CATCHING THE STARS OF THIS SUMMER Press Notes and Photo Gallery From Toei

Source: Toei Co., Ltd.
Official Site: https://www.konohoshi-movie.jp/ (Japan)

Toei has provided information and pics for their live action movie CATCHING THE STARS OF THIS SUMMER (この夏の星を見る, Kono Natsu no Hoshi wo Miru), which opened July 4th in Japanese cinemas. The long-awaited film adaptation of the coming-of-age novel by Naoki Prize-winning author, Mizuki Tsujimura (Lonely Castle in the Mirror), is set during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and tells the story of school students from different regions in Japan who come together through their shared interest in astronomy.

CATCHING THE STARS OF THIS SUMMER stars Hiyori Sakurada (TOKYO GHOUL, OUR SECRET DIARY, UNDER THE BIG ONION), was directed by Tamaki Yamamoto, written by Mash Morino, and produced by Toshiyuki Matsui (THE FIRST SLAM DUNK). The film's music and theme song are by haruka nakamura (TRIGUN STAMPEDE, LOOK BACK).

STORY

June 2020. Asa (Hiyori Sakurada), a second-year student at Sunaura Third High School in Ibaraki Prefecture, was made to face reality in the astronomy club room. Although the two-month state of emergency due to the new corona virus was lifted and commuting to school resumed, club activities were limited to meetings to avoid the "three Cs." The annual training camp was also canceled. Her classmates Haruna (Hana Kawamura) and Rinku (Rintaro Mizusawa) could not hide their disappointment. "Why is it our generation?" Rinku asks advisor Watabiki (Takashi Okabe).

Cover of the novel the film is based on. Photo courtesy of Kadokawa. ©Mizuki Tsujimura

At Hibarimori Junior High School in Tokyo, first-year Mahiro Ando (Souya Kurokawaa) was the only male freshman that year. He had no friends and had quit soccer, which he loved. One day, with nothing to do, Mahiro was invited by his classmate Amane (Anna Hoshino) to join the science club, where he happened to pick up a flier about an astronomical observation event called the "Star Catch Contest." Amane told Mahiro, "If you're going to enter the contest, I'll do it too."

Madoka (Arisa Nakano), is the daughter of the innkeeper who runs an inn on the Goto Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture, which was regarded negatively by the local residents for hosting guests from outside the island. Her best friend Koharu (Hikaru Hayase) lives with her sister, who works at a nursing home, became estranged from her relatives when she told them she wanted to keep her distance in public. Even though it was the last summer of her high school life, only tears came out of her eyes when she took off her mask. One day, Muto (Iori Wada), an exchange student from outside the prefecture, asks Madoka, "Do you want to go to the observatory?"

Asa, who was racking her brains about how to continue club activities, was contacted by Mahiro about participating in the "Star Catch Contest." Asa learns that contest, in which participants compete for points by spotting a target star with a handmade telescope, is a competition that relies on knowledge of the position of the stars and the technique of operating the telescope accurately and quickly. If participants can't gather in one place, they just hold the contest remotely. The sky is one, and participants can do it together even if they are far apart!

The participants of the "Star Catch Contest" first gathered for an online conference. There, they saw the faces of Enka and her friends, third-year students at Izumi High School, from Nagasaki, where Asa and her friends were supposed to go on a school trip. The students made telescopes and practiced in preparation for the contest. Meanwhile, Rinku was secretly working on the Nasmyth telescope, needing to complete it as quickly as possible.

What began as a collaboration between students from Ibaraki, Tokyo, and Nagasaki's Goto Islands soon spread nationwide, leading to an unexpected miracle...

CREDITS

Release Date: Friday, July 4, 2025 (Japan)
Release Information: Nationwide Roadshow
Run Time: 126 Minutes

Cast

Asa: Hiyori Sakurada
Rinku: Rintaro Mizusawa
Mahiro Ando: Souya Kurokawa
Madoka: Arisa Nakano
Koharu: Hikaru Hayase
Amane: Anna Hoshino
Haruna: Hana Kawamura
Muto: Iori Wada
Mamoru Hagiwara
Ikuho Akiya
Koh Masui
Kino Adachi
Shun Aoi
Ayaha Matsui
Kanan Nakahara
Haruka Kudo
Ryoko Kobayashi
Shusaku Kamikawa
Aki Asakura
Michiko Shimizu
Biscetti Satake
Akane Hotta
Yoshimasa Kondo
Watabiki: Takashi Okabe

Staff

Director: Tamaki Yamamoto　
Original Story: Catching the Stars of This Summer by Mizuki Tsujimura (Published by KADOKAWA)　
Screenplay: Mash Morino
Producer: Toshiyuki Matsui
Astrophotography / VFX Director / Astronomy Supervisor: Soichiro Takemoto
Music: haruka nakamura
Theme Song: “starry night” by haruka nakamura + suis from Yorshka

Production Companies: CATCHING THE STARS OF THIS SUMMER Film Partners
Distributor and International Sales: Toei

About Toei Company, Ltd.

Toei Company Ltd., since its foundation in 1951, is one of the three major studios in Japan. The company focuses on providing high quality, comprehensive entertainment through the production and theatrical distribution of feature films, anime, and TV dramas as well as a diverse range of businesses including planning and hosting character-oriented events. The company has two film studios in Tokyo and Kyoto and it owns cinema complex throughout the country.