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Kirin Beer Adopts Marmalade Boy Theme to Promote New Drink Flavor
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
Wataru Yoshizumi's Marmalade Boy family-swapping romance manga is back at the forefront after a recent license rescue and release by Discotek and the newly planned live-action film. This time attention is on the anime series' original opening theme.
Former AKB48 idol Haruna Kojima is starring in a commercial for Kirin Beer that mimics the series' opening song "Egao ni Aitai" (I want to meet your smile), albeit with lyrics changed to talk about alcohol instead. The new version is called "Kawagokochi o Nomitai" (I want to drink it, skin and all). "Kawagokochi" is meant to mean fruit with skin on, in this case.
The ad promotes Kirin Beer's latest product, Kirin Kawagokochi Yuzu & Iyokan.
The live-action Marmalade Boy film will star Hinako Sakurai and Ryō Yoshizawa as Miki Koishikawa and Yū Matsura, respectively. Ryūichi Hiroki (live-action Strobe Edge, Wolf Girl & Black Prince) is directing the film off a script by Taeko Asano.
In the story, Miki Koishikawa's parents announce that they are getting a divorce and swapping partners with another couple, who have a son of their own named Yū. The two couples move in together and a romance develops between Miki and Yū.
Yoshizumi published the manga in Shueisha's Ribon magazine from 1992-1995. The North American publisher Tokyopop released the classic romance manga and its 1994-1995 anime adaptation in English. Discotek Media recently picked up the license and released the first part.
In addition to the television anime adaptation, the manga inspired a 1995 anime film and a 2001 live-action Taiwanese television series. An ongoing sequel titled Marmalade Boy Little launched in 2013.
Source: Anime! Anime!
