Top 10 Best Japanese Live-Action High School Film Adaptations

Ao Haru Ride is a 2015 film that won the hearts of audiences with its profound exploration of friendship and young love. The movie beautifully captures the essence of high school life and the emotions tied to it.

Starring popular Japanese actors Tsubasa Honda and Masahiro Higashide, the film brings to life a nostalgic and pure portrayal of adolescence that resonates with viewers.

Itazura na Kiss – Love in Tokyo, released in 2013, is an adaptation of the popular manga series Itazura na Kiss. This Japanese drama has inspired several international adaptations, including the Chinese version known as Thơ Ngây and the Korean version titled Playful Kiss.

Hana Yori Dango, also known as Boys Over Flowers in the Vietnamese anime version, is a Japanese manga series created by Yoko Kamio. Published in the weekly magazine Margaret from October 1992 to September 2003, the series was collected into 37 volumes.

The Hana Yori Dango film, based on the original manga, was released in 2005. The Japanese adaptation of this beloved story, known as Boys Over Flowers, matches its Chinese and Korean counterparts in humor and charm.

Strobe Edge is the perfect film for fans of the Shoujo genre, a category of manga aimed at young girls. Released on March 14, 2015, it is an adaptation of the manga by Io Sakisaka.

The film beautifully captures a high school love story with stunning cinematography and romantic scenes, particularly set in modern subway stations where the main characters meet.

Koizora tells the story of Tahara Miki, a seemingly ordinary high school girl whose first kiss is stolen by a mysterious stranger—Sakurai Hiroki, known as Hiro, a rebellious student with platinum blonde hair and piercings. Initially filled with hate, Miki's feelings gradually shift to love, and the sweet relationship between them unfolds. The film, released in November 2007, became a massive hit, grossing 3.9 billion yen.

Another film starring Kento Yamazaki, released in 2015, Orange follows a girl who receives letters from her future self, guiding her to prevent past regrets. This heartfelt story isn't just about innocent high school love but also conveys a powerful message about friendship. True friendship helps heal pain and encourages a more positive outlook on life.

Released in late 2015, the film My Love Story quickly became one of Japan's top 3 highest-grossing movies during its opening week.

The main character, Takeo, is far from the typical charming and handsome lead often seen in Japanese films. Standing at a towering 2 meters tall and with a muscular build, Takeo falls in love with the female lead after rescuing her from some thugs. From that moment, both of their lives are forever changed.

Many young people in Vietnam are familiar with the film 1 Litre of Tears, which was also published as a novel in the country. The story follows Aya, a young girl battling a degenerative cerebellar disease, and her emotional journey leading up to her tragic death. The film is heartbreaking, yet it also imparts powerful lessons about the value of life, human resilience, and the importance of cherishing every moment, even in the darkest of times. The movie first aired in the early 2000s.

Sukitte ii Nayo - released in 2014, tells the sweet story of a high school romance following a familiar plot. The film centers around the charming and academically gifted Yomato Kurosawa, who crosses paths with Mei Tachibana, a shy and reclusive girl. Their chance meeting leads to Yomato pursuing Mei, and their blossoming love story begins with many exciting twists.

L-DK is a film adaptation of the popular manga of the same name, released in 2014. The male lead is played by the charming Kento Yamazaki. The movie tells the story of two students who are forced to live together and hide their relationship from their friends and teachers. Throughout the film, viewers are treated to a series of funny and heartwarming situations that the characters find themselves in.