Blindly in Love

2013 movie, runtime 117 min. The film premiered on April 28, 2013, at the Jeonju International Film Festival, and was produced by Kino films.[2]

35-year-old Kentaro (Gen Hoshino) is a social misfit, living a socially isolated existence, living with his parents. He and has never dated a girl, and his parents are desperate for him to live his life and meet a girl. He holds a modest job in city hall, but doesn't socilaise with his workmate. Kentaro doesn't have any friends, and is generally socially inept and inexperienced at life [3] He hasn't had a promotion in 13 years, and doesn't even talk to people at work.[4] His parents go to a parental matchmaking event, hoping to find a woman to introduce to their son,[5] however only one other group of parents speak to them, Akita Imai (Ren Osugi) and his wife (Hitomi Kuroki). They exchange profiles of their children, and their daughter Imai photo is shows she is beautiful. Kentaro's parents are impressed, however, when Akita reads Kentaro's profile he is unimpressed. The only photo they have of him is blurry. The leave Kentaro's parents there, rejecting him.

After the failed meeting, Imai's mother and Imai are out shopping, when it starts to rain. It is revealed that Imai is in fact, blind. She leaves her daughter momentarily to get the car, and Kentaro sees her. He offers his umbrella to her, not realising she is blind. When they get home Imai looks at the umbrella and realises it is the same name as was the matchmaking man they rejected for their daughter.

Without telling her husband, she arranges to meet. Imai's mother sees the fact that he doesn't spend his time at work as a good thing, as her successful president husband spends too much time at work.

All four parents and the two children meet at a restaurant. Here it is revealed to Kentaor and his parents than Imai is blind, which they had not known.[6] However, Akita is rude to Kentaro, and both his parents get up to leave in disgust. Kentaro stays silent, until he finally asks Imai what she wants, which everyone has ignored. Imai is interested in him, but Akita does not want it to continue.[7]

Imai's mother sets them up on a date, and they start going out. Kentaro starts to show Imai a few places around town, and gets her a bit more confident in her surroundings. However, after 2 months Aktia discovers the relationship, which Imai's mother has kept secret. He turns up and starts fighting with Kentaro, in the meantime, Imai has wondered on to the road and is just about to be hit by a car. Kentaro saves her, but he is hit by the car himself.

Kentaro ends up in hospital, and the relationshop is over. He contionues his life, and one day sees her walking down the street. He follows her into a restaurant, and realised he still has feelings for her, however misses out ont he chance to speak to her. Finally he reveals he loves her, and runs to her house. He climbs up on her verandah, sneaks into her house, and they have sex. However, Imai's parents hear the noise, and burst in to the room, where Akita attacks Kentaro. While they are fighting, he is tossed off the verandah, and ends up in hospital again.

Once again, Kentaro is in hospital, and he sends love letters to Imai, and they appear to be in love once more.

• Gen Hoshino as Kentaro Amanoshizuka
• Kaho as Naoko Imai
• Sei Hiraizumi as Toshi Amanoshizuka
• Ryoko Moriyama as Kentaro's mom
• Ren Osugi as Akita Imai
• Hitomi Kuroki as Naoko's mom
• Honoka Ishibashi as Kentaro's co-worker [8]

• 2013 (14th) Jeonju International Film Festival - April 25-May 3, 2013 - Cinema Palace *World Premiere
• 2013 (37th) Montreal World Film Festival - August 22-September 2, 2013 - Focus on World Cinema
• 2014 (27th) Tokyo International Film Festival - October 23–31, 2014 - Special Program
• 2015 (15th) Nippon Connection - June 2–7, 2015 - Nippon Cinema *German Premiere