ASP News

Millions of people were last fall brought to tears by the movie Koizora. The story of Koizora is nonfictional and was originally a “mobile phone novel” (ケータイ小説, keitai shosetsu) written by a young woman called Mika. Japan can easily be called the cellular capital of the world, where people use their cell phones for every matter relating the internet. So of course besides from watching streamed videos on the phone, you can read and publish your stories through online cellular devices.

At the end of the serialization of Koizora, the cellphone novel had 25 million readers and it sold approximately 2 million copies when it later was published into a novel. A movie adaption was released in November 2007 and the DVD in April 2008. In addition the story was made into a TV drama as well, with a total of 6 episodes, which aired in the autumn of 2008.

Synopsis

Koizora is a story about young love, loss and perseverance. The story revolves around an ordinary high-school girl, Mika Tahara. She seems to lead an ordinary life of a Japanese high-school student and comes from an ordinary middle-class family. However, things slowly begins to change, or the boy, Hiro Sakurai, changes Mika’s life when he out of the blue suddenly steals her first kiss. Mika is confused but begins to fall in love with this strange guy with bleached hair and piercing. A true love story seems to be developing, but no one would have thought that Mika’s real troubles just have begun.. Or does she really regret what will happen?

Movie vs. drama

As mentioned this story was both made into a movie and a drama. So which one should you choose and watch? Basically, the drama contains a lot more details than the movie, when it comes to the life in school and Mika’s family. It is a rather short drama, but if you are one of those who just can’t refuse those sweet romantic stories (that will surely make you cry a lot too), this is a drama for you.

However, the movie also contains some details which the drama doesn’t have, and is more focused on the relationship between the two main-characters. The story in the movie also develops faster than the drama.

So to sum up, if you watch it alone, watch the drama (otherwise people will think you having a mental breakdown when they see you after you have finished it). Or you can watch the movie together with someone (and have a less mental breakdown together).

And if you can’t get enough, you can of course watch both versions (don’t forget a handkerchief).

Koizora touches a lot of subjects which all of us someday will go through. Decisions we have to take and hardships we have to endure in order to succeed in life. Mika goes through a lot of pain and sadness, but in the end learns what the important things in life are.