Taiyou no Uta

Full-length feature film starring YUI

Released on June 17, 2006 Taiyou no Uta ( タイヨウのうた or Midnight Sun) is the one and only full-length Japanese feature film starring YUI in her acting debut. Perhaps the only film where fans are able to assess her acting skills. Taiyou no Uta was screened at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and in the process, YUI received the Best Newcomer Award at the Japan Academy Prize.

The main protagonist of the film, Amane Kaoru. Played by YUI which somewhat depicts part of her.

Taiyou no Uta is directed by Koizumi Norihiro and stars Tsukamoto Takashi (as Fujishiro Koji) and YUI (as Amane Kaoru) as the 2 main leads. Unfortunately there are few other supporting actors that have enough screen time to talk about. Not really much of a bother though, since the film is basically about a romantic love story between the 2 leads. The only other notable name I could utter out is probably Kishitani Goro , who fills the role of Amane Kaoru’s dad in the film.

Where is my love?

There’s a pretty straightforward sorrowful romance story being covered, which I reckon falls under the same idea as the drama “1 Litre of Tears”.

YUI’s character, Amane Kaoru is a girl who has a rare skin disease which could be fatal to her when exposed to sunlight. She secretly admires Fujishiro Koji (acted by Tsukamoto Takashi), who is a somewhat normal high school boy. She watches him and his friends visit the ocean surfing every morning, before going to sleep. Their fate entwines during an encounter where Koji sees Kaoru singing and playing the guitar during an early occasion before the sun rises.

Spending time together.

Stalker in action.

The 2 lead characters meet, are given a chance to interact, sort of go on a date and bam, her sickness is found out. With the kind of conditions presented right from the start, one could predict that the plot is going to end with some sort of sad, tragic ending. With the kind of definite ending in mind, there is a need to appreciate the progression of the plot, which is played out rather smoothly, but in a fast-forward matter. While I don’t really want to spoil too much of the story, you can more or less expect what’s going to happen in the end.

The initial pacing is a little slow, while the characters and story are still being established but once that’s done, the movie’s a breeze. One notable fact is that if YUI did not star as the main female lead, to both sing and act, then this would turn out to be a truly typical Japanese melodrama. At least what made the movie appealing to me, was that YUI, the lead protagonist, is a singer in real life. Through her songs, she manages to bring life and emotions to the movie (this of course, coming from a YUI fan). The male lead and the supporting characters also did a job well done, which I cannot miss bringing out.

Lovebirds.

Fulfilling dreams.

YUI singing "Good-bye days" in the movie. Part of the tie-in with the release of her single.

No doubt, any YUI fan would had most probably already given this show a watch, if for anything else but to have a chance to see YUI on the silver screen. For the rest, if you have that itch for bittersweet romances and tearing films, this is a favorable show to watch. Taiyou no Uta makes an excellent date movie, so guys might want to watch this together with your lady love. You could always ogle at YUI through the show, just keep it mum when your girl asks.

Taiyou no Uta's promotional poster.