April Fools (2015 Film)

April Fools (Japanese: エイプリルフールズ, Hepburn: Eipuriru Furuzu) is a 2015 Japanese comedy-drama film directed by Junichi Ishikawa and written by Ryota Kosawa. The film, which marks Ishikawa's feature-length directorial debut, explores a series of interconnected stories set on April 1st.

Plot

The narrative follows Ayumi Nitta (Erika Toda), a hospital janitor who suffers from anthropophobia. After a one-night stand with Wataru Makino (Tori Matsuzaka), a surgeon known for his sexual promiscuity, Ayumi discovers she is pregnant. When she attempts to inform Wataru, he dismisses her claim as an April Fools' Day prank. The situation escalates when Wataru takes a flight attendant named Reiko (Nanao) to an Italian restaurant, unaware that Ayumi is also present at the same location.

Production

April Fools was directed by Junichi Ishikawa, marking his first feature-length film project. Ishikawa collaborated with screenwriter Ryota Kosawa, with whom he had previously worked on the Legal High television drama franchise. Principal photography for the film was conducted in Japan between early June and mid-July 2014.

Cast

The film features an extensive ensemble cast, including:

• Erika Toda as Ayumi Nitta
• Tori Matsuzaka as Wataru Makino
• Nanao as Reiko
• Yusuke Santamaria as the restaurant receptionist
• Yukiyoshi Ozawa as the restaurant owner and chef
• Kotaro Satomi as a royal gentleman
• Sumiko Fuji as a royal madam
• Susumu Terajima as a kidnapper
• Kenichi Takito as a driver
• Masanobu Takashima as a detective
• Minami Hamabe as an elementary school student
• Sayaka Yamaguchi as a mother
• Katsuhisa Namase as a survivor
• Eiko Koike as a woman with a flat tire
• Masaki Okada as an ambulance worker
• Haruka Kinami as a part-time employee
• Arata Furuta as a store manager
• Masataka Kubota as a confessing university student