Cream Lemon: Ikenai Mako-chan

Mako is a young woman who dreams of being a manga artist, but she’s frustrated — she can’t come up with a compelling romantic story, and she has no personal experience with love to draw from. While struggling with this creative block, she ends up sharing her home with Nene, an exchange student. The two quickly become close friends and begin working together on Mako’s manga. At first their relationship feels just like creative collaboration, but Nene suggests they “practice” romance so Mako can better understand how to depict it. They share an intimate moment that surprises both of them. Around the same time, a male classmate named Yū confesses his feelings to Mako. As Mako blushes and starts to explore new feelings, Nene begins to feel jealous — and she might be hiding a secret of her own.

Directed by Daisuke Hosaka, Cream Lemon: Ikenai Mako-chan leans on a strong ensemble — Tsubomi, Mayu Sakuma, Nao Okabe — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about romance titles of 2007.