Kokuhaku Jikkō Iinkai: Ren'ai Series

Kokuhaku Jikkō Iinkai: Ren'ai Series(告白実行委員会〜恋愛シリーズ〜,transl.Confession Executive Committee: Love Series)is a Japanese romanceVocaloidsong series byHoneyWorks.The project's first song onNico Nico Dougawas amusic videosung byVocaloidGumi titled "Hatsukoi no Ehon"(初恋の絵本)that was released on November 18, 2011. The songs have spawned into various media forms including manga, novel, and anime adaptations.
Two anime films titledZutto Mae Kara Suki DeshitaandSuki ni Naru Sono Shunkan owere released in 2016.An anime television series by Lay-duce titledOur love has always been 10 centimeters apartaired from November to December 2017.A third anime film titledKono Sekai no Tanoshimikata: Secret Story Filmwas released on December 25, 2020. A second anime television series titledHeroines Run the Showaired from April to June 2022.
The initial plot ofKokuhaku Jikkō Iinkaitells the love stories of six third year high school students: childhood friends Natsuki Enomoto, Yu Setoguchi, Sota Mochizuki, and Haruki Serizawa, and their later high school friends Akari Hayasaka and Mio Aida. Later into the series' lifetime, the story branches to other love and friendship dilemmas from succeeding groups of Sakuragaoka High School students. The stories focus on conflict and how hard it can be to confess one's love during youth days, the sweetness of being in love, and the hardships of maintaining the relationship as the pairs grow older or pursue their goals.
In 2019, HoneyWorks officially labelled a set of music themed installments (which had videos from as early as 2017) as theIdol Series. While this spinoff still retains characters previously seen in theRen'ai Seriesand is set in the same universe, theIdol Seriesis primarily about the rise and growth of different teen idol acts. Some videos will also explore the performers' backstories and their desire to better themselves. Many videos in this spinoff are diegetic, as music videos for a performer's single out of universe will be real music videos in-universe.
The first film titledZutto Mae Kara Suki Deshitaopened in Japan on April 23, 2016. The film is based on the songs "Kokuhaku Yokō Renshū," "Hatsukoi no Ehon," and "Yakimochi no Kotae," which tell the third year students' love stories.The opening theme performed by CHiCO is titled "Koi Iro Sake"(恋色に咲け)and the ending theme performed bySphereis titled "Ippun'ichibyō Kimi to Boku no."
The second filmSuki ni Naru Sono Shunkan oopened in Japan on December 17, 2016. The film is based on the songs "Ima Suki ni naru" and "Sankaku Jealousy," which tell the love story of Hina Setoguchi, Kotaro Enomoto, and Koyuki Ayase. The opening sung byTrySailis titled "Senpai." and the ending song titled "Daikirai na Hazudatta." is performed by Sayuringo Gundan + Manatsu-san Respect Gundan fromNogizaka46.
Both films are produced by Qualia Animation with direction and scripts respectively by Tetsuya Yanagisawa and Yoshimi Narita. Maki Fujii serves as character designer adapting Yamako's art and as chief animation director. HoneyWorks serves as a music producer.
In August 2020, HoneyWorks announced a new anime film with the members of LIPxLIP as the main characters.TitledKono Sekai no Tanoshimikata: Secret Story Film, the film is a part of HoneyWorks' 10th anniversary project. It is produced by CLAP and directed by Fumie Moroi, with scripts written by Yoshimi Narita, character designs by Miwa Oshima, and music composed by Moe Hyūga alongside HoneyWorks. The film was released in Japan on December 25, 2020. The opening song is "Love & Kiss" and the ending song is "Kono Sekai no Tanoshimikata," both performed by LIPxLIP.
In March 2017, an anime television special was announced on the official HoneyWorksTwitteraccount.The series titledOur love has always been 10 centimeters apart(いつだって僕らの恋は10センチだった。,Itsu Datte Bokura no Koi wa 10 Senchi Datta.)was broadcast for six weeks starting on November 24, 2017 onTokyo MXandBS11. The story focuses on Mio Aida and Haruki Serizawa with new elements added to the plot; the series adapts the songs "Hatsukoi Ehon" and "Ippun'ichibyō Kimi to Boku." The animation is produced byLay-ducewhile Takurō Tsukada serves as the director andHitoshi Nanbaserves as the chief director.The group LIPxLIP, composed of Kōki Uchiyama and Nobunaga Shimazaki, performs the opening theme "Non Fantasy"(ノンファンタジー). The main cast members as their characters (Haruka Tomatsu as Natsuki Enomoto, Hiroshi Kamiya as Yu Setoguchi, Yūki Kaji as Sota Mochizuki, Kana Asumi as Akari Hayasaka, Kenichi Suzumura as Haruki Serizawa, and Aki Toyosaki as Mio Aida) perform the ending theme "Tokyo Winter Session"(東京ウインターセッション).The final episode features a song performed by Aki Toyosaki under her character name Mio Aida titled "Re: Hatsukoi no Ehon"(Re:初恋の絵本).Aniplex of Americahas licensed the series for a North American release.Crunchyrollholds the rights for online streaming. On August 24,Funimationannounced they would add the show to their catalog the next day.
In August 2021, a second anime television series titledHeroines Run the Show: The Unpopular Girl and the Secret Taskwas announced. The story focuses on Hiyori Suzumi and her journey to becoming the junior manager of LIPxLIP.The series is produced by Lay-duce and directed by Noriko Hashimoto, with scripts written by Yoshimi Narita, character designs by Kaori Ishii, and music composed by Moe Hyūga. It aired from April 7 to June 23, 2022.
A light novel series adaptation is published byKadokawa Shoten's Kadokawa Beans Bunko. The volumes are written by Tōko Fujitani up to volume 6, and then Mari Kōsaka from volume 7 onwards. Illustrations were solely done by Yamako up to volume 9, but later only provides the color illustrations; the duty is taken up by Ruia Shimakage from volume 10 onwards.
A smartphone app game titledHoneyWorks Premium Livebased on HoneyWorks' songs was announced alongside plans for the television anime.The game eventually was released as part of HoneyWorks'HoneyWorks Atelierproject to celebrate their tenth active year, and was delayed to 2020. It was released on November 18, 2020, the 9th anniversary of their PV for "Hatsukoi no Ehon", and was initially developed by Akatsuki Inc. before development duties moved over to flaggsThe game ended service at 3:00 PM on March 31, 2023.
The game is a rhythm game that prominently features the primary cast ofKokuhaku Jikkō Iinkai, both in-story and sharing the majority of songs available for the game.