(Jmovie Review) Waiting for Spring

Original title: Harumatsu Bokura (春待つ僕ら)

Other English title: We Hope for Blooming

Director: Yuichiro Hirakawa

Writer: Anashin (manga), Satoko Okazaki

Producer: Rikyu Ohata, Yoshizawa Nagasawa

Cinematographer: Takashi Komatsu

Release date: December 14, 2018

Runtime: 109 minutes

Genre: sport, romance, based on manga

Distributor: Warner Bros

Casts:
Tao Tsuchiya as Mitsuki Haruno
Takumi Kitamura as Towa Asakura
Yuta Koseki as Aya Kamiyama
Hayato Isomura as Kyosuke Wakamiya
Yosuke Sugino as Ryuji Tada
Yu Inaba as Rui Miyamoto
Rika Izumi as Nanase Kashiwagi
Yuki Saso as Reina Yamada 

Reading the movie description slightly here, looks like this movie is like other kinds of teen movies based on manga. There is almost nothing new. A timid girl who has a trauma in her childhood of making friends is frantically looking for a friend in her new school. After she finally found some, someone from the past returned.
 

Mitsuko Haruno, a recluse

Mitsuki Haruno has been always by herself since middle school. She’s never been good in making friends. all she remembered was her friends laughing at her and she ended up crying. She used to have a very good friend, though, someone who always cheered her up and protected her. But that friend is now somewhere in USA.

Another spring comes, giving her a new expectation in her new school to make new friends. Apparently, she is still her old self who doesn’t change a lot. She is still nervous around her classmates; she cannot come out with some kind of invitation to hang out with her friends. Then, she ends up burying herself in her part time job in a café. 

The four ikemen who play basketball

Her boring flat days start to change when one day she gets an invitation from a group of boys. It said that there would be someone confess to her. Being puzzled, she showed up to the invitation only to find out that she’s not the one expected for. Infuriated, she scolded the boys without realizing that there is someone from her class. Moreover, she figured out that the group of boys are popular basketball boys from her school. One of them seems to get attracted to Nanase, Mitsuki's colleague in the cafe. It is predicted that those guys would be regular customers in the cafe. Why does it this matter to Mitsuki. Well, you know, as someone who wants to be hide under her cell, their existence in the cafe would be a nuisance for her.

But, not long after that, Mitsuki seems to feel at ease around them. She even finally makes friend with a girl in her class, Reina Yamada. Without being so hard to mingle with every one in her school, Mitsuki are friends with popular boys in her school. Her cheerful days seem complete. However, someone from the past shows up in front of her, someone she has been longing for.
 

Aya Kamiyama, a beauty who turned to be a strong guy :)

Kamiyama Aya has always been a cheerful and kind-hearted girl friend to Mitsuki since they were child. But little did Mitsuki know that Aya chan has turned to be a strong and good looking guy. Not only that, he shows up only to say that he has feelings for Mitsuki for all this time. Aya chan has been in Mitsuki's memory but it started to change as soon as Mitsuki hang out with the basketball boys. Not to mention she starts to have feelings for Towa Asakuta, the most quiet boy in the group. Kyaaaaaa...... 😍😍😍😍 
 

Towa Asakura, the quiet basketball player

A very typical scene on a train. Kawaiii ...

Well, yup, this is shoujo manga. It is not complete if there's no love triangle without involving someone from the past, or I can say, a childhood friend. Nevertheless, with the very common issue in shoujo manga, I still enjoy watching this live action. As the female lead, Tao chan is no doubt to perform her best here. I heard that this is going to be her last role wearing high school uniform. Her talent is wasted if she continues performing as a high student. Takumi Kitamura, on the other hand, showed his old expression I saw in Let Me Eat Your Pancreas. I started to notice him in that movie, and I liked him. But then he seems that he doesn't improve a lot. His character as a basketball player here, well, I cannot say, he is not really suited here, but doesn't have that posture, as an athlete. Sorry to say this. But, in some background story, there might be something about that's why he was selected as Towa's role.
 

Yusuke Sugino as Ryuji Tada

For some other characters, surprisingly, I like Yusuke Sugino here. In his previous movies I watched, I think he always has the standout performance; every time he showed up, there would breeze blowing his hair and screaming girls around him. But in this movie, as someone popular, he doesn't have that spotlight since he is in love with Matsuki's colleague in the cafe. And he doesn't care about girls screaming in his school. He showed a bit different character here. And I kind of like it. Yuta Koseki as Aya Kamiyama plays as Mitsuki's childhood friend. I didn't really recognize Yuta at first, until I saw his filmography. Oh, he is someone from Mission of Love. Well, I drop reading that manga, and I also drop watching the movie as well as the series. I cannot stand with the girl's character there. I thought if I couldn't finish reading the manga, probably I could at least enjoy the live action (like I'm always used to). But nope. I give up. Gomen ne. 
 

Hayato Isomura, his face line reminds me of Masaki Suda :)

Yu Inaba as Rui Miyamoto

I've never seen the other two boys here as parts of basketball team. I love how they support Towa's feelings to Mitsuki. And how they easily express that Mitsuki is their important friend to them is melting. One thing I've got really hilarious here is Mitsuki's best friend, Reina. She loves taking pictures of the basketball team, especially those for guys that become the Cafe regulars. When she flips the pictures in her phone, she seems to be in another world, giddy to herself. 😂😂😂. And see how enthusiastic close to idiotic when she attends the basketball match. She gets nosebleed just to see them win the match. Well, I think I watched some of Yuki Saso's movies, but I didn't really notice her. I really love her role here, and looking forward to her next roles. 

Yuki Saso, with her nose bleeding. How hilarious!

 I happen to read some chapters of the manga, but I think I'd better wait for the live action, to see the real Towa in 3D 😂😂 . Speaking about the movie, it's not perfect but I did enjoy it. Some parts I found  disturbing especially after the baseball team finish their practice or match, it seems that they don't look tired or their hair is on point again, with no trace of sweat 😅😅😅. Other thing is when the four boys come to cafe to discuss the match, their position on the match, why there are only four of them while in basketball, it should be at least five members in a team, not to mention the alternative players in case an accident happens to one of the players. But, okay, it's just a teen movie that an adult like me can enjoy. I just can't help giving comments on that while watching the movie 😄😄😄

Overall, the movie is really worth your time. I love how Mitsuki finally finishes he presentation in her essay competition. The topic is quite common, it's about breaking your shell. It is about time if you want to change yourself. You cannot blame yourself for not changing anything in your life, just take the action. In the movie, she's lucky enough to meet the basketball guys. But I could see her motivation to change herself.. This issue is actually really typical in shoujo manga with characters like Mitsuki. but I just felt touched and warm when I heard her presentation. Really love it. ❤❤❤

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