Socrates in Love
2056423
209846136
2008-05-03T04:44:28Z
164.107.213.226
/* Plot summary */
{{Infobox_Film |
name = Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World |
image = Sekachu.jpg |
director = [[Isao Yukisada]] |
producer = [[Kei Haruna]] <BR \> [[Minami Ichikawa]] |
writer = [[Isao Yukisada]] <BR \> [[Yuji Sakamoto]] <BR \> [[Chihiro Ito]] |
starring = [[Mirai Moriyama]] <BR \> [[Masami Nagasawa]] <BR \> [[Takao Osawa]] <BR \> [[Kou Shibasaki]] |
distributor = [[Toho|Toho Company Ltd.]] |
released = [[May 8]] [[2004]] |
runtime = 138 min. |
language = Japanese |
country = {{JPN}} |
budget = |
music = |
awards = |
imdb_id = 0424430 |
|}}
'''''Socrates in Love''''', also known as {{nihongo|'''''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 remade version is also shown on [[August 26]], [[2006]] in Japan. The Japanese title of 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, [[Japanese people|Japanese]] celebrity [[Kou Shibasaki]] wrote an article according it high praise: "I read it thoroughly even though it made me cry. I wished to have a relationship as such in my life." The book instantly became a bestseller. By [[May 2004]] over 3 million copies were sold, exceeding the sales record of ''[[Norwegian Wood (novel)|Norwegian Wood]]'', previous record keeper of the biggest issue in [[Japan]] since [[1987]]. In [[2004]], a movie derived from the novel was presented, and Shibasaki acted in it.
==Plot summary==
In a small regional town in 1980s southern [[Japan]], Sakutaro "Saku" Matsumoto and Aki Hirose, who were classmates all through junior high school, become high school students and then fall in love with one another. They share audio diaries, go on excursions together, and enjoy summer vacation. However, Aki soon finds herself suffering from [[Leukemia]] and begins to weaken day by day, rendering her unable to see Saku or go outside. Saku, desperate to take Aki to [[Uluru]] (Ayer's Rock) in Australia (the "Center of the World" in the Japanese title), a place she had wished to go to, desperately tries to achieve just that. Saku buys tickets to go, but Aki dies before boarding the plane.
Seventeen years later, as 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 into his memories of his last days with Aki.
==Main characters==
*'''Sakutaro "Saku" Matsumoto''' (松本朔太郎 ''Matsumoto Sakutarō'', サク "Saku") - [[Hero]]. 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") - [[Heroine]]. 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. This is why the English version of the manga and the novel use this title instead of the lengthy "Crying Out Love in the Center of the World".
In Japan, the movie's title (''Sekai no Chūshin de, Ai o Sakebu'') is abbreviated as ''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==
{{POV|date=December 2007}}
The popularity of ''Socrates in Love'' is generally high because it's taken up in much [[Japanese media]], but has received much criticism from pure movie fans and literature fans. Originally, the novel version was often subjected to harsh criticism likely because it was published during the so-called "Pure love boom", a media trend in which many written and film works made and shown in Japan portrayed chaste, undying love professed by the romantic lead(s). The Korean drama [[Winter Sonata]] is an example of this trend.
Japanese [[owarai|comedic duo]] [[Bakusho Mondai]] member [[Hikari Ota]] criticized the film, saying that "Pure love in which nobody's hurt is suspicious and it's not interesting at all."
The writing is often commented as being amateur, probably intended to refer to the novel's use of simple vocabulary and generally easier level of reading. It is sometimes considered a prime example of a book that is received well by the masses but whose writing is not necessarily on a professional level.
==Secondary works==
===Film version===
In the movie version, an adult Sakutaro, reflecting on his relationship with Aki, plays an important role. The original story unfolds through his memories. 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.
Ritsuko Fujimura, who appeared in the film but doesn't appear in the novel, is Saku's youthful [[engagement|fiance]] and last people who sees Aki with life. Even in this film-only situation, however, Saku still isn't able to let Aki go, causing tension in his and Ritsuko's relationship.
;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
*Sakutaro "Saku" Matsumoto - [[Mirai Moriyama]]/ [[Takao Osawa]]
*Aki Hirose - [[Masami Nagasawa]]
*Ritsuko Fujimura - [[Kou Shibasaki]]/ (Girlhood) [[Rio Kanno]]
*Uncle Shige - [[Tsutomu Yamazaki]]
*Ryunosuke Oki - [[Kankuro Kudo]]/ (High school days) [[Issei Takahashi]]
*Johnny - [[Kanji Tsuda]]
*Radio's DJ - [[Misato Watanabe]]
*Aki's father - [[Tetta Sugimoto]]
*Sakutaro's superior - [[Yuki Amami]]
*Sakutaro's mother [[Midori Kiuchi]]
*Ritsuko (Girlhood)'s mother - [[Misato Tanaka]]
*Film director - [[Yoshimitsu Morita]]
*English teacher - [[Dandy Sakano]]
;Filming location
*[[Aji, Kagawa]]
*[[Mure, Kagawa]]
*[[Konan, Kagawa]]
*[[Takamatsu Airport]]
*[[Sanuki, Kagawa]]
*[[Marugame, Kagawa]]
*[[Matsuyama, Ehime]]
*[[Ōzu, Ehime]]
*[[Masaki, Ehime]]
*[[Alice Springs, Northern Territory]]
===Drama version===
A [[Japanese drama|drama]] based on the book and film was broadcast from [[July 2]], [[2004]] until [[September 10]], [[2004]] on [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]]. It was directed by [[Yukihiko Tsutsumi]].
Like the movie, 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 (actress)|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==
*{{imdb title|id=0424430|title=Sekai no chūshin de, ai o sakebu}}
*[http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Sekai_no_Chuushin_de%2C_Ai_wo_Sakebu DramaWiki Entry]
*[http://aiosakebu.yahoo.co.jp/ Movie's site] Japanese site {{ja icon}}
*[http://www.tbs.co.jp/sekai-ai/ Drama's site by TBS] Japanese site {{ja icon}}
[[Category:2001 novels]]
[[Category:Japanese novels]]
[[Category:Japanese films]]
[[Category:Japanese television dramas]]
[[Category:2004 films]]
[[Category:Viz Media manga]]
[[Category:Romance anime and manga]]
[[fr:Crying Out Love in the Center of the World]]
[[ko:세상의 중심에서 사랑을 외치다]]
[[ja:世界の中心で、愛をさけぶ]]
[[zh:在世界的中心呼喊愛情]]