Photo/Illutration Tori Matsuzaka (Photo by Ken Murakami)

A live-action feature film adaptation of “Whisper of the Heart,” based on a coming-of-age romantic manga by Aoi Hiiragi, will premiere on Sept. 18.

The manga was published in the monthly Ribon comic anthology for girls in 1989. It spawned an animated film adaptation produced by Studio Ghibli Inc. in 1995.

The story follows ninth-grader bookworm Shizuku, who wants to be a novelist. She has a bad first impression of Seiji, a fellow student. But Shizuku develops feelings for Seiji after she sees how he aspires to become a violin maker, while he also falls for her.

Ten years later, Shizuku, now 24, has given up on her novelist dream and works as an editor selling children’s books. She feels a growing distance from Seiji, who lives abroad pursuing his dream.

Shizuku is played by Nana Seino, while Seiji is portrayed by Tori Matsuzaka. The film is directed by Yuichiro Hirakawa.

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To learn more about the latest developments in Japanese anime, visit the official site of Anime Anime (http://animeanime.jp/).

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