and is unable to play guitar. She assures Kōji that she still has her voice. In the studio, she asks her family and friends to leave. She asks them to wait for the CD. Some time later, as promised, Kōji brings Kaoru to the beach to watch him surf. The protective suit she had left hanging for years is finally used. By now, she is in a wheelchair. She complains that the suit is getting hot. With a painful expression that fades quickly, Kaoru's father tries to convince her that if she takes off the suit, it cannot bother her anymore, and that she could run around freely. She declines, and while struggling to stand up, she limps weakly toward Kōji. As she walks, she trips over the sand, and Kōji rushes to tend to her. She catches herself at the last minute, revealing that it was a feint, and giggles at his surprised face. Later, Kaoru succumbs to her medical condition and eventually dies. She is laid to rest in a coffin full of sunflowers. Kōji and Kaoru's friends and family listen as Kaoru's CD is finally released. In the final scene, Kōji rushes towards the waves with his mind replaying her voice.


Cast

*
Yui Yui may refer to: People * Yui (name), a Japanese name *Yui (singer) (born 1987), Japanese singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actress * Yui people or Ibi, a Timucuan-speaking people in what now is Georgia, United States Places * Yui, Sh ...
- Kaoru Amane *
Takashi Tsukamoto is a Japanese actor, singer, and model. He has released three single CDs: "Itsudemo Boku wa" (いつでも僕は, Anytime I am...), "Hitorigoto" (ヒ・ト・リ・ゴ・ト, Soliloquy), "New Morning". He also portrayed the character Shinji Mi ...
- Koji Fujishiro *
Kuniko Asagi is a Japanese actress and television presenter. Her real name is . Early career She attended Kokubunji High School in Tokyo, and Gakushuin University. Her resume includes Tokyo Disney Resort advertising, shown widely when the park opened. ...
- Yuki Amane (Kaoru's mother) *
Goro Kishitani Goro may refer to: Places Benin * Goro, Benin, an arrondissement in the Commune of Tchaourou, Borgou Ethiopia * Ejersa Goro, a town in Misraq Hararghe Zone, Oromia * Goro, Bale, a town in Bale Zone, Oromia * Goro, Mirab Shewa, a town in M ...
- Ken Amane (Kaoru's father) *
Airi Toriyama is a Japanese actress and singer who is affiliated with Sony Music Entertainment Japan through Cast Corporation, until October 8, 2009. Filmography TV series Films References External links Official website at Sony Music Entertainment Ja ...
- Misaki Matsumae (Kaoru's best friend) *
Eri Fuse Eri may refer to: People * Eri (biblical figure) * Eri (given name), a Japanese feminine given name, including lists of people and fictional characters * Eri (king), the progenitor of the Umu-Eri and Umu-Nri-Igbo ancient Nigerian city-states * E ...
*
Gaku Hamada is a Japanese film and television actor. He was a regular cast member of Fuji TV's '' Operation Love'', appearing in all 11 episodes broadcast in 2007 and the 2008 special, and receiving an award for his role. He has made numerous other TV appe ...
* Takashi Kobayashi * Magy * Sogen Tanaka - Haruo Kato


Production

The film featured the songs "
Good-bye Days "Good-bye days" is the fifth major label single released by Japanese artist Yui. It was released on 14 June 2006 under Sony Records. She credits the song as "for Amane Kaoru / for 雨音薫" because the song was the main theme song for ''Midnight ...
", "Skyline", and "It's Happy Line" by
Yui Yui may refer to: People * Yui (name), a Japanese name *Yui (singer) (born 1987), Japanese singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actress * Yui people or Ibi, a Timucuan-speaking people in what now is Georgia, United States Places * Yui, Sh ...
.


Release

There are two Japanese DVD releases of ''Taiyō no uta'', a standard and a premium edition. The premium edition includes a bonus disc with nearly 90 minutes of making-of footage, deleted scenes, the music video for the song "
Good-bye Days "Good-bye days" is the fifth major label single released by Japanese artist Yui. It was released on 14 June 2006 under Sony Records. She credits the song as "for Amane Kaoru / for 雨音薫" because the song was the main theme song for ''Midnight ...
", and interviews with Yui, Takashi Tsukamoto and the film's director. It also has special features of Yui's Diary and a pick pendant with a necklace. Only making of ''Taiyō no Uta'' was released on June 2, 2006. Both standard edition and premium edition were released on June 11, 2006.


Reception

Russell Edwards from ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' stated that the film was "sweet", but suggested that Western audiences would be less receptive towards the romance themes than Asian audiences. He also complimented the film's method of highlighting
Kamakura is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Kamakura has an estimated population of 172,929 (1 September 2020) and a population density of 4,359 persons per km² over the total area of . Kamakura was designated as a city on 3 November 1939. Kamak ...
without relying on tourism clichés and the actors' performances.


Awards and nominations


Adaptations


Television drama

In 2006, a television drama adaptation of the same name aired on TBS, starring
Erika Sawajiri is a Japanese former actress, singer, and model. After starting out as a junior model, Sawajiri transitioned to acting in 2002 and has starred in ''Break Through!'', ''Shinobi: Heart Under Blade'', and ''1 Litre no Namida (TV series), 1 Litre of ...
and
Takayuki Yamada is a Japanese actor, singer, and producer. He is best known for his role as Sakutaro Matsumoto in TV drama ''Socrates in Love'' and as Densha Otoko in the 2005 film of the same name. Yamada gained international popularity through his portrayal ...
. The theme song, " Taiyō no Uta", was performed by Sawajiri and released under the name Kaoru Amane as a
tie-in A tie-in work is a work of fiction or other product based on a media property such as a film, video game, television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property. Tie-ins are authorized by the owners of the original prope ...
, which also helped launch her solo singing career.


Manga

A manga adaptation written and illustrated by Rin Mikimoto was serialized in ''
Bessatsu Friend , formerly known as , is a Japanese Shōjo manga, manga magazine published by Kodansha, aimed at teenage girls. It was originally conceived as a , or companion magazine, to ''Shōjo Friend'', which is no longer published. ''Bessatsu Friend'' i ...
'' in 2006. The chapters were later released in one bound volume by
Kodansha is a Japanese privately-held publishing company headquartered in Bunkyō, Tokyo. Kodansha is the largest Japanese publishing company, and it produces the manga magazines ''Nakayoshi'', ''Afternoon'', ''Evening'', ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' an ...
.


Stage plays

A South Korean
musical theatre Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...
adaptation ran in 2010, starring
Girls' Generation Girls' Generation (), also known as SNSD, is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. The group is composed of eight members: Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun. Originally a nine-piece ensembl ...
member
Taeyeon Kim Tae-yeon (; born March 9, 1989), known mononymously as Taeyeon, is a South Korean singer. She debuted as a member of girl group Girls' Generation in August 2007, which went on to become one of the best-selling artists in South Korea and one ...
as Kaoru. A Japanese stage play titled ''Taiyō no Uta: Midnight Sun'' ran from September 5–9 and October 10–14 in 2018, starring
Hinata Kashiwagi is a Japanese idol singer, and a former member of the female idol group Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku. Discography : ''See Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku#Discography, Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku, § "Discography" for releases with Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku.'' Fi ...
as Kaoru and Yudai Tatsumi as Koji. A second South Korean musical adaptation titled ''Midnight Sun'' ran in 2021 from May to July.


Remake

In May 2015, writer Eric Kirsten announced an American adaptation of the film titled ''
Midnight Sun The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the summer months in places north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle, when the Sun remains visible at the local midnight. When the midnight sun is seen in the Arctic, t ...
'', which is centered on Washington, USA. The film stars
Bella Thorne Annabella Avery Thorne (born October 8, 1997) is an American actress, singer, and writer. She first received recognition for her roles as Margaux Darling in the series ''Dirty Sexy Money'' (2007–2008) and as Ruthy Spivey in the drama series ...
as Katie (originally Kaoru) and
Patrick Schwarzenegger Patrick Arnold Shriver Schwarzenegger (born September 18, 1993) is an American model, actor, investor, and entrepreneur. He is the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver. Early life and family Schwarzenegger was born at Providence St J ...
as Charlie (originally Koji). The film was released March 23, 2018.


References


External links

*
Official site
*
Presentation of Taiyo no Uta on Shochiku's website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Song To The Sun 2006 films Japanese drama television series 2000s Japanese-language films Medical-themed films Shochiku films Films directed by Norihiro Koizumi