Yoshiharu Tsuge's Manga "Ame no Naka no Yokujō" to be Adapted into Live-Action Film

Renowned manga artist Yoshiharu Tsuge's work "Ame no Naka no Yokujō" (Desire in the Rain) is set to come alive on the big screen with a live-action film scheduled to premiere on November 29.

Ryō Narita takes the lead role as Yoshio, alongside Eriko Nakamura as Fukuko, Gō Morita as Imori, and Naoto Takenaka as Oyaji. The film, directed by Shinzo Katayama, follows Yoshio, a struggling manga artist, as he becomes entangled in the lives of Imori and Fukuko after being tasked by Oyaji to assist Imori with moving in.

The story delves into Yoshio's fascination with Fukuko's beauty, despite her existing relationship, as well as Imori's ventures in establishing an advertising agency to promote his novel.

According to website Comic Natalie the story goes as follows:

Yoshio is an unsuccessful manga artist living in a poor northern town. He is sent by his landlord, Oyaji, who seems to be running a shady business in addition to running his flat, to help him and Imori, a self-styled novelist, move into a new house and meets recently divorced Fukuko. Yoshio is captivated by the alluring and glamorous Fukuko, but it seems that she is already seeing someone. Meanwhile, Imori and a shady publishing employee plan a PR magazine for Kitamachi, imitating the PR magazines that are popular in the wealthy Minamimachi, in order to publish his own novel. Yoshio is forced to help with the advertising sales, and soon afterwards, Fukuko and Imori move into Yoshio's house. ...... Yoshio starts a strange shared life with the three of them, while still harbouring unquenchable feelings for Fukuko.

Originally published as a short manga in Hokutoh Shoboh's Yagyō magazine in 1981, Tsuge's work is part of the gekiga genre, known for its realistic and mature themes. His notable manga "Neji-Shiki" (Screw-Style), released in 1968, further solidified his status as a pioneering figure in manga storytelling.

Fans eagerly anticipate this cinematic adaptation, while Drawn & Quarterly prepares to unveil the complete collection of Tsuge's works through a seven-volume set, with translations by Ryan Holmberg.