It all started when Takashi, a talented composer who could not write a love song ever since his girlfriend Rina left him suddenly, accidentally sent an incomplete piece of his latest work to Amane via email. Deeply touched by his music, Amane wrote back to him, without getting a reply. Amane continued writing to him, pouring out her thoughts. Only when she signed as "Teru Teru Bozu", did Takashi responded with a mail saying "WHO ARE YOU?", because what Rina left him as a farewell gift was a teru teru bozu!
The setting is in Yokohama. Hiroto Kanzaki works hard every day and night for the survival of a small ship repair factory (inherited from his father) as well as the survival of his mother and younger brother, who are suffering from health problems. Living such an underprivileged life, Hiroto has forgotten how to smile. Nao is the daughter of a popular jewelry shop owner. She attends a prestigious exclusive women's college and grew up cheerful and blessed with affluent love. From the moment Hiroto meets her, his closed mind slowly opens up to Nao, who is so innocent that she utters whatever she thinks.
"Please tell me who I really am." This e-mail message was sent by Mika Kimoto, an editor working at a publisher in Daiba, Tokyo. Coming from a wealthy family, Mika has always had everything she has ever wanted and more. She is a third-generation Korean living in Japan. She loves her job, and her Japanese boyfriend is a doctor. There's one thing that bothers Mika, though... Her father, Masao, is very conscious of his ethnic heritage and will allow Mika to marry only a Korean. When her relationship falls apart because of her father's interference, she just happens to post the above message on a mobile phone dating service. Ryosuke, a blue-collar warehouse worker at Shinagawa Pier, replies to Mika's message. Daiba and Shinagawa Pier are separated by Tokyo Bay. Mika is a career woman working at a major firm. Ryosuke lives a meager life doing manual labor at a warehouse. There seems to be nothing in common between the two. Still, destiny brings them together. One day Mika happens to find her late mother Yuri's diary. Written within is the tale of Yuri's concealed relationship with a Japanese man before she married Masao. Mika finds out about her mother's hidden past and her passion for the man she loved. Without knowing it, she is about to follow the same path as her mother.
Xiao Jia, a university student, secretly admires her class monitor, Wen Tao. In a twist of an event, Xiao Jia accidentally gets hold of a radiophone. One day, as she daydreams of Wen Tao, the radiophone connects to Jia Hui and they start communicating through the radiophone. From their conversations, they discover that they are actually studying in the same school and plan to meet up, but both of them miss the date and finally find out that they exist in two different worlds.
Min Ho, a music producer who is struggling to write a new song because of the lack of inspiration. He is told by his manager that he has to find love so he would have emotions to write a new melody. He then meets a Chinese tourist named Ling Ling. Min Ho is inspired by Ling Ling but due to their language barrier he decides to adds her as a friend on the mobile messenger app LINE to communicate with one another.
Kenta, a young pianist who has just lost his job, is drowning his woes at a bar when he meets a man in a Hawaiian shirt named Yamaki. He invites Kenta to work with him, and the next thing he knows, Kenta wakes up to find himself in a room he has never been in before. It is a strange room that seems to have no connection to life. He descends a staircase to find many shelves of books. Yamaki appears once again and tells him that this is Heaven's Book Service, and Kenta is going to start working a short-term, part-time job here. In addition to selling books, this bookstore, owned by Yamaki, provides a service of reading aloud to customers. Although he is unsure of his new surroundings, Kenta follows their actions and starts to work in his new part-time job.
Tsumugi Aoba fell in love with So Sakura, who attended the same high school. They both shared an interest in music. Their relationship got deeper and deeper, but, suddenly, Sakura said goodbye to her without giving a reason for their break-up and he disappeared.
Eight years later, Aoba is now in Tokyo and works part-time at a large CD music store. She is surrounded by music she likes. One day, she happens to see Sakura. She wants to talk to him, but she realizes that he has almost lost his hearing.
Eight years later, Aoba is now in Tokyo and works part-time at a large CD music store. She is surrounded by music she likes. One day, she happens to see Sakura. She wants to talk to him, but she realizes that he has almost lost his hearing.
Kenta, a young pianist who has just lost his job, is drowning his woes at a bar when he meets a man in a Hawaiian shirt named Yamaki. He invites Kenta to work with him, and the next thing he knows, Kenta wakes up to find himself in a room he has never been in before. It is a strange room that seems to have no connection to life. He descends a staircase to find many shelves of books. Yamaki appears once again and tells him that this is Heaven's Book Service, and Kenta is going to start working a short-term, part-time job here. In addition to selling books, this bookstore, owned by Yamaki, provides a service of reading aloud to customers. Although he is unsure of his new surroundings, Kenta follows their actions and starts to work in his new part-time job.
Directed by Hagishima Tatsuya, Kimi ni Shika Kikoenai (a.k.a. Calling You) is based on the same-titled light novel series by popular writer Otsuichi. Like Otsuichi's Waiting in the Dark, which was also recently adapted for the big screen, Kimi ni Shika Kikoenai revolves around two lonely young people who find each other in an uncommon manner. Shy, quiet, and unsure of herself, Aihara Ryo doesn't quite fit in anywhere. Though she wants to make friends, she has trouble speaking up and holding a normal conversation like everyone else. It seems that whenever she talks, the words just don't come out correctly. Gradually, Ryo has gotten used to living life in silence as a lonely and introverted student. With no one to talk to, Ryo also has no need for a cell phone. Longing for friends to talk to, she creates a cell phone in her mind for imaginary phone conversations, and much to her surprise, one day Shinya picks up on the other side. For the first time in her life, Ryo has found someone she can talk to.
