Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World (2004)
A poignant Japanese drama about grief, memory, and a first love lost too soon to leukemia.
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World - Series Information
- Original Title: 世界の中心で、愛をさけぶ
- First Air Year: 2004
- Last Air Year: 2004
- Created by: Kyouichi Katayama
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (55 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 11
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: July 2, 2004 (Brazil - 14)
- Networks: TBS
- Alternative Titles: Оплакивая любовь в самом центре мира (RU), Dünyanin orta yerinde ask için agliyorum (TR), Sekai no chûshin de, ai o sakebu (JP), Sesangui jungshimeseo sarangeul wichida (KR), Socrates in Love (US)
- Production Countries: Japan
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World - Plot
"I thought I might be using a lifetime's happiness in a moment. I was that happy and she was that beautiful." A young boy stands on the red earth of Australia under its blue sky. It is 17-year-old Sakutaro Matsumoto. His time with the girl comes back to him. The colored sand runs through his hands and a tear appears on his cheek. He wakes up. It's 2004 and he is 34 years old and in Japan. He thinks "I have been in a world without her for 17 years." Returning home to see his old high school for the last time before it is demolished, Saku confronts anew the loss of the love of his life, Aki, to leukemia 17 years ago. Now a medical researcher at graduate school, he has been living as if half of him died with her since then.
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Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Kyouichi Katayama
Main Cast
- Takayuki Yamada
- Haruka Ayase
- Naoto Ogata
- Sachiko Sakurai
- Kotaro Tanaka
- Tasuku Emoto
- Yuika Motokariya
- Yuki Matsushita
- Katsumi Takahashi
- Satoko Ôshima
Writers
- Yoshiko Morishita
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World - FAQs
Is Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World based on a book?
Yes, the series is adapted from Kyouichi Katayama's bestselling 2001 novel of the same name. The novel became a massive publishing phenomenon in Japan, selling over 3 million copies and sparking a wave of tear-jerker romance stories that defined early 2000s Japanese popular culture.
What is Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World about?
The story follows Sakutaro, a 34-year-old man haunted by the death of his teenage sweetheart Aki, who succumbed to leukemia seventeen years earlier. Returning to his hometown before his old high school is demolished, he relives their bittersweet love story through vivid, heartbreaking flashbacks.
Who are the lead actors in Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World?
Takayuki Yamada plays the teenage Sakutaro, while Haruka Ayase portrays the luminous Aki. Naoto Ogata takes on the role of the adult Sakutaro at 34. Both Yamada and Ayase delivered breakthrough performances that launched them into major stardom in Japan.
Where can I watch Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World?
Streaming availability for this 2004 Japanese drama varies by region and may be limited outside Japan. Check JustWatch for the most up-to-date viewing options in your country, including any streaming, rental, or purchase platforms currently carrying the series.
How was Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World received in Japan?
The series was a massive ratings hit, regularly drawing over 20% viewership in Japan during its summer 2004 run on TBS — extraordinary figures for a primetime drama. It became one of the defining tearjerker series of the decade and cemented the source novel's cultural legacy.
Why does the story shift between past and present timelines?
The dual-timeline structure mirrors Sakutaro's emotional state — he cannot fully inhabit the present because grief keeps pulling him back to his youth. The contrast between his vibrant teenage romance with Aki and his hollow adult life underscores the series' central theme: that some losses never truly heal.
What are some similar shows to Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World?
Fans of this series often connect deeply with 1 Litre of Tears (2005), another Japanese drama exploring terminal illness with raw emotional honesty. Sky of Love (2008) and Never Have I Ever (2020) also offer moving portrayals of young love shadowed by loss and longing.
Has Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World been adapted into other formats?
Beyond this television series, the source novel inspired a major theatrical film released in 2004, directed by Isao Yukisada and starring Takuya Kimura and Kou Shibasaki. The film was a box-office phenomenon in Japan, further cementing the story's place as a landmark of modern Japanese romance.
More About Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World
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