First episode is surprisingly good. I thought I wouldnt like it since I've seen many tearjerkers before. I didnt cry though but the feels is already there. I think its already given that the ending will be bittersweet.
Btw the kid at the shrine is one of the biggest hypebeast in japan. I didnt know he is into acting now. Lol
Technically everything in this movie is very simple, from storytelling, camera work to editing. What makes it very good though is the little touch done by the director. Every scene there is that little touch, it's so subtle, seems no effort, but so critical. The whole movie is like watching the director play jenga, each movement is after each scene fades to black. Goes to show you don't need mindbogling premise to make a good movie.
If this game is the result of their love story then I wonder what kind of love story Yoko Taro had in his life. Btw the dude in this movie is a saint, I just couldn't imagine being close to a girl i love even though she has a boyfriend. But i guess the movie would have ended earlier if he was like me. Guys to lessen the hearbreak...Memento Mori.
If not for Sakura Ando she would be the best Japanese actress for me. She needs to comeback but I guess she got burned out. To me she was the most important Japanese actress of the last decade 2010-2019 just look at her filmography and the masterpieces of dramas/movies she's in. The runner up could be Haru Kuroki.
To anyone who wants something like this I suggest you check old romance jdramas 90s to early 2000s. I don't have a list since not every plot is for everyone.
From naked director to this, another reason why he is dubbed as a chameleon actor. Could this be his return to tearjerker roles. I remember back then he's so good at crying, it's freaking believable if it's him like in dramas such as sekai no chusin, byakuyakou, tegami, ikigami, taiyou no uta, the list goes on. The little girl is the one from nagi no oitoma, she's a great child actress too. The movie looks good, looks like another tearjerker movie.
I'm thinking of elaiza ikeda as tomoe or even better ai hashimoto, she can be fierce and sweet when required, but if the director wants star power then arimura kasumi got this in the bag.
Japan needs to make more of this grounded romance stories and hopefully in the near future not a remake but an original story. Recently all we are getting are rom com dramas with over the top acting.
While watching this drama I was thinking this plot would have benefited with longer running time per episode, so that the story will be a bit more grounded especially this creepy male lead character. It could have been another unconventional romance gem like Date or Kekkon dekinai otoko but it is more of a fukuda yuichi drama than those two. Either way this drama is extremely entertaining and that is what jdrama is very good at..a weird wtf japan seriously type of show.
It's like an 8 episode drama, an SP and a finale movie. That's how this drama feels to me. The structure is really weird especially the last one, it's the first time I encountered that watching a Jdrama. Also it's a little bit preachy, it's the same writer from GTO and queens classroom.
The first five episode is like watching persona characters without them going to dungeons and killing monsters(video game reference). They're like anime characters with very different personalities. The best are episodes 6, 7 and 8 when it became more grounded and as a result the interaction became more natural and I love it. I also love how they value friendship more than romance.
I've been craving for friendship themed drama lately like Orange days, last friends and ozosaki no himawari, so I really enjoyed this one, though I would like it more if the characters are a little more grounded.
Kirin kiki may have inspired mayu matsuoka a lot while filming shoplifters. She's not playing anymore with her recent roles. Meanwhile takahata mitsuki another great actress is stucked playing robotic characters.
It's also sad that people would expect this to be shoujo-like movie. How hard it is to understand not all movies in Japan are shoujo movies. No kabedon, no headpats, no piggyback ride.
Miike with his crazy characters again and taser-kun sometani is the standout for me. Becky is also a revelation in this movie. Although not his best movie, not even his top 5 but it's very takashi miike and it seems it is his love letter to classic yakuza films.
Kubota and the newcomer Sakurako got some real chemistry better than some shoujo live action pairings, they look so good together. It just added to the thrill that you keep rooting for this pair so I'm glad it's a happy ending. Who would have thought lol after that insane premise.
1 
Btw the kid at the shrine is one of the biggest hypebeast in japan. I didnt know he is into acting now. Lol
9/10
That quote alone makes it 10 out of 10.
Original. Heartfelt. Borderline Romantic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=392676Cbv28
The first five episode is like watching persona characters without them going to dungeons and killing monsters(video game reference). They're like anime characters with very different personalities. The best are episodes 6, 7 and 8 when it became more grounded and as a result the interaction became more natural and I love it. I also love how they value friendship more than romance.
I've been craving for friendship themed drama lately like Orange days, last friends and ozosaki no himawari, so I really enjoyed this one, though I would like it more if the characters are a little more grounded.
8.5/10
It's also sad that people would expect this to be shoujo-like movie. How hard it is to understand not all movies in Japan are shoujo movies. No kabedon, no headpats, no piggyback ride.
Kubota and the newcomer Sakurako got some real chemistry better than some shoujo live action pairings, they look so good together. It just added to the thrill that you keep rooting for this pair so I'm glad it's a happy ending. Who would have thought lol after that insane premise.
9/10