Tomorrow I Will Date with Yesterday's You is a Japanese foreign
language film centered on a modern love story.
The film is a romantic drama through and through. Involving
some clichés here and there. But just when you think you know what’s going on,
the film takes on a pleasantly different direction. Pushing the story
down an unforeseen path, and with it some tears, too.
Tomorrow I Will Date with Yesterday's You tells a cute and
unique story. Allowing the film to touch on important themes revolving around
relationships and the many issues concerning modern dating in Japan (or lack
there of) – but more on that later.
Synopsis
Takatoshi Minamiyama is an art student at Kyoto University.
Like many of his peers, he is an introvert and loves to sketch, draw and paint.
Art is his one true passion and is the one thing he is really good at. He
spends most of his time drawing the world around him, which causes him to live inside his daydreams most of the time.
One morning Takatoshi hops on a train on his way to school.
While on the crowded train, he spots a girl who literally takes his breath
away. For him, it is love at first sight. There is no other explanation for it.
She is the one. His eyes follow her
every move.
Just when he is about to approach her, she gets off the train at
the next stop. Takatoshi clumsily makes his way off of the train and hurriedly
tries to catch up to her.
He gains all the courage he has in him, runs after her and awkwardly starts to talk to her.
Frazzled, he literally tells her that he has fallen in love with her at first sight. The girl surprisingly doesn’t run away thinking he’s a total freak and the two get to talking at the station.
He gains all the courage he has in him, runs after her and awkwardly starts to talk to her.
Frazzled, he literally tells her that he has fallen in love with her at first sight. The girl surprisingly doesn’t run away thinking he’s a total freak and the two get to talking at the station.
Takatoshi find out her name is Emi, she’s also 20 years old
and new to town working as a hairdresser. The two share a short conversation with
an unexplained deep connection between them. But as quickly as they’ve met, Emi
departs on the next train.
With tears in her eyes, she promises she’ll see him tomorrow. This again leaves Takatoshi breathless as he tries to make sense of what just happened. Then he realizes they didn't even exchange any contact info.
With tears in her eyes, she promises she’ll see him tomorrow. This again leaves Takatoshi breathless as he tries to make sense of what just happened. Then he realizes they didn't even exchange any contact info.
The next day Takatoshi takes the same train, at the same
time but fails to see Emi. He goes on about his day sketching. But as
promised, Emi runs into him and the two spend the day getting to know each
other.
Emi is just as cute and quirky as the day prior. She has some oddities about her, but Takatoshi finds them endearing.
Emi is just as cute and quirky as the day prior. She has some oddities about her, but Takatoshi finds them endearing.
As days pass, the two begin to spend more time together,
becoming closer. Following true rom-com style, the two go on dates full of laughs,
adventures and good food.
As even more time passes, the two become almost inseparable. But like Cinderella, Emi always has to make a dash for it by the end of the night.
Over time, this perplexes Takatoshi. Emi seems to run her life like its clockwork. She sticks to her day planner like glue, but always has an excuse for leaving him unexpectedly.
Over time, this perplexes Takatoshi. Emi seems to run her life like its clockwork. She sticks to her day planner like glue, but always has an excuse for leaving him unexpectedly.
The remainder of the film follows the young couple, as the
two grow closer and as Emi begins to explain why she has so many oddities.
Here, Takatoshi realizes Emi is far from just quirky, as more truths are unveiled. All which make for a unexpected change in the storyline.
Here, Takatoshi realizes Emi is far from just quirky, as more truths are unveiled. All which make for a unexpected change in the storyline.
Important Themes
Tomorrow I Will Date with Yesterday's You may not be as
action packed as some other films I talk about, but it still delivers with a
story about emotion. Yes, yours truly even enjoys a sappy love story from time
to time.
While focusing on a romantic story, the Japanese film does
in fact touch on some real life themes. Themes concerning widespread issues of
people not engaging in love, real relationships and marriage in Japan.
Currently Japan is facing a nationwide problem of young
people not being interested in having relationships. And if you look further
into that, there is an ongoing trend of Japanese people straight up not having sex.
Statistics show that approximately 50% of all young single
people in the country are virgins. According to the 2015 National Fertility Survey (conducted by the government every 5 years), 44%
of all unmarried women and 42% of unmarried men admitted that they have never
had sex before. Expanding forward to show that 70% of millennials are not in
relationships. Detailing that 60% of all women between the ages of 18-34 are
single and 70% when concerning men within the same age group.
Many people have drawn their own conclusions when it comes
to said ongoing issues. Many point toward the abundance of anime and
pornography. While others point the blame to societal issues revolving around
anxiety, sexual taboos and other pressures.
One Japanese woman who was interviewed for a study on the matter was even quoted saying men “cannot be bothered” by asking women on dates because it is easier to just watch porn on the internet. Yikes.
One Japanese woman who was interviewed for a study on the matter was even quoted saying men “cannot be bothered” by asking women on dates because it is easier to just watch porn on the internet. Yikes.
While many hold similar sentiments to the above, technology
also plays a large part in this issue. Now, more than ever, people are living
digital lives more than their own. More people are spending their time on
social media, gaming or engaging in other forms of conduct, which fulfill their
desired fantasies.
Hell, there are even apps available in Japan where you can have a virtual girlfriend or boyfriend. It has literally come to the point where people are more interested in living out their fantasies on an app than actually wanting to have a real significant other.
Hell, there are even apps available in Japan where you can have a virtual girlfriend or boyfriend. It has literally come to the point where people are more interested in living out their fantasies on an app than actually wanting to have a real significant other.
In contrast, Tomorrow I Will Date with Yesterday's You
does indeed focus on a real life love story.
However, with all of the awkwardness and quirks in the film, it alludes
to some of the aforementioned issues described above.
As our intimate relationship with technology and AI grow evermore, it will be interesting to see what lengths the Japanese government will go to in attempts of correcting this widespread issue as birth rates continue to drop.
As our intimate relationship with technology and AI grow evermore, it will be interesting to see what lengths the Japanese government will go to in attempts of correcting this widespread issue as birth rates continue to drop.
Conclusion
Altogether Tomorrow I Will Date with Yesterday's You
is a cute romance film with a twist. Said twist, in my opinion, pushes the film
to transcend your typical romance drama. Which makes for a unique and unforeseen
outcome.
Tomorrow I Will Date with Yesterday's You surprised me big
time. Initially I thought I was in for your usual sappy, cute Asian drama.
Nevertheless, as the film went on, it developed into something much more interesting as some loopholes in the story started to make sense. Making for a very emotional and tear jerking ending.
Nevertheless, as the film went on, it developed into something much more interesting as some loopholes in the story started to make sense. Making for a very emotional and tear jerking ending.
If you have time, and if you are in the mood, be sure to
check out Tomorrow I Will Date with Yesterday's You. It is a cute
Japanese film that will catch you off guard. It’s charming, quirky and
different!
