Details

Release year: 2002

Storyline

A naive, traditional girl from the country goes to the city to find the boy she was engaged to as a young girl, and the two childhood friends fall in love.

Top credits

Cast

Ayako Kawasumi — Aoi Sakuraba
Sôichirô Hoshi — Kaoru Hanabishi, Aoi Sakuraba
Karen Strassman — Bus Intercom, Miyuki, Reporter, Taeko's Mother, Yuko
Tony Pope — Fish Vendor, Kaoru's Grandfather

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Did you know

• The characters' names contain meanings that reflect their history: * Kaoru Hanabishi: "kaoru" means "fragrant", and "hanabishi" is a flower-shaped crest. * Aoi Sakuraba: "aoi" means "blue" (and also translates to "hollyhock"), and "sakuraba" means "cherry blossom". * Miyabi Kagurazaki: "miyabi" means "refinement", hinting at her being Aoi's guardian * Taeko Minazuki: "taeko" means "delicate child", referring to her clumsy personality. * Mayu Miyuki: "mayu" means "cocoon", referring to her family owning a silk company (silk is made from cocoons) * Chika Minazuki: "chika" means "near". * Uzume: Uzume is named after Ame-no-Uzume, the goddess of Japanese Mythology who was responsible for luring Amaterasu out of the Heavenly Cave.

• The series title "Ai Yori Aoshi" ("Bluer Than Indigo") is based on an old Chinese proverb: blue dye is made from indigo-colored grass, yet the blue dye's color is much deeper than the color of its origin. In other words, the pupil has exceeded the master.

• Based on a manga series first serialized in "Young Animal", a Japanese men's magazine.