First-day-screening event of new movie "Isshukan Friends"

The first-day-screening event of new movie "Isshukan Friends" was held at Shinjuku Picadilly on 18 February which was attended by the director Murakami Shosuke and cast members Kawaguchi Haruna, Yamazaki Kento, Uesugi Shuhei, Matsuo Takashi, Furuhata Seika, Takahashi Haori and Totsugi Shigeyuki. The movie is based on the same-titled shoujo manga that had sold more than 1.5 million copies to date. Kawaguchi plays a senior high school girl Fujimiya Kaori who has an illness which causes her to lose her memories every Monday and Yamazaki plays her classmate Hase Yuuki who has to confess his love to her every week so that she can remember him.

Yamazaki commented that he was glad to see such a huge turnout for the event and hopes that more people can come to the cinemas to watch their movie. Kawaguchi revealed that when she watched the screening with the president of her agency prior to the event, the two of them couldn't help but cry which was rather strange for her because she can usually watch her works from an objective perspective. Nonetheless, she was glad that the audience seemed to like the movie and expressed confidence in the final product.

In conjunction with the first-day-screening which marked a brand new step in the cast's careers, the director presented them with graduation certificates. Although the actors who played students received their certificates with smiles, Totsugi who played a teacher in the movie, behaved quite nervously when receiving his certificate which made the audience laugh at his stiff posture and expression.

In the movie, Kaori and Yuuki exchange diaries in a bid to bridge the distance between them. As such, during the event, Kawaguchi and Yamazaki exchanged their certificates. Yamazaki also praised his co-star for being very humourous and expressed his thanks to her for helping him on the set. In response, Kawaguchi returned the favour by saying that he also helped her a lot and that she likes him for being a frank and hardworking actor and person.

Sources: Nikkansports / Oricon / Eiga.com