Dreamy Fifteen (Tonda kappuru)

New York premiere.

1980, 120 min., color, 35mm.  In Japanese with English subtitles.

Directed by Shinji Somai. Written by Shoichi Maruyama, based on manga by Kimio Yanagisawa. With Shingo Tsurumi, Hiroko Yakushimaru, Toshinori Omi, Mariko Ishihara, Hiroyuki Sanada. Print courtesy of The Japan Foundation with permission from Toho.

Yusuke comes to Tokyo to attend a top-rank high school and a realtor’s mistake forces him to live with a girl attending his school. Their relationship becomes even more complicated when their classmates get involved. Shinji Somai made his impressive directorial debut with this adaptation of Kimio Yanagisawa’s popular manga serialized in a weekly manga magazine for boys. The film features teenage pop star Hiroko Yakushimaru.

Tickets: $10; Japan Society members, seniors & students $5.