The First Star of Happiness

Set in the 1970s, The First Star of Happiness centers on a bright and innocent 16 year old girl who lives with refreshing simplicity, a performance anchored by Miyoko Asada. She helps at a Kamakura boarding house, where the rhythm of daily life, sea air, and neighborly warmth shapes her days. Through her interactions with the house residents and with Hideki Saijo, a new acquaintance, she begins to notice deeper feelings. The film keeps the focus on small moments rather than dramatic twists, presenting a portrait of adolescence built on friendship, responsibility, and a sense of community. The tone is tender and luminous, inviting viewers to see beauty in ordinary life.

Directed by Shigeyuki Yamane and written by Shiro Ishimori, the film was released in 1974. The available records do not clearly document any specific source material.

Reception and themes center on adolescence, innocence, and community life. The film treats friendship and responsibility with warmth and restraint, avoiding heavy melodrama. As a 1974 youth drama, it offers a quiet snapshot of life in Kamakura through Miyoko Asada and her cast.