Based on the novel “Kimi no Suizo wo Tabetai” by Yoru Sumino, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas is one of the latest Japanese Toho drama that tackles the issues of incurable disease and romantic intimate relationships. Tsukikawa Sho (who will also direct the Suda-Tsuchiya LA My Little Monster) will direct the film and stars Hamabe Minami and Kitamura Takumi as the ill-fated lovers. Oguri Shun and Kitagawa Keiko will play pivotal parts.
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What the Movie is all about: Based on the novel “Kimi no Suizo wo Tabetai” by Yoru Sumino, the movie tells the tale of a boy (Kitamura) who discovered the diary of a girl named Sakura (Minami Hamabe). The diary tells of the girl’s apparent tragedy. She suffers from a pancreatic disease. Thus she died early. But the boy was able to spend some time with her and in the process inspired him to become a teacher. Fast forward 12 years later, the teacher (now played by Oguri) remembers the dead girl and also became involved with her friend (played by Kitagawa).
One day, I – a high schooler – found a paperback in the hospital. The “Disease Coexistence Journal” was its title. It was a diary that my classmate, Sakura Yamauchi, had written in secret. Inside, it was written that due to her pancreatic disease, her days were numbered. And thus, I coincidentally went from Just-a-Classmate to a Secret-Knowing-Classmate. It was as if I were being drawn to her, who was my polar opposite. However, the world presented the girl that was already suffering from an illness with an equally cruel reality… [ source ]
Highlights: This is going to be another tearjerker, but the big difference maybe the cast. I can understand the change from cancer to something different like the pancreas, but – I know, only in Japan – will you find such titles! I am not complaining, in fact, I am looking forward since both young stars have proven to be talents worth watching. Kitamura, in particular, has impressed me already – Suzuki Sensei, Angel’s Knife, and even his TV commercials, the guy has talent!
Trailer Impressions: While Hamabe is not entirely convincing, Kitamura has transformed himself into Yuto, with his apparent inferiority complex and sensitivity to pain. His breakdown scene, for me, is the highlight of the trailer.
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