manu/mldr-zoomed-100char-total-queries-documents

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115_2	Nishikido of japanese idol group Kanjani Eight. The special, consisting of a recap and some new
115_3	additional scenes aired on June 26, 2008.
115_4	The series follow the life of Michiru Aida, a beauty parlor assistant who returns to Tokyo after 4
115_5	years. Bullied by her seniors at work and abused by her boyfriend, she is reunited with her best
115_6	friend during high school, Ruka Kishimoto, a skilled motocross racer. Takeru, a make-up artist, is
115_7	introduced to Ruka by her housemate, Eri and thus begin a journey of friendship.
115_8	A manga counterpart focusing on Ruka's and Michiru's high school days is currently being published
115_9	in Malika. Although episode 11 was supposed to be the final episode, a sudden phone call requested
115_10	the producers to add on a special. A movie has also been announced due to Last Friends' immense
115_11	popularity.
115_12	Last Friends was number 1 on Fuji's top 50 list from June 16 till June 29. However, it had since
115_13	dropped to 6th place after the broadcast of the special and as of the week of July 7 to 13, Last
115_14	Friends ranked 9th on the Top 50 list. Aside from the official website at Fuji TV, another website
115_15	has also been created, named "Last Friends: Another".
115_16	Creation and conception
115_17	Juri Ueno and Masami Nagasawa were originally approached for the role of Ruka and Michiru. Asami
115_18	Mizukawa was cast for the other woman character Taeko Asano planned to have in the drama. Takeru,
115_19	however was a last minute addition because the producers wanted a male presence in the drama.
115_20	Initially, the drama was to be only about domestic violence (DV) and gender identity disorder,
115_21	portrayed by Nagasawa and Ueno respectively. A character who used DV was then created.
115_22	Ueno was picked by Asano, who saw her performance in Rainbow Song. According to Asano, it was her
115_23	intuition which said Ueno was perfect for the role of Ruka Kishimoto, a character with gender
115_24	identity issues. Eita was cast because of his "feminine feel". Nagasawa was selected because Asano
115_25	thought of her as the "smiling woman who worries".
115_26	Takeru's friendship with Ruka was in the "grey zone". Asano stated that Ueno was very enthusiastic
115_27	about her role from the beginning, asking about the hairstyle and clothing when she accepted the
115_28	role.
115_29	Theme
115_30	Centered around the current generation's afflictions, Last Friends follows the various issues of
115_31	domestic violence, gender dysphoria and trauma. Each of the five characters are represented by an
115_32	issue, which are:
115_33	Love - Michiru Liberation - Ruka Agony - Takeru Solitude - Eri Contradiction - Sousuke
115_34	Synopsis
115_35	Michiru Aida is a beauty parlour assistant who returns to Tokyo after four years of absence. She
115_36	moves in with her boyfriend, Sousuke Oikawa, who works in the Child Welfare Division. She quickly
115_37	becomes the victim of DV and is bullied at her workplace. Ruka Kishimoto is Michiru's best friend
115_38	that works part-time at a mechanic shop and is a brilliant motocross racer. She has a problem which
115_39	she cannot confide to anyone and her worry becomes evident throughout the series. Takeru Mizhushima
115_40	is a professional hair makeup artist by day and a bartender by night who suffers from a traumatic
115_41	past. The three meet by chance and a journey of friendship begins.
115_42	Plot
115_43	A pregnant Michiru is first seen walking in a fishing village area, wondering about her friends and
115_44	a horrible death which occurred laments the fact that she did not have the ability to know what is
115_45	in a person's heart, and therefore could not stop the death. However, she acknowledges that her
115_46	friends are supporting her even though she betrayed Ruka.
115_47	Present day Tokyo, Michiru is working at a beauty parlour when she sees her boyfriend, Sousuke
115_48	Oikawa waving at her and pointing out a place to meet him for dinner. When she does, Sousuke gives
115_49	her a cup for her birthday present and invites her to live together. Michiru gets permission from
115_50	her mother and tells Sousuke that she will move in soon, first buying pair furniture. At the
115_51	department store, Michiru is seen by Ruka, who chases the bus Michiru has boarded. In her hurry,
115_52	Ruka bumps into Takeru and drops her cup. She catches up, and the two meet each other for the first
115_53	time in four years. Later that day, Ruka meets Takeru again after Eri drags her along to the night
115_54	bar where Takeru works.
115_55	Cast Main characters Japanese Live action actor: Masami Nagasawa
115_56	Michiru Aida is a beauty parlour assistant who gets constantly bullied at her workplace "Niche" by
115_57	her seniors. Her mother doesn't care about her much, even forgetting her 22nd birthday. She moves
115_58	in with her boyfriend Sousuke; who is the only one who she can confide her emotional problems to
115_59	but becomes the victim of domestic violence.
115_60	She was Ruka's best friend in middle school and has not seen her for four years after her mother
115_61	moved them to a relative's place in Choushi. Michiru graduated from high school in 2003.
115_62	After returning to Tokyo, she is spotted by Ruka while shopping for new furniture in accordance
115_63	with moving in with Sousuke. The two then spend time catching up at a park which holds precious
115_64	memories to each of them. In the past, Michiru would tell Ruka all of her family problems at the
115_65	very same park, eat ice cream and take shelter from the rain there. When she returns to Sousuke's
115_66	apartment, she is slapped because Sousuke thought that the messages that Michiru was receiving from
115_67	Ruka was from a guy. Failing to find the graduation album in her house, Michiru returns and gets
115_68	slapped again and promises to find it. When she returns to her house again, she sees her mother
115_69	with another guy, so she decides to go to the park. Ruka finds Michiru by instinct after receiving
115_70	a miss call from her, and brings Michiru back to the Share House. They spend the night there and
115_71	after Ruka sees Michiru crying in her sleep, Ruka kisses Michiru.
115_72	She gives Ruka a good luck charm for the race, which Ruka considers to be the thing which saved her
115_73	during the accident which occurred during the race when her bike flipped over. After the accident,
115_74	Michiru nearly gets attacked by Sousuke until Ruka turns up and yells at Sousuke not to touch "my
115_75	Michiru".
115_76	After being raped by Sousuke, Michiru moves out of the ShareHouse and isolates herself from
115_77	everyone else. She goes back to Choushi, where nine months later, she is about to give birth.
115_78	However, complications arises when it is discovered she has abnormal high blood pressure that can
115_79	endanger both her child and herself. She manages to pull through and names the child "Rumi", Ru
115_80	from Ruka and Mi from Michiru. Ru is also present in Takeru.
115_81	Taeko Asano has stated that Michiru and Ruka were not based on Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon
115_82	characters Michiru and Haruka despite rumors.
115_83	Japanese Live action actor: Juri Ueno
115_84	A brilliant motocross racer, Ruka Kishimoto was Michiru's best friend since middle school. When she
115_85	meets Michiru after four years, she is delighted yet worried about it. She dislikes people
115_86	discriminating against gender, like her motocross senior does. She comments that when she is racing
115_87	and in the air, "everything disappears" and "you become a thing floating in air" regardless of
115_88	gender. Ruka lives in the Share House with Eri.
115_89	Her main problem throughout the series is confessing her love for Michiru. There are moments where
115_90	it is obvious that Ruka loves Michiru, yet Michiru doesn't see it. Sousuke describes Ruka looking
115_91	at Michiru with "male like eyes". Her relationship with Takeru is different. While Takeru loves
115_92	Ruka, Ruka treats him like a friend. Her father even states that Takeru looks "weak", much to
115_93	Ruka's amusement.
115_94	In the past, she and Michiru often got in trouble with the patrol man for riding together on a
115_95	single seat bicycle. They would stay at a park where Michiru would confide to her about her family
115_96	problems, and Ruka would stay with her because she "couldn't leave her in tears". Ruka graduated
115_97	from high school in 2003.
115_98	Her motocross number is #27. While initially looked down upon by her male senior, Ruka eventually
115_99	wins the Kanto Motocross Competition. Ueno started training for the motocross scenes in February,
115_100	and she commented that the bike was really heavy as it weighs 90 kg.
115_101	Taeko Asano commented that Ueno Juri "changed" her image from the Nodame Cantabile hairstyle to

115_2

Nishikido of japanese idol group Kanjani Eight. The special, consisting of a recap and some new

115_3

additional scenes aired on June 26, 2008.

115_4

The series follow the life of Michiru Aida, a beauty parlor assistant who returns to Tokyo after 4

115_5

years. Bullied by her seniors at work and abused by her boyfriend, she is reunited with her best

115_6

friend during high school, Ruka Kishimoto, a skilled motocross racer. Takeru, a make-up artist, is

115_7

introduced to Ruka by her housemate, Eri and thus begin a journey of friendship.

115_8

A manga counterpart focusing on Ruka's and Michiru's high school days is currently being published

115_9

in Malika. Although episode 11 was supposed to be the final episode, a sudden phone call requested

115_10

the producers to add on a special. A movie has also been announced due to Last Friends' immense

115_11

popularity.

115_12

Last Friends was number 1 on Fuji's top 50 list from June 16 till June 29. However, it had since

115_13

dropped to 6th place after the broadcast of the special and as of the week of July 7 to 13, Last

115_14

Friends ranked 9th on the Top 50 list. Aside from the official website at Fuji TV, another website

115_15

has also been created, named "Last Friends: Another".

115_16

Creation and conception

115_17

Juri Ueno and Masami Nagasawa were originally approached for the role of Ruka and Michiru. Asami

115_18

Mizukawa was cast for the other woman character Taeko Asano planned to have in the drama. Takeru,

115_19

however was a last minute addition because the producers wanted a male presence in the drama.

115_20

Initially, the drama was to be only about domestic violence (DV) and gender identity disorder,

115_21

portrayed by Nagasawa and Ueno respectively. A character who used DV was then created.

115_22

Ueno was picked by Asano, who saw her performance in Rainbow Song. According to Asano, it was her

115_23

intuition which said Ueno was perfect for the role of Ruka Kishimoto, a character with gender

115_24

identity issues. Eita was cast because of his "feminine feel". Nagasawa was selected because Asano

115_25

thought of her as the "smiling woman who worries".

115_26

Takeru's friendship with Ruka was in the "grey zone". Asano stated that Ueno was very enthusiastic

115_27

about her role from the beginning, asking about the hairstyle and clothing when she accepted the

115_28

role.

115_29

Theme

115_30

Centered around the current generation's afflictions, Last Friends follows the various issues of

115_31

domestic violence, gender dysphoria and trauma. Each of the five characters are represented by an

115_32

issue, which are:

115_33

Love - Michiru Liberation - Ruka Agony - Takeru Solitude - Eri Contradiction - Sousuke

115_34

Synopsis

115_35

Michiru Aida is a beauty parlour assistant who returns to Tokyo after four years of absence. She

115_36

moves in with her boyfriend, Sousuke Oikawa, who works in the Child Welfare Division. She quickly

115_37

becomes the victim of DV and is bullied at her workplace. Ruka Kishimoto is Michiru's best friend

115_38

that works part-time at a mechanic shop and is a brilliant motocross racer. She has a problem which

115_39

she cannot confide to anyone and her worry becomes evident throughout the series. Takeru Mizhushima

115_40

is a professional hair makeup artist by day and a bartender by night who suffers from a traumatic

115_41

past. The three meet by chance and a journey of friendship begins.

115_42

Plot

115_43

A pregnant Michiru is first seen walking in a fishing village area, wondering about her friends and

115_44

a horrible death which occurred laments the fact that she did not have the ability to know what is

115_45

in a person's heart, and therefore could not stop the death. However, she acknowledges that her

115_46

friends are supporting her even though she betrayed Ruka.

115_47

Present day Tokyo, Michiru is working at a beauty parlour when she sees her boyfriend, Sousuke

115_48

Oikawa waving at her and pointing out a place to meet him for dinner. When she does, Sousuke gives

115_49

her a cup for her birthday present and invites her to live together. Michiru gets permission from

115_50

her mother and tells Sousuke that she will move in soon, first buying pair furniture. At the

115_51

department store, Michiru is seen by Ruka, who chases the bus Michiru has boarded. In her hurry,

115_52

Ruka bumps into Takeru and drops her cup. She catches up, and the two meet each other for the first

115_53

time in four years. Later that day, Ruka meets Takeru again after Eri drags her along to the night

115_54

bar where Takeru works.

115_55

Cast Main characters Japanese Live action actor: Masami Nagasawa

115_56

Michiru Aida is a beauty parlour assistant who gets constantly bullied at her workplace "Niche" by

115_57

her seniors. Her mother doesn't care about her much, even forgetting her 22nd birthday. She moves

115_58

in with her boyfriend Sousuke; who is the only one who she can confide her emotional problems to

115_59

but becomes the victim of domestic violence.

115_60

She was Ruka's best friend in middle school and has not seen her for four years after her mother

115_61

moved them to a relative's place in Choushi. Michiru graduated from high school in 2003.

115_62

After returning to Tokyo, she is spotted by Ruka while shopping for new furniture in accordance

115_63

with moving in with Sousuke. The two then spend time catching up at a park which holds precious

115_64

memories to each of them. In the past, Michiru would tell Ruka all of her family problems at the

115_65

very same park, eat ice cream and take shelter from the rain there. When she returns to Sousuke's

115_66

apartment, she is slapped because Sousuke thought that the messages that Michiru was receiving from

115_67

Ruka was from a guy. Failing to find the graduation album in her house, Michiru returns and gets

115_68

slapped again and promises to find it. When she returns to her house again, she sees her mother

115_69

with another guy, so she decides to go to the park. Ruka finds Michiru by instinct after receiving

115_70

a miss call from her, and brings Michiru back to the Share House. They spend the night there and

115_71

after Ruka sees Michiru crying in her sleep, Ruka kisses Michiru.

115_72

She gives Ruka a good luck charm for the race, which Ruka considers to be the thing which saved her

115_73

during the accident which occurred during the race when her bike flipped over. After the accident,

115_74

Michiru nearly gets attacked by Sousuke until Ruka turns up and yells at Sousuke not to touch "my

115_75

Michiru".

115_76

After being raped by Sousuke, Michiru moves out of the ShareHouse and isolates herself from

115_77

everyone else. She goes back to Choushi, where nine months later, she is about to give birth.

115_78

However, complications arises when it is discovered she has abnormal high blood pressure that can

115_79

endanger both her child and herself. She manages to pull through and names the child "Rumi", Ru

115_80

from Ruka and Mi from Michiru. Ru is also present in Takeru.

115_81

Taeko Asano has stated that Michiru and Ruka were not based on Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon

115_82

characters Michiru and Haruka despite rumors.

115_83

Japanese Live action actor: Juri Ueno

115_84

A brilliant motocross racer, Ruka Kishimoto was Michiru's best friend since middle school. When she

115_85

meets Michiru after four years, she is delighted yet worried about it. She dislikes people

115_86

discriminating against gender, like her motocross senior does. She comments that when she is racing

115_87

and in the air, "everything disappears" and "you become a thing floating in air" regardless of

115_88

gender. Ruka lives in the Share House with Eri.

115_89

Her main problem throughout the series is confessing her love for Michiru. There are moments where

115_90

it is obvious that Ruka loves Michiru, yet Michiru doesn't see it. Sousuke describes Ruka looking

115_91

at Michiru with "male like eyes". Her relationship with Takeru is different. While Takeru loves

115_92

Ruka, Ruka treats him like a friend. Her father even states that Takeru looks "weak", much to

115_93

Ruka's amusement.

115_94

In the past, she and Michiru often got in trouble with the patrol man for riding together on a

115_95

single seat bicycle. They would stay at a park where Michiru would confide to her about her family

115_96

problems, and Ruka would stay with her because she "couldn't leave her in tears". Ruka graduated

115_97

from high school in 2003.

115_98

Her motocross number is #27. While initially looked down upon by her male senior, Ruka eventually

115_99

wins the Kanto Motocross Competition. Ueno started training for the motocross scenes in February,

115_100

and she commented that the bike was really heavy as it weighs 90 kg.

115_101

Taeko Asano commented that Ueno Juri "changed" her image from the Nodame Cantabile hairstyle to