is a 1987 Japanese drama film directed by Taku Shinjà Â, based on the 1985 novel by Yasuhisa Shimazaki. The film is notable for the acting debut of teen singer Chisato Moritaka. Aitsu ni Koishite was released theatrically on May 30, 1987, in Japan as part of Pocari Sweat's Movie Caravan campaign.
In Hidaka, Hokkaido, the Età  and Matsumae ranches rival each other over their thoroughbred horses. While the ranch owners do not see eye to eye, their grandchildren Shotarà  Età  and Chisato Matsumae slowly develop feelings for each other. To prove the superiority of Hokkaido horses, Kinzà  Matsumae proposes a 2,600 kilometer horseback journey across Japan. However, none of his riders are willing to take the challenge. Acting on his own, Shotarà  takes Chisato's horse Gonta and embarks on the journey. Both horse and rider struggle to get along with each other while traveling to the southern tip of Hokkaido.
After crossing the Tsugaru Strait, Shotarà  nearly freezes to death on Mount Hakkà Âda, but Gonta manages to carry him to a nearby inn. A local journalist learns of the duo and spreads the word on their adventure. After meeting up with Chisato in Tokyo, Shotarà  and Gonta continue their journey southbound, enduring different challenges in Honshu. Meanwhile, Chisato learns from Shotarà Â's sister Komako that the rift between the Età  and Matsumae families was caused by a car accident that killed both Shotarà  and Chisato's parents, with both families blaming each other for the tragedy.
Shotarà  and Gonta reach the Kanmon Straits and attempt to cross it by raft after being denied a ride across the Kanmon Roadway Tunnel, but a low-flying helicopter causes them to fall into the sea and Shotarà  develops pneumonia. Shotarà Â's grandfather Tetsunosuke meets up with him in Kitakyushu and urges him to return to Hidaka, but he refuses. While the duo crosses the dense forests of Shiiba, Miyazaki, Gonta collapses from exhaustion and Shotarà  struggles to keep him warm from the heavy rain until Gonta recovers the next day. Tetsunosuke and Kinzà  settle their differences after seeing Shotarà Â's determination to finish the journey. Shotarà  and Gonta arrive in Kagoshima, with Chisato waiting for them among the crowd.
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