Sand Chronicles

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Sand Chronicles

Cover of Japanese volume 1
砂時計
(Suna-dokei)
Genre Drama
Manga
Author Hinako Ashihara
Publisher Flag of Japan Shogakukan
Flag of the United States Viz Media
Demographic Shōjo
Serialized in Flag of Japan Betsucomi
Flag of the United States Shōjo Beat
Original run 2003 – 2006
Volumes 10
TV drama
Network Flag of Japan TBS
Original run March 12, 2007 – June 1, 2007
Time slot Weekdays 1 PM
Episodes 60

Sand Chronicles (砂時計 Suna-dokei?) is a manga by Hinako Ashihara. It completed serialization in Japan in Betsucomi during 2005 and was licenced by Viz Media. It began serialization in English in Shōjo Beat's August 2007 issue, replacing Yume Kira Dream Shoppe. Sand Chronicles has been released in Germany under the title Sunadokei - Die Sanduhr and is translated by Burkhard HöFLER.

The series has also been adapted as a dorama series in Japan. In 2005, it was awarded the 50th Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo.[1] It will also be adapted as a movie, starring Kaho in Japan, releasing on April 26, 2008.

[edit] Plot

Ann and her mother move to the small town of Shimane, where Ann's grandparents live and everyone seems to be familiar with everyone else. Ann soon becomes friends with Daigo, a young boy who lives in Shimane, as well as Fuji and Shiika, Fuji's younger sister.

When Ann's mother commits suicide, Daigo helps Ann cope with the sudden change in her life. They fall in love, but Ann's life can only become more complicated when her estranged father suddenly arrives from Tokyo.

[edit] Characters

Ann Uekusa: The protagonist of the story. An affectionate, sensitive girl who likes to be silly sometimes, Ann care deeply for all her friends. After her mother's death, she and Daigo become very close and she wishes that she will be able to stay with Daigo for the rest of her life. However, she chooses to return to Tokyo to take care of her estranged father when he comes to see her in Shimane. Drama Actresses: Sato Megumi, Kobayashi Ryoko (middle school), and Miyama Karen (young girl)

Daigo Kitamura: Ann's first friend when she comes to Shimane, Daigo is very athletic and is not very articulate. He and Ann eventually fall in love and begin a long distance relationship when she leaves Shimane for Tokyo. He and Ann are the same age. His mother is a down-to-earth woman who was best friends with Ann's mother. Drama Actors: Takezai Terunosuke, Sano Kazuma (middle school), and Izumisawa Yuuki (young boy)

Fujii Tsukishima: Shiika's older brother, Fujii comes from a well-off family. He is the same age as Ann and Daigo and has a secret crush on Ann. Fujii tends to keep to himself and eventually decides to attend high school in Tokyo shortly before Ann leaves Shimane. He has doubts concerning who he is because it is suspected that Fujii is not his father's biological son (though his father has accepted him as such), but the son of one of his mother's affairs. It is revealed eventually that he did not result from the affair, though it remains the reason why his mother does not treat him the same as his older brother and younger sister. Drama Actors: Shibue Joji, Aoyagi Ruito (middle school), and Kawaguchi Shouhei (young boy)

Shiika Tsukishima: Ann's best friend in Shimane and perhaps her only best friend growing up. Though her mother is kind and loyal to her children, Shiika does not get along with her well. She is one year younger than Ann. It is revealed though a letter written by her mother to a lover that she is the child of the affair stated above. The reason that her mother pays more attention to her and pushes her so hard it is out of guilt of the affair. Drama Actresses: Kinouchi Akiko, Kakiuchi Ayami (middle school), and Yamauchi Nana (young girl)

Ann's grandmother: The mother of Miwako, Ann's mother. Though she is strict, she wants what's best for Ann and cares for her. When Miwako commits suicide and leaves Ann in the care of her parents, Ann's grandmother believes that she was too insensitive to Miwako, but was unable to bear seeing her daughter so depressed and blames herself for Miwako's weakness.

Ann's father: Miwako partially married Ann's father to leave Shimane because she was too sensitive to bear how everyone in her town could gossip about one another so easily. They moved to Tokyo after marrying, but when Ann's father ended up deeply in debt during Ann's childhood, Miwako divorced him. A year after Miwako commits suicide, he comes to Shimane and offers to take care of Ann should she choose to return to Tokyo.

[edit] External links

Languages