Orange Days (TV series)

is a drama series that aired in Japan on TBS in 2004.

Story

Yuuki Kai (Tsumabuki) is a senior at a university studying social welfare psychology and trying to find a job. One day, he encounters a girl, Hagio Sae (Shibasaki), playing the violin, and becomes intrigued. He eventually discovers that she has lost her hearing, and can now only communicate using Japanese Sign Language. Before they reveal what they think about each other, Sae and Kai must overcome a lot of barriers. They both become stronger along the way, finding their goals.

Cast

Satoshi Tsumabuki as Kai Yuuki - leading role
Kou Shibasaki as Sae Hagio - heroine
Manami Konishi as Maho Takagi - Kai's girlfriend, postgraduate student
Hiroki Narimiya as Shohei Aida - Kai's friend
Eita as Keita Yashima - Kai's friend
Miho Shiraishi as Akane Ozawa - Sae's friend
Yu Yamada as Soyoko Saeki - one of Shohei's girlfriends
Jun Fubuki as Yuriko Hagio - Sae's mother
Fumiyo Kohinata as Professor Sakaida
Juri Ueno as Ayumi Kirishima - Shohei's younger sister
Ikki Sawamura as Haruki Fujii - pianist, Sae's childhood friend
Takashi Kashiwabara as Sano
Masaru Nagai as Toru Kakizaki - violinist who used to belong to the same orchestra as Sae
Eriko Sato as Arisa - one of Shohei's girlfriend
Ken Mitsuishi as Iwasaki

Ratings

Source: Video Research, Ltd.

Songs

Theme Song "Sign" by Mr. Children

OST Tracks by Naoki Sato

Eternal
Graceful Heart
That's Life
Memoria
Overcast Sky
Yo-Yo Comrade
Liebe
Anxiety
As Good As It Gets
Modest Request
Precious Seasons
Sign-Instrumental Version

Other Songs:

"Shanghai Honey" by Orange Range (Episode 5)
"Bara no Hana" by Quruli (Episode 10)
"Gavotte en Rondeau (Violin Piece)"

Awards

41st Television Drama Academy Awards

Best Actor (Satoshi Tsumabuki)
Best Scriptwriter (Eriko Kitagawa)
Best Director (Jiro Shono/ Doi Nobuhiro/ Imai Natsuki)
Best Cast
Best Theme Song ("Sign" by Mr. Children)
Special Award (Orange Days's Sign Language)