Live-Action ‘Ame no Naka no Yokujō’ Film Set to Premiere at Tokyo International Film Festival
The 37th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) recently announced that the live-action film adaptation of Yoshiharu Tsuge’s “Ame no Naka no Yokujō” (Lust in the Rain) manga short story will be showcased in the festival’s competition category. Scheduled to screen on October 30, November 3, and November 4, the film is set to hit theaters in Japan on November 29.
The film features a talented cast, with Ryō Narita playing the role of Yoshio, Eriko Nakamura as Fukuko, Gō Morita as Imori, and Naoto Takenaka as Oyaji. Other notable cast members include Tomomitsu Adachi, Yuki Nakanishi, Yūya Matsuura, Makoto Tsuchi, Kaori Momo, Kū Ijima, and Li Xing. Directed by Shinzo Katayama, the film’s screenplay was co-written by Takamase Ōe.
The story of the film revolves around Yoshio, a struggling manga artist living in Kitamachi. When he is tasked by Oyaji, his landlord involved in shady dealings, to assist novelist Imori in moving, Yoshio encounters Fukuko, a recently divorced woman. Despite Fukuko being in a relationship, Yoshio is captivated by her beauty. As Imori starts an advertising agency using the name of a larger agency from a wealthier area, Yoshio gets involved in helping him, leading to unexpected developments where Imori and Fukuko end up living with Yoshio.
Yoshiharu Tsuge, the mangaka behind the original short story, is a pioneer of gekiga, a genre emphasizing realism aimed at adults. Tsuge’s works have garnered critical acclaim, with his 1968 manga “Neji-Shiki” being one of his most well-known pieces, depicting a surreal narrative set in post-war Japan.
In addition to the film adaptation, Drawn & Quarterly is releasing Tsuge’s complete works in a seven-volume set, with translations by Ryan Holmberg. The upcoming Tokyo International Film Festival, taking place from October 28 to November 6, will feature a diverse selection of films, including the live-action adaptation of Masayuki Kusumi and Jiro Taniguchi’s “Kodoku no Gourmet” (Solitary Gourmet), titled “The Gourmand: The Solitary Gourmet” in the festival’s lineup.
The festival’s “Animation Selection” will also showcase various animated films, such as “A Few Moments of Cheers,” “The Colors Within,” “Ghost Cat Anzu,” “Look Back,” “Make a Girl,” “Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window,” “Kurayukaba,” and a 4K remaster screening of “Space Battleship Yamato” in celebration of its 50th anniversary.
The live-action adaptation of “Ame no Naka no Yokujō” promises to bring Tsuge’s compelling storytelling to the big screen, offering audiences a chance to immerse themselves in a tale of desire, intrigue, and human connections. As the film makes its mark at the Tokyo International Film Festival, fans of Tsuge’s work and cinema enthusiasts alike eagerly anticipate the premiere of this captivating narrative.
