The casting director certainly has a nerve of steel, unlike 99% of "elite" directors in Japan these days who just keep casting the same set of cast all the time.
Disappointing watch despite the above-average cast. The characters aren't well-fleshed that it's (almost) impossible to get the best out of them. Not enough screen time to simmer the characterization. Should have been made into a miniseries (ideally handled by WOWOW or perhaps Netflix Japan) instead of movie format.
I didn't even realise she's been around for so long. I've seen so many of her works & she's great in all of them!
She is *insanely* skilled and was a big name in the Japanese showbiz in early 2000s. She has been more active in stage plays afterwards, perhaps she is more comfortable in such projects compared to that on screen.
I used to adore her so much when I was young..So many memories
Her career got derailed hard due to her poor conduct and professionalism. Some people simply can't really deal with sudden popularity especially in such tender age. Fortunately she got her act together afterward, although the damage is done.
Nana and Toda are elites, they will certainly do comeback with a lot of bang. The rest need massive push or some kind of supernatural intervention to pull off.
Other names I can recall on top of my head whom left the showbiz for good (or in semi-retirement mode) and I think whose career deserves to be (magically) revived someday or soon: 1. Hagiwara Minori (retired due to marriage) 2. Ono Rina (retired, no disclosed reason) 3. Mizuno Erina (from Aku no Kyoten movie fame, still active as pro dancer tho) 4. Watanabe Natsuna (semi-active? inactive due to motherhood I think) 5. Kariya Yuiko (retired since 2014/2015 reportedly due to health reason) 6. Nounen Rena (semi-retirement mode, Japan cancel culture is very bad) 7. Tsunematsu Yuri (her portofolio after 2020 is super underwhelming) 8. Yamaguchi Mayu (she was great teenage actress pre-2020, now essentially unemployed) 9. Ohgo Suzuka (semi-retired) 10. Fukuda Mayuko (reportedly taking indefinite hiatus) 11. Tabe Mikako (semi-retired? withdrew from showbiz due to motherhood) 12. Sakuma Yui (same as above) 13. Kitano Kie (was big in late 2000s/early 2010s, semi-retirement mode reportedly due to poor professionalism) 14. Fukuda Saki (ditto with Kitano, now retired) 15. Minamisawa Nao (retired?)
this was actually unexpectedly really good.. and had better lgbt rep than most mainstream movies and shows these…
Yeah this one is definitely WAY ahead of its time (not a BL/GL fan here). It's just the production value that is kinda low that it may turn someone off.
2 
Summer Time Machine Blues
Other names I can recall on top of my head whom left the showbiz for good (or in semi-retirement mode) and I think whose career deserves to be (magically) revived someday or soon:
1. Hagiwara Minori (retired due to marriage)
2. Ono Rina (retired, no disclosed reason)
3. Mizuno Erina (from Aku no Kyoten movie fame, still active as pro dancer tho)
4. Watanabe Natsuna (semi-active? inactive due to motherhood I think)
5. Kariya Yuiko (retired since 2014/2015 reportedly due to health reason)
6. Nounen Rena (semi-retirement mode, Japan cancel culture is very bad)
7. Tsunematsu Yuri (her portofolio after 2020 is super underwhelming)
8. Yamaguchi Mayu (she was great teenage actress pre-2020, now essentially unemployed)
9. Ohgo Suzuka (semi-retired)
10. Fukuda Mayuko (reportedly taking indefinite hiatus)
11. Tabe Mikako (semi-retired? withdrew from showbiz due to motherhood)
12. Sakuma Yui (same as above)
13. Kitano Kie (was big in late 2000s/early 2010s, semi-retirement mode reportedly due to poor professionalism)
14. Fukuda Saki (ditto with Kitano, now retired)
15. Minamisawa Nao (retired?)
PS: I don't live in Japan
https://www.sakkafilms.com/film/sayonara-girls/