Tokyo Friends (東京フレンズ, Tōkyō Furenzu) is a Japanese television drama released on June 3, 2005. Unlike many other dramas, it was never aired on television but released as a set of 3 DVDs. Volumes one and two contain the first 4 episodes while volume three contains the last episode. Each episode is approximately 70 minutes.

Tokyo Friends
Tokyo Friends DVD cover
GenreRomantic comedy
Created byMax Matsuura
Written byRin Eto [ja]
Directed byKozo Nagayama
Starring
Theme music composer
Opening themeFriends (フレンズ) by Ai Otsuka
Ending themeTo Me by Boo Bee Benz [ja]
Kimi to Iu Hana (君という花) by Boo Bee Benz
Yumekui (ユメクイ) by Ai Otsuka
ComposerSin [ja]
Country of originJapan
Original languageJapanese
No. of episodes5
Production
Executive producers
  • Ryuhei Chiba
  • Masaomi Takagi
Producers
  • Motohiro Abe
  • Yoshikazu Kenmochi
  • Nanami Takahashi
  • Hidefumi Tokairin
  • Ichiro Takai
Cinematography
  • Tomotaka Sato
  • Hiroshi Gonda
Editors
  • Yoshifumi Fukasawa
  • Masaharu Hirakawa
Camera setupMultiple-camera setup
Running time46 min. (approx)
Production companies
Original release
ReleaseJune 3, 2005 (2005-06-03)
Related

The Tokyo Friends Premium Box was also released which includes all 5 episodes, a bonus DVD, and 12 postcards. Although this is a very typical Tokyo-story and was never aired, it was quite successful probably because it was Ai Otsuka's debut as an actress.

Plot

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Rei Iwatsuki moved from her hometown Kōchi to Tokyo to pursue her dreams. On arrival, she found a job as a waitress in a restaurant and met guitarist Ryuuji Shintani. Ryuuji liked her voice and invited her to join his band as the vocalist, The Survival Company (also known as Sabakan). The two started a relationship but then broke off when Rei wanted to write her own songs.

Rei met other girls also working in the restaurant, Hirono, Ryoko and Maki, all in pursuit of their own dreams, and became good friends with all of them.

Cast

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Movie

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Tokyo Friends: The Movie was released in theaters by Shochiku on August 12, 2006 and on DVD by Avex on December 13, 2006.[1]

References

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  1. ^ 映画 東京フレンズ The Movie - allcinema (in Japanese)
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