Modern Love Tokyo will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Modern Love, Prime Video’s international hit series, portrays diverse stories of the universal emotion of love in its many forms, and each episode is based on a beloved column in The New York Times. In the Japanese adaptation, six leading Japanese film directors will bring to life a collection of stories about various forms of love taking place in Tokyo. This series has seven episodes in total, including a Modern Love first: an animated episode will be on Prime Video on Friday, October 21, 2022.
In addition to Asami Mizukawa, Hiromi Nagasaku, Yûsuke Santamaria, Sôsuke Ikematsu, and Naomi Scott, Modern Love stars Atsuko Maeda, Nana Eikura, Tasuku Emoto, Ran Itô, Ryo Ishibashi, Ryô Narita, and Kaho. Haru Kuroki and Masataka Kubota join as voice cast for Episode Seven.
The series is directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Wife of a Spy), Naoko Ogigami (Close-Knit), Ryûichi Hiroki (Ride or Die), Nobuhiro Yamashita (Matsugane ransha jiken), Naoko Yamada (A Silent Voice: The Movie), and Atsuko Hirayanagi (Oh Lucy!), who also serves as showrunner.
Episode One: “Nursing My Son, and Some Grievances”
Mari is a woman who aspires to be successful in business and to be a great mother for her 3-month-old son. Mari insists on breastfeeding her child, as she thinks it is one of the most important shows of love. However, when the chance to attend an important conference in Singapore comes up, her intention to exclusively breastfeed her child is put to the test.
Starring Asami Mizukawa and Atsuko Maeda. Written and directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi.
Episode Two: “What I’ve Learned From Sleeping With Married Men”
Kana teaches biology at a university. She and Keisuke, a freelance writer, have been divorced for six months. She spends her days on a dating app, where she dares to choose married men and has a series of amorous affairs with no regrets. Do you become sexless because your heart leaves you? Is it because of sexlessness that the heart leaves the body? What did Kana learn by seeing various married men and having sex with them?
Starring Nana Eikura and Tasuku Emoto. Written by Hisako Kurowasa and directed by Ryûichi Hiroki.
Episode Three: “How My Worst Date Ever Became My Best”
Natsuko, who works as a curator, has been divorced for several years. On the recommendation of her friend, she goes on a date with a man on a dating app. Natsuko is not very enthusiastic about the meeting, but she gradually gets into a lively conversation with him. Meanwhile, at the next table, a young man and woman are having their first date and she is tired of his self-important talk. It reminds Natsuko of another date 30 years ago, and tells him that it was the “worst date ever.”
Starring Ran Itô and Ryo Ishibashi. Written by Yukari Tatsui and directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita.
Episode Four: “My Hibernating Wife”
Kengo and Mai have been married for three years. Mai used to work as a designer, but she got depressed because of her relationships in the workplace, and is unable to go to work. Kengo keeps giving her love and attention to bring her smile back. Eventually Mai is changed by his dedicated love. The story depicts the growth of a cute couple, centered on depression, a modern-day illness.
Starring Ryô Narita and Kaho. Written and directed by Naoko Ogigami.
Episode Five: “For 13 Days, I Believed Him”
Momoko, a 50-year-old single woman, has dedicated her life to her career as a TV reporter, and feels that life has passed her by. She meets a man named Yoji through a dating service. Since then, they have been camping and enjoy their days together. Momoko is gradually drawn to Yoji’s warm personality, but then, she finds out his severe secret.
Starring Hiromi Nagasaku and Yûsuke Santamaria. Written and directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
Episode Six: “He Saved His Last Lesson For Me”
UK-born Emma is living in LA to temporarily save money to continue her long trip, and teaching English online to foreigners. It is a question from Mamoru, a Japanese student, that shakes her to the core: “What is love?” Mamoru leaves such a strong impression on Emma that she can’t shake it off. Emma eagerly awaits Mamoru’s return to her online class. Just when Emma is about to give up, Mamoru shows up at her online class. They are attracted to each other, but at the end of the session, Mamoru tells Emma that this is the last session for him
Starring Naomi Scott and Sôsuke Ikematsu. Written and directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi.
Episode Seven (animated): “He’s Playing Our Song”
One day, Tamami hears a rock song she used to listen to in her youth at her favorite bar. Her mind goes back 15 years. Tamami, who has been shy since high school, meets Rin, who plays the piano alone at the gym. Tamami is attracted to him, and through their shared love of music, the loner Tamami and Rin soon become friends. But one day, their relationship breaks down, and eventually becomes a fleeting memory. In her thirties, Tamami discovers that Rin has become a musician.
Voice acting by Haru Kuroki and Masataka Kubota. Written by Naoko Ogigami and directed by Naoko Yamada.
