Common questions about Only Yesterday (1991 film)

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When was the film Only Yesterday released in Japan?

Only Yesterday was released in Japan on the 20th of July 1991. This release date marked the film as the highest-grossing domestic movie of that year.

Who directed the film Only Yesterday and who produced it?

Isao Takahata wrote and directed Only Yesterday while Toshio Suzuki produced the film. Takahata was known for tackling difficult emotional subjects and Suzuki later became the driving force behind the studio's global success.

What specific crop does Taeko harvest in the film Only Yesterday?

Taeko helps harvest safflower in the Yamagata Prefecture countryside. This crop was once used to create red dye for women in Kyoto and serves as a symbol of the agricultural industry's decline.

Why was Only Yesterday delayed in North America until 2016?

Walt Disney Studios refused to release Only Yesterday in North America because of its candid treatment of menstruation in the flashback sequences. The film finally premiered in New York City on the 1st of January 2016 with an English dub.

What music styles are featured in the soundtrack of Only Yesterday?

The soundtrack includes Eastern European folk music such as Bulgarian Women's Chorus and Romanian folk songs played by Gheorghe Zamfir. It also features Hungarian music like Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 5 and a Japanese translation of The Rose performed by Harumi Miyako.

What adaptations of Only Yesterday have been created since the film's release?

A stage musical toured Japan in 2011 and a 2021 live-action sequel follows a 64-year-old Taeko with her daughter and granddaughter. The film also maintains a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has inspired academic studies by scholars such as Susan Napier.