If you like to watch the Japanese drama "One Liter of Tears" (1リットルの涙/Ichi rittoru no namida) and cry hard throughout the series, then you would enjoy watching this film as well. Released in 2006 which is one year before "One Liter of Tears", this sentimental film tells about a 21-year-old young man named Yotaro (Satoshi Tsumabuki) who works quite a number of laborous jobs Okinawa in order to earn money providing his younger (step)sister Kaoru (Masami Nagasawa) the most prestigious high school education in the Mainland of Japan and then one of the best colleges back in Okinawa.

A childhood flashback by Yota is shown when he made a pinky promise to his mother on her deathbed that he'll take good care of Kaoru regardless of any circumstances. Both of them become orphans after their mother's death when Yota was only 8 years old, leaving for Okinawa to search for their aunt.

However, things do not happen well in Yota's life after his sister's return. He opens a restaurant but he's deceived by a con man on the opening night. Even worse, to support his sister's education fees in college, he works doubly hard sacrificing his relationship with a medical university student who appears to be his girlfriend. In the end, he suffers and dies in the hospital because of overworking, leaving Kaoru and his lover behind.

I cried so hard at the final part during the aftermath of Yota's burial ceremony when Kaoru opens a very special parcel which is delivered for her. She cries when she finds out the content of the parcel. It was the most beautiful silk kimono bought by Yota to her for her upcoming coming of age ceremony...

Below is the theme song by Rimi Natsukawa which is played at the end of the film...




I personally think Tsumabuki is HOT... What do you think? Hehehe~