The Friends
7.5
“Things that pass, and things that can't be lost… One summer adventure story of three boys.”
A delightful and moving coming-of-age story. One summer, three young boys take an increasing interest in an eccentric old man who lives alone in a house surrounded by an overgrown garden. The boys form a bond with the recluse and set about weeding and replanting the garden.
Where to watch
Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
Your rating
Your review
Cast
18 people
Rentaro Mikuni
Kihachi Denpo
Known for
Kwaidan
The Burmese Harp
Naoki Sakata
Jun Kiyama
Yasutaka Oh
Kawabe
No other roles listed
Ken'ichi Makino
Takeshi Yamashita
No other roles listed
Akira Emoto
Nagatomo
Known for
Rental Family
Hanzawa Naoki
Tsurube Shofukutei
Undertaker
Known for
Hanzawa Naoki
Moving
Minori Terada
Taniguchi
Known for
Castle in the Sky
Kamen Rider Black Sun
Naho Toda
Shizuka Kondo
Known for
Sky High
Gantz: Perfect Answer
Shigeru Yazaki
Katsuhiro
Also in
Girl’s Pleasure: Man Hunting
The Catch
Chikage Awashima
Yayoi Koko
Known for
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
Early Spring
Ritsuko Nemoto
Tomomi Kiyama
Also in
Furuya Ikkou's Great Detective Kindaichi Kousuke Series
Ooku Hankachou
Yôhei Hamanishi
Shinji Sōmai Director · Yōzō Tanaka Screenplay Kazumi Yumoto Author
First release March 12, 1994 · Produced in Japan · Original title 夏の庭 The Friends
Production
Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation
Production
Japan
Produced in
Languages
Original title
夏の庭 The Friends
Original language
Japanese
Spoken on screen
Japanese
Release dates
Japan · March 12, 1994
Limited theatrical · 大阪・京都・神戸先行公開
No release date listed for United States.
Germany
June 6, 2015 · Premiere · Nippon Connection Film Festival
Hong Kong SAR China
August 19, 2024 · Premiere · Summer International Film Festival (Restored Version)
India
October 23, 2010 · Theatrical · Mumbai Film Festival
Japan
April 9, 1994 · Theatrical
December 27, 2024 · Theatrical · 4Kリマスター版
South Korea
August 6, 2025 · Theatrical
Taiwan
November 16, 2021 · Premiere · Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival
April 21, 2025 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.