Japanese production company Leone recently announced that they will be adapting Naoki Yamamoto’s coming-of-age manga, Young & Fine, into a live-action film. The film will be shown alongside a live-action adaptation of Ryo Hanmura’s Tonari no Uchūjin (The Alien Next Door) next summer at the Shinjuku Musashinokan movie theater in Tokyo.
Young & Fine follows the story of Katsuhiko Haino, a high school student in a quiet seaside town, as he navigates a year in his life. The manga explores his relationship with his girlfriend, Reiko Arai, and the arrival of a new teacher, Manabu Izawa, who moves in with Haino’s family. The teacher and student strike up a friendship, and Izawa sets out to bring Haino and Reiko closer together. The manga was originally published in 1992.
The live-action adaptation of Young & Fine will be directed by Toshiya Kominami, known for his work on the Believers manga adaptation, also produced by Leone. The script for the film will be written by Hideo Jōjō, the director of the Believers film. The cast includes Taisuke Niihara, Yūka Kōri, and Yuki Araho.
In addition to Young & Fine, Leone will also be adapting Ryo Hanmura’s Tonari no Uchūjin into a live-action film, directed by Yūjirō Koseki and written by Shinji Imaoka. The film will star Shōhei Uno, Ōshirō Maeda, Yūka Yoshimura, and Kenta Izuka.
These projects mark the 20th anniversary of Leone and showcase a commitment to bringing beloved manga and stories to life on the big screen. Naoki Yamamoto is known for his other works such as Dance Till Tomorrow, Arigatou, Happa 64, and Red, with Dance Till Tomorrow being released in English by Viz Media.
Fans of the manga and those looking for heartwarming coming-of-age stories can look forward to the live-action adaptation of Young & Fine and Tonari no Uchūjin, set to debut next summer. Stay tuned for more updates on these exciting projects from Leone.
