Tokyo Friends

Japanese TV series or program

Ai Otsuka
Eita
Rio Matsumoto
Masanobu Katsumura
Yōko Maki
Mao Kobayashi
Ryuta Sato

Theme music composer

Ai Otsuka & Ikoman
Takehiko Takeuchi

Opening themeFriends (フレンズ) by Ai OtsukaEnding themeTo Me by Boo Bee Benz [ja]
Kimi to Iu Hana (君という花) by Boo Bee Benz
Yumekui (ユメクイ) by Ai OtsukaComposerSin [ja]Country of originJapanOriginal languageJapaneseNo. of episodes5ProductionExecutive producers

Ryuhei Chiba
Masaomi Takagi

Producers

Motohiro Abe
Yoshikazu Kenmochi
Nanami Takahashi
Hidefumi Tokairin
Ichiro Takai

Cinematography

Tomotaka Sato
Hiroshi Gonda

Editors

Yoshifumi Fukasawa
Masaharu Hirakawa

Camera setupMultiple-camera setupRunning time46 min. (approx)Production companies

Avex Entertainment
Fuji Television

Original releaseReleaseJune 3, 2005 (2005-06-03)Related

Tokyo Friends: The Movie

Tokyo Friends (東京フレンズ, Tōkyō Furenzu) is a Japanese television drama released on June 3, 2005. Unlike many other dramas, it was never aired on television but released as a set of 3 DVDs. Volumes one and two contain the first 4 episodes while volume three contains the last episode. Each episode is approximately 70 minutes.

The Tokyo Friends Premium Box was also released which includes all 5 episodes, a bonus DVD, and 12 postcards. Although this is a very typical Tokyo-story and was never aired, it was quite successful probably because it was Ai Otsuka's debut as an actress.

Plot

Rei Iwatsuki moved from her hometown Kōchi to Tokyo to pursue her dreams. On arrival, she found a job as a waitress in a restaurant and met guitarist Ryuuji Shintani. Ryuuji liked her voice and invited her to join his band as the vocalist, The Survival Company (also known as Sabakan). The two started a relationship but then broke off when Rei wanted to write her own songs.

Rei met other girls also working in the restaurant, Hirono, Ryoko and Maki, all in pursuit of their own dreams, and became good friends with all of them.