Soba Girl Yuzu-chan

Naruse Yuzu, the only daughter of the soba restaurant "Naruse," falls in love in secret with Teppei, who works there. But then her father, Gajiro, suddenly passes away, and in his will he says, "If the quality of the food deteriorates, close the restaurant immediately," which worries Yuzu. She works hard to become a master of soba, but things don't go well. Then, Gajiro's illegitimate daughter, Akiko, arrives from America. She's skilled at making soba, and she even exudes her American-trained sex appeal towards Teppei, which makes Yuzu anxious, but...

Directed by Mikio Hirota, Soba Girl Yuzu-chan leans on a strong ensemble — Hikaru Wakana, Wataru Tsunashima, Michiri Himemiya — 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 screen titles of 2008.