The One Loved by Masters, Mitsuki Takahata… Transforming into ‘Akari’ in the Live-Action Film '5 Centimeters Per Second'

The live-action film 〈5 Centimeters Per Second〉, based on the legendary animation by director Makoto Shinkai, is set to be released domestically on February 25, and the activities of actress Mitsuki Takahata, who plays the lead role of ‘Akari’, are drawing the attention of film fans.

The film 〈5 Centimeters Per Second〉 depicts the love and longing experienced by Takaki and Akari, who share precious childhood memories, as they navigate time flowing at different speeds. It is the first live-action adaptation of one of Makoto Shinkai's early representative works, which has a massive fanbase in Korea with titles like 〈Your Name.〉 and 〈Suzume's Door Locking〉, generating high expectations.

Solid Skills Established Through Musicals… Love Calls from Masters like Hirokazu Kore-eda

Mitsuki Takahata debuted as a musical actress and singer, recognized for her solid vocal skills and delicate emotional expression. She made a strong impression on domestic audiences through director Lee Sang-il's film 〈Rage〉, and later solidified her position as a talented actress by winning the Best Supporting Actress award at the 43rd Japan Academy Awards for 〈A Lovely True Story on an Ambitious Night〉.

In particular, she has been consecutively cast in Hirokazu Kore-eda's 〈Monster〉 and Lee Sang-il's new film 〈National Treasure〉, rising to the ranks of the most trusted ‘top stars’ by the masters representing the Japanese film industry. Her broad spectrum, built through her work in theater and on screen, is expected to shine in this 〈5 Centimeters Per Second〉.

“Feeling Closer to Human Akari”… Synergy with Director Yoshiyuki Okuyama

Mitsuki Takahata shared her honest feelings about participating in this project, saying, “I was anxious about whether I could portray the beloved character Akari from the original work, but through filming, I felt I got a little closer to human Akari.” She added, “I was happy to be part of director Yoshiyuki Okuyama's first commercial feature film.”

Director Yoshiyuki Okuyama also emphasized, “Mitsuki Takahata's serious attitude in understanding the character greatly contributed to the overall strength of the work,” highlighting her significant role in realizing the lyrical essence of the original in live-action.

The poignant first love aesthetics that Hokuto Matsumura and Mitsuki Takahata will portray can be experienced in theaters nationwide starting February 25 in the film 〈5 Centimeters Per Second〉.