Two new Japanese films, the live-action adaptation of Ammitsu’s Gazing at the Star Next Door (Tonari no Stella) manga and the Odekake Kozame anime film, have made their debut in the Japanese box office rankings, securing the #9 and #10 spots respectively. Both films premiered on August 22, 2025.
Gazing at the Star Next Door Live-Action Film Earns ¥104.5 Million in Opening Weekend
The live-action film based on Ammitsu’s popular romance manga, Gazing at the Star Next Door, opened at number nine on its first weekend. The film garnered an impressive 104,595,300 yen (approximately US$710,200) in its initial three days at the box office. The film, distributed by TOHO, officially opened in Japan on August 22.
Production and Cast Details for Gazing at the Star Next Door
Hana Matsumoto, known for her work on Oshi no Ko and The End of the Pale Hour, directed the romantic feature. The screenplay was penned by Sawako Kawamitsu. The leading roles are filled by Riko Fukumoto as Chiaki and FANTASTICS member Yūsei Yagi as Subaru. The original Gazing at the Star Next Door manga by Ammitsu began serialization in Kodansha’s Bessatsu Friend magazine in January 2022. Kodansha USA publishes the manga in English, describing the story of Chiaki, a normal teenage girl with a long-standing affection for her best friend Subaru, who is quickly rising as a popular actor in Japan. The film’s theme song, “Itsumo Tonari de” (“Always next to you”), is performed by FANTASTICS.
Odekake Kozame Anime Film Opens at #10
Also premiering on August 22, the Odekake Kozame anime film entered the box office charts at the #10 position. This movie adaptation is based on Penguin Box’s web manga series, which initially launched on Twitter in June 2021. The manga was later serialized by Kadokawa Corporation and Enterbrain.
Odekake Kozame Film’s Story and Production
The Odekake Kozame anime film, officially titled Eiga Odekake Kozame Tokai no Otomodachi (Film Little Shark’s Outings: The City’s Friend), centers on the titular character Kozame-chan’s adventurous trip to the city after being inspired by a glittering city poster. Kozame-chan, a young shark, embarks on a journey to the bustling city, promising a big adventure. The film is a continuation of the Odekake Kozame anime series which ran on YouTube from August 2023 to May 2024.
Chihiro Kumano directed the film at ENGI, with Hiroaki Nagashima writing the script. Ayumi Takeuchi was responsible for character design, and Kisuke Koizumi handled sound direction. Yoshiaki Fujisawa composed the music for the film. Kana Hanazawa returns to voice the main character, Kozame-chan. Lozareena performs the film’s theme song, “Where you come from”.
Other Box Office Highlights
While these new releases entered the top ten, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle – Akaza Sairai, the first film in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy, continued its strong performance, ranking #1 in its sixth weekend. The Demon Slayer film has sold over 19 million tickets and earned more than 28 billion yen (approximately US$190.8 million) in 38 days, surpassing Titanic to become the third highest-earning film of all time in Japan. The 2025 Crayon Shin-chan film also remained in the top five, holding the #5 spot.
