Socrates in Love

Socrates in Love (恋するソクラテス, Koi Suru Sokuratesu) is a 2001 Japanese melodrama novel, written by Kyoichi Katayama and published by Shogakukan, which revolves around narrator Sakutaro Matsumoto's recollections of a school classmate whom he once loved.

Socrates in Love
世界の中心で、愛をさけぶ
(Sekai no Chūshin de, Ai o Sakebu)
GenreRomance, Tragedy
Novel
Written byKyoichi Katayama
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
Published2001
Manga
Written byKazumi Kazui
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
MagazinePetit Comic
Original runJanuary 2004 – February 2004
Live-action film
Directed byIsao Yukisada
Written byYuji Sakamoto
Chihiro Ito
StudioToho
ReleasedMay 8, 2004
Runtime138 minutes
Television drama
Directed byYukihiko Tsutsumi
Yasuharu Ishii
Yuichiro Hirakawa
Written byYoshiko Morishita
Original networkTBS
Original run July 2, 2004 – September 10, 2004
Episodes11
Related works

It is also known as Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World (世界の中心で、愛をさけぶ, Sekai no Chūshin de, Ai o Sakebu), which author Katayama used after his editors advised that his original novel title Socrates in Love wouldn't work.[1]

Plot summary

In a small town of southern Japan, Sakutaro "Saku" Matsumoto and Aki Hirose, classmates since junior high, become high school students. During this time they begin to date and their conversations circle around the idea of what love really is, beginning after Saku's grandfather shares his own past love story with Saku.

After a trip the two take to an abandoned island, Aki discovers she has leukemia, which limits her chances to go outside or see Saku. Once Saku learns the truth, he buys flight tickets to take Aki to Australia's Uluru (Ayers Rock); a place she had always wanted to visit after missing the school trip there, but she dies before she could board the plane.

The story takes place as a flashback through Saku's eyes as he and Aki's parents travel to Australia to spread Aki's ashes in the place she had always wanted to see.

Main characters
  • Sakutaro "Saku" Matsumoto (松本朔太郎 Matsumoto Sakutarō, サク "Saku"): the narrator who's referred as "Saku-chan" by Aki. His name is taken from Japanese poet Sakutarō Hagiwara's name.
  • Aki Hirose (廣瀬亜紀 Hirose Aki, アキ "Aki"): Saku's classmate who later becomes his girlfriend. She has leukemia.
  • Ryunosuke Oki (大木龍之介 Ōki Ryūnosuke): a classmate of Saku and Aki. His name is based on Japanese writer Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's name.
  • Kentaro Matsumoto (松本謙太郎 Matsumoto Kentarō): Saku's grandfather.

About the title

Socrates in Love is the English translation of author Katayama's original Japanese title, 恋するソクラテス (Koi Suru Sokuratesu).

The novel and its manga adaptation (illustrated by Kazumi Kazui) were published in the United States by VIZ Media under the English translated title of author Katayama's original title.

The 2004 film title, Sekai no Chūshin de, Ai o Sakebu, is abbreviated in Japan as Sekachū (セカチュー).

To date, the 2005 Hong Kong DVD release of the 2004 film adaptation is the only English-language release that has its title Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World in English. The 2004 film and the 2004 TV series still haven't been released to the English-language market outside Hong Kong.

Notes about the novel

Katayama had intended Socrates in Love as part of a trilogy[1] to explore the concept and themes of youth and memories. His editors however decided[1] to take advantage of the "pure Love boom"—a Japanese media trend of novels and films that portray a chaste, undying and tragic love—by publishing the novel under Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World to appeal fans of tragic love stories. In spite of this, only 8,000 copies of the book were printed and distributed, due to the poor sales of Katayama's two previous novels.[1]

A year after the novel's publication, celebrity actress Kou Shibasaki wrote in a guest column for Japanese monthly literary and pop culture magazine Da Vinci (March 2002 issue): "I read it thoroughly even though it made me cry. I wished to have such a relationship in my life." The book became a best-seller, due to Shibasaki's recommendation and the word of mouth. In May 2004 over 3 million copies were sold, surpassing the sales record of Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood. Shibasaki subsequently appeared in the 2004 film version.

Film and television adaptations

Japanese film (2004)
Main article: Crying Out Love in the Center of the World

Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World was opened nationally in Japan on 8 May 2004, which brought Masami Nagasawa recognition as an actress. It was a huge success, and its theme song, "Hitomi o Tojite" ("With My Eyes Closed") by Ken Hirai, had record sales as well.

Television drama (2004)

Crying out Love, in the Center of the World was adapted as an 11-episode [2] TV drama series, directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi, and broadcast every Friday on TBS at 10PM, from 2 July to 10 September, in 2004.[3]

Like the film, the drama features an original character that doesn't appear in the novel — Aki Kobayashi, a single-mother friend of adult Sakutaro. She has feelings for him, but he struggles not to see her as the late Aki's replacement. Their situation is complicated when Aki's young son sees Saku as a father figure.

The drama's theme song, "Katachi Aru Mono" (Some Kind of Form), is notable for having been written and performed by Kou Shibasaki, who appeared as Ritsuko Fujimura in the 2004 film adaptation.

Staff

Cast

Awards
Year Award Category Recipients Result
2004 42nd Television Drama Academy Awards Best Drama Won
Best Actor Takayuki Yamada Won
Best Supporting Actress Haruka Ayase Won
Best New Face Koutaro Tanaka Won
Best Scriptwriter Yoshiko Morishita Won
Best Director Yukihiko Tsutsumi, Yasuharu Ishii, Yuichiro Hirakawa Won
Best Theme song "Katachi Aru Mono" by Kou Shibasaki Won
Best Casting Won
Best Title Background Won
  • Tokiwa Bridge of Matsusaki-cho
  • Airport
  • Uluru

Korean film (2004)
Main article: My Girl and I

The 2004 film was remade and released in South Korea as My Girl and I on 23 December 2005. It was then released in Japan on 26 August 2006, under its Japanese title, You Are the Center of My World (僕の、世界の中心は、君だ Boku no, Sekai no Chūshin wa, Kimi da).[4]

Chinese film (2016)
Main article: Crying Out in Love

See also

References
  1. Katayama's author site
  2. TBS listing: Crying Out Love, in the Centre of the World
  3. TBS Profile: Crying Out Love, in the Centre of the World
  4. http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?blbdComCd=601006&seq=3941&mode=VIEW
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