The years 2006 and 2007 are the peaks of Boys Love or yaoi films and movies. About a dozen boys love- themed works have been released within the two year-span and more are on the way. In my opinion, this is the only time I have seen BL films to be released at such a fast rate, successful or not.
It might not be a coincidence that most of the BL dramas, if not all of them, released in the previous two years featured Tenimyu actors. After all, the stage adaptation of Prince of Tennis is a mine of ikemen, or gorgeous young men, and most of them are just starting their careers and waiting for a big break to the big screen or television. Aside from their looks, they are also talented in singing, dancing, and acting, making them versatile targets for the industry that had always been bent on keeping the female part of the fandom happy: Boys Love.
If casting Tenimyu actors in BL is a tradition or a coincidence, we may never know. But really, who wants to find out the answer when we’re all busy watching?
“I wonder why people lie?”
Ashita no watashi no tsukurikatta
November 2007
Directed by Ichikawa Jun
97 minutes
Narumi Riko, Maeda Atsuko
Sumitani Juri (Riko Narumi) is a normal girl. She is neither popular nor bullied in class. She idolizes the most popular girl in her elementary class, Hanada Kanako (Maeda Atsuko). She pities the bullied girl in her class, Kubota Manami. However, she does nothing to change the norms and just goes with the flow of society. Outside, she might seem like a carefree, fun-loving girl but she is mainly a girl who is struggling to keep her family together and feels pain whenever her parents go into arguments.
During her elementary graduation, she talks with Kanako. Kanako has previously gotten into an argument with the class and was demoted from being the class representative to being the bullied one in class. As they talk, they both unload their burdens of keeping up a false front to people in order to fit in: with Kanako trying her best to be the well-liked girl in class and Juri trying her best to meet her parents’ expectations and keep them together.
Juri and Kanako drift away from each other until Juri finds out that Kanako is moving away to a new high school. Concerned that her old friend will still be troubled at her new school, Juri sends her an e-mail. When Kanako does not recognize her, Juri decides not to reveal herself. Instead, she undertakes a false identity, Kotori, who tells Kanako the story of a very popular girl named Hina.
Kotori tells Kanako of Hina’s ways to fit in and have lots of friends. Kanako becomes a shadow of Hina and follows everything Kotori tells her about. She easily fits in and
becomes popular and even gets herself a boyfriend (Kanei). All throughout those times, Kanako depended on Kotori and her stories of Hina to keep herself together.
When the e-mails stops, however, Kanako finds herself thinking if it is right to keep pretending. Juri also starts to think about the real reason behind her e-mails. Is she just keeping it up to make the story of Kotori and Hina happy? Who are their real selves? Will they be able to fit in if they are their real selves?
December 22, 2007 is the start of the roadshow of the Boys Love film Takumi-kun Series ~Soshite Harukaze ni Sasayaite~. The movie was adapted from the manga series Takumi-kun Series by Ooya Kazumi who is also known for her work Oasis Project. Takumi-kun Series is only one of the many boys love films released recently.
As with the other BL films (it’s starting to be a trend, believe me), the film stars actors who have performed or are connected to musicals, specifically The Musical Prince of Tennis. The cast list is as follows:
Designed By :
