Dogwood Tree

Hanamizuki (ハナミズキ, Hanamizuki) is a 2010 Japanese romance drama film inspired by the lyrics of a love song of the same name by Yō Hitoto. The film is directed by Nobuhiro Doi, and its script was written by Noriko Yoshida. The film spans the ten-year period from 1996 to 2006, and it stars Yui Aragaki as Sae, a high school student who later grows into a young adult. Toma Ikuta also stars in this film, playing the role of Kouhei, Sae's boyfriend and an aspiring fisherman. Sae and Kouhei met by accident on a train when they were both high school students, and a relationship starts to form. Later, when Sae needs to leave Hokkaido to go to Tokyo for studies, the two of them attempted to have a long distance relationship. However, their bond is tested by multiple challenges facing the two of them. Hanamizuki was first released in Japanese cinemas on 21 August 2010. It subsequently made its international debut at the 30th Hawaii International Film Festival. The film received a mixed reception from critics, and grossed over US$32,990,888, making it the 12th highest grossing Japanese film of 2010.