Socrates in Love

Socrates in Love
Socrates in Love
世界の中心で、愛をさけぶ
(Sekai no Chūshin de, Ai o Sakebu)
Novel
Written by Kyoichi Katayama
Published by Shogakukan
English publisher Canada United States Viz Media
Published 2001
Manga
Written by Kazumi Kazui
Published by Shogakukan
English publisher Canada United States Viz Media
Magazine Petit Comic
Original run January 2004February 2004
Live-action film
Directed by Isao Yukisada
Written by Yuji Sakamoto
Chihiro Ito
Studio Toho
Released May 8, 2004
Runtime 138 minutes
Anime
Directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi
Yasuharu Ishii
Yuichiro Hirakawa
Written by Yoshihiko Morishita
Released July 2, 2004September 10, 2004
Related works
  • Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World (2004 radio drama)
  • Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World (2005 musical)
  • My Girl and I, a 2005 remake film
Anime and Manga Portal

Socrates in Love, also known as Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World (世界の中心で、愛をさけぶ Sekai no Chūshin de, Ai o Sakebu?) is a Japanese novel written by Kyoichi Katayama. It was published by Shogakukan in April 2001. The novel and the manga adaptation (illustrated by Kazumi Kazui) are published in the United States by VIZ Media under the title Socrates in Love. In 2005, the film was remade as My Girl and I in South Korea and the Korean remake aired on August 26, 2006 in Japan. The Japanese title of the Korean film is You are the Center of my World (僕の、世界の中心は、君だ Boku no, Sekai no Chūshin wa, Kimi da).

When initially released only 8,000 copies of the book were printed. A year after its publication, celebrity Kou Shibasaki wrote: "I read it thoroughly even though it made me cry. I wished to have a such a relationship in my life." The book became a bestseller. By May 2004 over 3 million copies were sold, exceeding the sales record of Norwegian Wood. In 2004, Shibasaki acted in a film version.

Contents

Plot summary

In a small town in 1980s southern Japan, Sakutaro "Saku" Matsumoto and Aki Hirose, classmates all through junior high, become high school students and then fall in love. They share audio diaries, go on excursions together, and enjoy summer vacation.

However, Aki finds herself suffering from Leukemia and begins to weaken, rendering her unable to see Saku or go outside. Saku is desperate to take her to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Australia (the "Center of the World"), a place she had wished to visit. Saku buys tickets, but Aki dies before boarding the plane.

Seventeen years later, an older, sombre Saku trudges through everyday existence. The last tape of Aki's audio diary is suddenly unearthed, leading Saku back to his hometown in the south, and back to his memories of their last days together.

Main characters

  • Sakutaro "Saku" Matsumoto (松本朔太郎 Matsumoto Sakutarō, サク "Saku") - Called "Saku-chan" by Aki. Saku's name derives from that of the Japanese poet Sakutaro Hagiwara.
  • Aki Hirose (廣瀬亜紀 Hirose Aki, アキ "Aki") - Saku's classmate and later girlfriend. Suffers from leukemia.
  • Ryunosuke Oki (大木龍之介 Ōki Ryūnosuke) - Saku and Aki's classmate. His name is derived from that of the Japanese writer Ryūnosuke Akutagawa.
  • Kentaro Matsumoto (松本謙太郎 Matsumoto Kentarō) - Saku's grandfather.

About the title

The book's title bears a resemblance to that of the science fiction short story by Harlan Ellison, "The Beast that Shouted Love at the Heart of the World".

The English title originates from the original Japanese title, Socrates in Love (恋するソクラテス Koi Suru Sokuratesu), originally chosen by Katayama. In Japan, the movie title (Sekai no Chūshin de, Ai o Sakebu) is abbreviated Sekachū (セカチュー)

The Hong Kong English version of the film is entitled Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World.

Response

It was published during the "Pure love boom", a media trend in which many written and film works in Japan portrayed chaste, undying love. Comedian Hikari Ota said: "Pure love in which nobody's hurt is suspicious and not interesting at all."

The novel uses simple vocabulary.

Secondary works

Film version

Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World
Directed by Isao Yukisada
Produced by Kei Haruna
Minami Ichikawa
Written by Isao Yukisada
Yuji Sakamoto
Chihiro Ito
Starring Mirai Moriyama
Masami Nagasawa
Takao Osawa
Kou Shibasaki
Distributed by Toho Company Ltd.
Release date(s) May 8, 2004
Running time 138 min.
Country Japan
Language Japanese
Swing seat at Oji Jinja

In the film version, an adult Sakutaro, reflecting on his relationship with Aki, plays an important role. The original story unfolds through his memories.

Ritsuko Fujimura, who appeared in the film and novel but is never named, is Saku's youthful fiancée and the last person to see Aki alive. In the film, Saku still isn't able to let Aki go, causing tension in his and Ritsuko's relationship.

The film opened in wide release in Japan on May 8, 2004, and brought Masami Nagasawa recognition as an actress. The film was a huge success, and its theme song, Hitomi o Tojite by Ken Hirai had record sales as well.

Staff
  • Film director & scenario - Isao Yukisada
  • Scenario - Yuji Sakamoto, Chihiro Ito
  • Filming - Noboru Shinoda
  • Music - Meina Co.
  • Theme songs - Hitomi wo Tojite (瞳をとじて) by Ken Hirai
  • Episode songs - Someday by Motoharu Sano, Kimi ni Aete (きみに会えて) by Misato Watanabe
Cast
Filming location

Drama (television) version

A drama (television series) based on the book and film was broadcast in Japan from July 2, 2004 until September 10, 2004 on the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS). It was directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi.

Like the film, the drama also has an original character that doesn't appear in the novel - Aki Kobayashi, a friend of the older Sakutaro, who likes him and whom he struggles to not simply take as a replacement, although her own young son already views him as a father figure.

The drama's theme song, Katachi Aru Mono, is notable for having been written and performed by Kou Shibasaki, the actress who portrayed Ritsuko Fujimura in the film adaption.

Staff
  • Script - Yoshiko Morishita
  • Filming - Satoru Karasawa
  • Direction - Yukihiko Tsutsumi, Yasuharu Ishii, Yuichiro Hirakawa
  • Producer - Akihiko Ishimaru
  • Theme songs - Katachi Aru Mono (かたちあるもの) by Kou Shibasaki
Cast
  • Sakutaro "Saku" Matsumoto (Age 17) - Takayuki Yamada
  • Aki Hirose - Haruka Ayase
  • Sakutaro "Saku" Matsumoto (Age 34) - Naoto Ogata
  • Aki Kobayashi (Saku's Friend) - Sachiko Sakurai
  • Ryunosuke Ooki (Saku's friend) - Koutaro Tanaka
  • Akiyoshi Nakagawa (Saku's friend) - Tasuku Emoto
  • Tomoyo Ueda (Aki Hirose's Friend) - Yuika Motokariya
  • Fumiko Matsumoto (Saku's sister) - Kaho
  • Toshimi Yatabe (Saku & Aki's teacher) - Yuki Matsushita
  • Junichiro Matsumoto (Saku's Father) - Katsumi Takahashi
  • Tomiko Matsumoto (Saku's Mother) - Satoko Oshima
  • Kentaro Matsumoto (Saku's Grandfather) - Tatsuya Nakadai
  • Makoto Hirose (Aki's Father, Architect) - Tomokazu Miura
  • Ayako Hirose (Aki's Mother) - Satomi Tezuka

External links


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