Ashita tenki ni nare: A Sweet, Slow Watch for Dog Lovers 🐶

Alright, so you're looking for something totally different than, say, a superhero flick. Ashita tenki ni nare, or *Tomorrow the Sun Will Shine*, is one of those gentle, almost forgotten Japanese films from back when movies moved at a different pace. If you like quiet stories about kids, dogs, and a peek into a past era, you'll probably find something to love here. But if you need car chases or big explosions, this one is absolutely not for you. It's slow. Like, really slow sometimes.

This film is basically about two puppies, born to the same sweet mother dog. One of them, a fluffy little thing, ends up with Ken'ichi Miyajima's character, a boy from what looks like a struggling family. The other goes to Chitose Hayashi's character, whose home seems a good deal more comfortable. It’s a simple setup, but it lays the groundwork for everything.

What really got me was how the movie just *shows* you the differences, instead of telling you. Ken'ichi's dog, he's more of a companion, a playmate in a sparse backyard. You see the boy's devotion, how he shares his meager snacks, a real bond forms there. It feels very real, very earnest. ✨

Then there's Chitose's dog. This pup lives in a bigger house, seems well-fed, but the interaction with the boy feels a bit more… formal? It's not a cold relationship, but it lacks that raw, immediate need that Ken'ichi and his dog share. It’s subtle, but you feel it.

There's a scene where the two boys accidentally cross paths in a park, both walking their dogs. The puppies are excited, wanting to sniff each other, but the boys are hesitant, almost shy. The camera just sort of lingers on their awkwardness, and you can almost feel the social barriers between them, even through the innocent dogs. It’s quite powerful without a single word being spoken about it.

The whole film has this calm, almost documentary-like feel to it. There aren't any big dramatic swells. Things just… happen. Life unfolds. You watch the kids grow a little, the dogs grow a little. The quiet moments are where the film truly shines, honestly.

One moment that sticks with me is Ken'ichi teaching his dog a trick. It takes forever, he gets frustrated, but then the dog finally does it, and the boy's face just lights up. It’s such a small, human victory. That’s what this movie is full of.

The pacing might test some viewers. There are long shots of the dogs just… being dogs, or the children just playing. It gives you time to really soak in the atmosphere of old Japan, the simple streets, the way people lived. It's less about a fast plot and more about atmosphere and feeling.

And the way it touches on the rich and poor divide? It's never preachy. You just see the boys’ different clothes, their different homes, the different ways they spend their days. The film doesn't judge; it just observes. It lets you draw your own conclusions about how circumstance shapes these young lives, even when they're so focused on their beloved pets.

I found myself thinking about this film long after it ended. It’s not flashy, not a blockbuster in any sense. But it has a quiet charm and a genuine heart. It’s definitely one for a rainy afternoon, when you want to just settle in and feel something gentle. 🐾

Didja notice?

• The puppies are ridiculously cute, just pure fluffballs.
• The way the dogs actually *act* on screen feels really natural, not forced.
• One of the boys has a slightly crooked smile that makes him seem super genuine.
• The sound of chirping cicadas in the background during some outdoor scenes is really immersive.
• A lot of shots of laundry drying, very everyday.