Lamune (ラムネ, Ramune) is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Neko Neko Soft originally released on July 30, 2004 for the PC. It was followed by an all-ages version for the PlayStation 2, and was released on August 25, 2005. A twelve-episode anime series based on the visual novel, entitled Lamune: Garasu Bin ni Utsuru Umi (ラムネ 〜ガラスびんに映る海〜, lit. Lamune: Sea Reflected in the Glass Bottle), was produced by Trinet Entertainment and Picture Magic and aired between October 11, 2005 and December 27, 2005. Light novels, drama CDs, and one volume of a manga adaption have also been produced.
Kenji Tomosaka moves to a coastal town as a child. The sea spread in front of him shines like ramune, reflecting the sunlight of the summer.
He meets Nanami Konoe, who lives next door. As time passes, their shared memories have accumulated. They think of their normal lives and relationship as precious things.
The sun begins to shine strongly, cicadas begin to buzz, and the sky clears up. For Kenji and Nanami, it is not just another ordinary summer.
Main characters
Kenji Tomosaka (友坂 健次, Tomosaka Kenji)
Voiced by: Kishō Taniyama (anime)
Kenji is the male leading character of the story. He is a 2nd year high school student. He and his childhood friend, Nanami, are inseparable; they take turns waking each other, walk to and from school together and tend her family's vegetable field on the outskirts of town. He owns a vintage Triumph motorcycle, passed down to him by his father. He had wanted that motorcycle ever since he was a child, and his father finally decided to give it to him, even though it is always breaking down. Kenji really likes Nanami, however he is too shy to confess his feelings and therefore teases her to hide them.
Nanami Konoe (近衛 七海, Konoe Nanami)
Voiced by: Ran Tōno (PC)/Yūko Gotō(anime/PS2)
Nanami is the female leading character of the story. She has a long lavender hair. She is Kenji’s childhood best friend, next door neighbor and classmate at school. Her family owns a vegetable field on the outskirts of town which she tends with Kenji's help. She and Kenji take turns waking each other up every morning.
Profile:
Birth date: May 20
Favorite food: Home-grown vegetables
Favorite drink: 100% fruit juice
Suzuka Tomosaka (友坂 鈴夏, Tomosaka Suzuka)
Voiced by: Hina Kamimura (PC)/Mikako Satō(anime/PS2)
She is Kenji's younger light blue-haired sister. Suzuka is a gentle, active and innocent character.
Profile:
Birth date: August 22
Favorite food: Spaghetti with tomato sauce
Favorite drink: Lemon tea
Hikari Nakazato (仲里 ひかり, Nakazato Hikari)
Voiced by: Yukari Aoyama (PC)/Akane Tomonaga(anime/PS2)
Hikari is Kenji and Suzuka's older cousin. She is short and has a long, golden hair done in twin tails. She is somewhat quick-tempered and is a tomboy. Hikari may be annoying at times but she really cares for her cousins and Nanami, and is willing to help them when they're in trouble. Hatano, Kenji's friend and classmate, is crazy about Hikari and pesters her when she visits her cousins during summer. She secretly likes Hatano but is too stubborn to admit it. She loves spicy food.
Profile:
Birth date: March 20
Favorite food: Tom yam kung
Favorite drink: Milk or almost all of carbonated soft drinks
Tae Isawa (石和 多恵, Isawa Tae)
Voiced by: Izumi Maki (PC)/Natsumi Yanase(anime/PS2)
Tae is the Student Council President and Kenji’s senpai in school. She has a short dark purple hair and is often seen wearing her jersey. She is a very mature, good-tempered and responsible person. She has three younger siblings (two brothers and one sister) to take care of.
Profile:
Birth date: February 2
Favorite food: Mitarashidango (a kind of dango)
Favorite drink: Hojicha
Hiromi Sakura (佐倉 裕美, Sakura Hiromi)
Voiced by: Sakura Takatsuki (PC)/Hiroko Taguchi(anime/PS2)
Hiromi is Suzuka's black-haired classmate. She is a soft-spoken and timid girl who has been infatuated with Kenji since childhood. She confesses to him just before she has to move away.
Profile:
Favorite food: Anmitsu, Mitsumame
Favorite drink: Ramune
Misora Ayukawa (鮎川 美空, Ayukawa Misora)
Voiced by: Ryōko Shintani(anime/PS2)
Misora is a biker girl whose bike, a Honda CB400 SUPER BOL D'OR, breaks down just outside town while she is touring in the countryside. She stays at Kenji's house until the required parts are delivered and works at Nanami's family's cafe to earn the money she needs for the repairs. She has pink hair with a cowlick and two short twin tails.
Profile:
Favorite food: French toast
Favorite drink: Sports drink
Hatano (端野, Hatano)
Voiced by: Shintaro Ōhata(anime/PS2)
Kenji’s friend and classmate, Hatano serves as comic relief. He has a crush on Kenji's cousin, Hikari, and tries to make moves on her whenever she visits but is always turned down. He would do anything for her to the point of becoming her slave.
Kagami Konoe (近衛 各務, Konoe Kagami)
Voiced by: Suzune Kusunoki(PC)/Erika Narumi(anime/PS2)
Kagami is Nanami's mother who runs a
kissaten or coffee shop right across the street from their house. She has a kind and gentle personality. Because of her youthful appearance, she is often mistaken for Nanami's elder sister.
Kenryū Tomosaka (友坂 健柳流, Tomosaka Kenryū)
Voiced by: Takashi Nagasako(anime/PS2)
Kenji and Suzuka’s father who is a judo instructor at Suzuka's school. He is very strict when teaching her and does not accept failure. He is also adamant that Kenji takes care of his motorcycle.
Opening Theme
"Just Kidding 76's" (なんてね76's, Nantene 76's)
Performed by: Hiromi Satou
Lyrics by: Tomo Kataoka
Composition and arrangement by: Hitoshi Fujima (Elements Garden)
Ending Theme
"Lamune" (ラムネ, Ramune)
Performed by: Duca
Lyrics by: Tomo Kataoka
Composition by: Hijiri Anze
Arrangement by: Katsumichi Harada
Insert Theme (PC)
"Evening Calm" (夕凪, Yūnagi)
Performed by: KAKO
Lyrics by: Yanachī
Composition by: Jan Amano
Arrangement by: Takehiro Kawabe
Insert Theme (PS2)
"Two(Lamune 79's)" (ふたり(ラムネ79's), Futari(Ramune79's))
Performed by: KAKO
Lyrics by: Nachi Kio
Composition and arrangement by: Hitoshi Fujima (Elements Garden)
Opening Theme
"The Melody of Lemonade’s Color" (ラムネ色のメロディ, Ramune Iro no Merodi): Episodes 01 - 12
Performed by: Mayu
Lyrics by: Tomu
Composition by: Raito
Arrangement by: Yougo Kanno
Ending Theme
"Summer vacation": Episodes 01 - 11
"Just Kidding 76's" (なんてね76's, Nantene 76's): Episode 12 insert ending theme.
Performed by: Hiromi Satou
Lyrics by: Tomo Kataoka
Composition and arrangement by: Hitoshi Fujima (Elements Garden)
Insert Theme
"A Sea Bluer than Ever" (いつもより青い海, Itsumo Yori Aoi Umi): Episode 01
Performed by: Tae Isawa (CV: Natsumi Yanase)
Lyrics and composition by: Yuuko Yamaguchi
Arrangement by: Kazuo Satou
"The Meteor of Dreams" (夢いっぱいの箒星, Yume Ippai no Houkiboshi): Episodes 03 & 05
Performed by: Suzuka Tomosaka (CV: Mikako Satou)
Lyrics by: Tomu
Composition by: Nozomu Nakamura
Arrangement by: KANKE
"Kira Kira": Episodes 06 & 10
"Time Machine" (タイムマシーン, Taimu Mashīn): Episodes 07 & 09
Performed by: Misora Ayukawa (CV: Ryouko Shintani)
Lyrics and composition by: Ritsuko Miyajima
Arrangement by: Fumikazu Takenaka
"Lovely Season" (大好きなSeason, Daisuki na Season): Episode 07
Performed by: Hikari Nakazato (CV: Akane Tomonaga)
Lyrics and composition by: Rie
Arrangement by: Yasufumi Yamashita
"The Sky of Sometime" (いつかの空, Itsuka no Sora): Episode 09
Performed by: Hiromi Sakura (CV: Hiroko Taguchi)
Lyrics by: Himi Izutsu
Composition by: YORI
Arrangement by: Yousuke Sugimoto
"Eyes Sunshine" (瞳サンシャイン, Hitomi Sanshain): Episode 10
Performed by: Tae Isawa (CV: Natsumi Yanase)
Lyrics and composition by: Yuuko Yamaguchi
Arrangement by: Kazuo Satou
Six DVDs of anime series were released by Interchannel in Japan.
Lamune DVD Vol.1 (Eps. 01 - 02)
Lamune DVD Vol.2 (Eps. 03 - 04)
Lamune DVD Vol.3 (Eps. 05 - 06)
Lamune DVD Vol.4 (Eps. 07 - 08)
Lamune DVD Vol.5 (Eps. 09 - 10)
Lamune DVD Vol.6 (Eps. 11 - 12)
Opening and ending Single albums
Opening theme song Single: "The Melody of Lemonade’s Color" (ラムネ色のメロディ, Ramune Iro no Merodi) performed by Mayu.
Ending theme song Single: "Summer vacation" (NECM-12104) performed by Ayumi Murata.
Lamune Original Soundtrack Complete Edition composed by Yūko Fukushima.
Character image songs and drama albums
Six character image songs and drama albums were released by Interchannel in Japan.
Lamune Characters Collection Vol.1 Nanami Konoe (CV: Yuko Gotō) "Kira Kira" (NECM-12113)
Lamune Characters Collection Vol.2 Hikari Nakazato (CV: Akane Tomonaga) "Lovely Season" (大好きなSeason, Daisuki na Season, NECM-12115)
Lamune Characters Collection Vol.3 Suzuka Tomosaka (CV: Mikako Satō) "The Meteor of Dreams" (夢いっぱいの箒星, Yume Ippai no Houkiboshi, NECM-12116)
Lamune Characters Collection Vol.4 Tae Isawa (CV: Natsumi Yanase) "Eyes Sunshine" (瞳サンシャイン, Hitomi Sanshain, NECM-12118)
Lamune Characters Collection Vol.5 Misora Ayukawa (CV: Ryōko Shintani) "Time Machine" (タイムマシーン, Taimu Mashīn)
Lamune Characters Collection Vol.6 Hiromi Sakura (CV: Hiroko Taguchi) "The Sky of Sometime" (いつかの空, Itsuka no Sora)
One game fanbook for the PS2 version was published by JIVE in Japan.
Lamune ~The Glass Jar that Reflects the Sea~ Visual Guide Book - ISBN 978-4-86176-242-0
A light novel mainly adapted between episode 07-08, was published by Megami Bunko (Gakken). Written by Takamitsu Kouno, and illustrated by Genichiro Kondo.
Lamune - ISBN 4-05-903507-6
Paradigm has published two 18 prohibited light novels based on the game, the first was published in early November 2004, the second was published in January 2005. both books were written by Okada Runa and illustrated by Ankoromochi. One focuses on Nanami's scenario, and the other focuses on Tae.
A manga illustrated by Rino Fujii was published in the Japanese manga magazine Comp Ace on Jan 26, 2006, published by Kadokawa Shoten.
A twelve-episode anime series was produced by Trinet Entertainment and Picture Magic. It is based on the visual novel and is entitled Lamune: Garasu Bin ni Utsuru Umi (ラムネ 〜ガラスびんに映る海〜, lit. Lamune: Sea Reflected in the Glass Bottle). The anime was directed by Jun Takada, and airs on the networks Chiba TV, Kansai TV, Teletama, Tokai TV, and tvk.
Original Work: Neko Neko Software
Director: Jun Takada
Producer: Yoshihiro Ikeda, Saburo Ōmiya, Takashi Nakanishi
Executive Producer: Masaki Kobayashi, Akira Akamatsu
Series Composition: Takamitsu Kōno
Script: Daisuke Ishibashi, Takamitsu Kōno, Tsutomu Kaneko
Storyboard: Jun Takada, Tetsuya Endo
Episode Director: Jun Takada, Shintaro Itoga
Character Draft: Yūki Osamu, Mochi Ankoro
Character Design: Gen'ichiro Kondo
Composite Director: Atsushi Nakayama
Art Supervision: Tadao Kubota
Color Design: Maki Tanaka
Sound Manager: Kaoru Machida
Sound Producer: Kōichi Izuka
Sound Works: Trinet Entertainment
Music: Yuuko Fukushima
Music Producer: Kazuo Ōnuki
Music Works: Interchannel
Animation Director: Chiyoko Sakamoto, Megumi Noda, Yuka Hasegawa
Animation Producer: Toshirō Sakuma (Picture Magic), Takashi Nomura (Radix Ace Entertainment)
Assistant Producer: Kōsaku Sakamoto (Trinet Entertainment)
Animation Production: Trinet Entertainment, Inc., Picture Magic
Animation Production Assistant: Radix Ace Entertainment Co.,Ltd.
