This movie was really, really good! And Satoh Takeru was absolutely mesmerizing as Aki. Aki's depression and his disgust with the whole music industry in general and with their manager in particular, the change in his outlook at life after meeting Riko and then his fall back into depression after the manager forced him to choose between his happiness and Riko's career... Satoh Takeru was so good!

I think my favorite moments were the ones between Aki and Riko, and then between Aki and Shun. When Riko, a high school student, promised to take care of Aki after Aki fell apart in front of her... And Shun, so worried about Aki, prompting Aki to do what was best for him first, even if it meant leaving the country and them, their old friends, behind... That was so lovely!

But I have to say, if this tiny glimpse behind the scenes was even remotely close to what's really happening in the entertainment industry in Japan every day then... yeah, no. I would never even dip my toe into such a cesspool, thank you very much. The manager's behavior gave me honestly the creeps!