Inspired by love songs sang by
charismatic rock band GINNAN BOYZ, scriptwriter Yoshikazu Okada and director Shintaro Sugawara tell a story about Kota’s first love, who reunites with his crush Chika after ten years . S ometimes it hurts so much but it’s too precious to let go.. go…
PRODUCTION NOTES:Yoshikazu Okada (scriptwriter) and Kazunobu Mineta (lead singer of GINNAN BOYZ / met on the set of TV drama “Kiseki No Hito” (201 6 / NHK) and collaborated again on “Hiyokko” (2017 / NHK). They hit it off so well that in 2018, they decide to publish a novel together Okada wrote the story inspired by songs of GINNAN BOYZ and Mineta drew the illustration for the book. At the same time they developed a film based on the same story, with Okada writing the script and Mineta starring in it. “ICHIGO NO UTA” is a story about bittersweet friendship and love told over a course of ten years .
Created by casts and crew who have listened to the songs of GINNAN BOYZ since they were teenager s , Yutaro Furutachi and Shizuka Ishibashi play the main cha racters, two of the most
promising actors in their generation.
STORY: Kota Sasazawa(Yutaro Fur utachi) works at a frozen food factory. He’s not smart nor ha ndsome,
and he has nothing he can be proud of, but is living a peaceful life.
Back in seventh grade, he ha d a best friend named Shinji. Shinji was brought up in an orphanage
and his dream was to fill up the garden of the orphanage with flowers , just like in “Strawberry
Fields” by The Beatles. Kota and Shinji both had a cr ush on their classmate Chika, a.k.a. Ah chan.
The two were having the best days of their lives but one day tragedy occurs when Shinji is hit by
a car, trying to save Chika.
Ten years later, on the day of years later, on the day of Shinji’s death, Shinji’s death, Kota and Chika meet unexpectedly and reconnect. Kota and Chika meet unexpectedly and reconnect. TheyThey decide to get togetherdecide to get together once a year on the same day andonce a year on the same day and Kota is again slowly drawn to Chika. Kota is again slowly drawn to Chika. But before he can gather up the courage to express his feelingBut before he can gather up the courage to express his feelingss,, Chika confesses that she and Chika confesses that she and Shinji had a special relationship back in junior high. Kota comes to know the history of the two Shinji had a special relationship back in junior high. Kota comes to know the history of the two and the real meaning behind and the real meaning behind Shinji’s Shinji’s “Strawberry Fields.” “Strawberry Fields.”