Like Grains of Sand is a Japanese drama film released on December 16, 1995 by Toho Company Ltd.

Toho

is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...

 The Japanese title for the film is . The film was directed and written by Ryosuke Hashiguchi

Ryōsuke Hashiguchi

is a Japanese film director particularly known for taking up gay subjects. He won the award for Best Director at the 24th Yokohama Film Festival for Hush! and at the 33rd Hochi Film Award for Gururi no koto...

 and features a lead role played by Japan's highest selling female musician Ayumi Hamasaki

Ayumi Hamasaki

is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...

. It won three major awards in 1996 and 1997 including an award for best screenplay and two international awards. It was featured in the 1996 Toronto Film Festival in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 as well as the 1997 International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in Turin

Turin

Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...

, Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

.

Primary Cast

• Yoshinori Okada as Shuji Ito
• Ayumi Hamasaki
  Ayumi Hamasaki
  is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...
  
   as Kasane Aihara
• Kouji Yamaguchi as Touru Kanbara
• Kumi Takada as Ayako Shimizu
• Shizuka Isami as Rika Matsuo
• Kouta Kusano as Hiroyuki Yoshida
• Yoshihiko Hakamada as Fujita

Synopsis

A psychological drama about love, longing, homosexual desire and psychological turmoil—i.e., the perils of puberty. Ito is a shy boy in the top class at secondary school. He feels attracted to his classmate and best friend Yoshida, who is not aware of Ito's intimate feelings. They spend much time with Kanbara, whose comic actions hide his sensitive nature. Aihara (Ayumi Hamasaki

Ayumi Hamasaki

is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...

) is new at school and remains aloof with her cool attitude. No one knows that at her previous school she was raped and is now in therapy. Meanwhile Yoshida, who is currently involved with the insecure Shimizu, is interested in Aihara, the mysterious new girl. It is obvious that each teen is hiding behind a wall which they must break through during this tough process of maturation.

Awards

Mainichi Film Concours

1996 - Best Screenplay

Rotterdam International Film Festival

1996 - Tiger Award

Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

1997 - Best Feature Film