March 12, 2026

Hoshisuna no Shima no Chiisana Tenshi: Mermaid Smile (2010)

One morning, two brothers rescue a girl collapsed on the beach who then begins to work in the family guest house. Very soon after, the girl is suspected of being a mermaid.

FInally, I can post this one! It's been quite the journey in getting this subbed because I had to order the DVD for this one. I just love the atmosphere of this movie. There's just something special about it as is the case with Share house. There's so much warmth t hat envelops you with these two movies. They do share some of the crew and actors, so it's no wonder they are so good.

I've been marathoning all of Mikami Masashi's projects lately, so you can expect more from him in the future. I discovered him in 2023 and I've been his fan ever since.

Subbed trailer:

Cast (romanization for cast/crew is based on their official profiles for searchability, for characters same as my usual style):

Iida Riho as Tsukino Miu
Mikami Masashi as Nakahama Kouichi
Makita Tetsuya as Nakahama Shun'ichi
Tsuda Kanji
Choshu Riki as Tetsuya
Maeda Yuka as Yuka
Yaguchi Mari as Yanoguchi Mari
Miho Jun as Kouichi's and Shun'ichi's mother
Aijima Kazuyuki as Miu's father
Oishi Risa as Ayaka
Ohara Kotaro as Takeshi
Ohkata Hisako as Granny Takemi
Kono Tomomi as Ms. Shimoji
Miyamoto Karin as Yanoguchi Haruka
Daichi Yasuo as Granny Takemi's son
Saho Akari
Kaneko Rie
Takeuchi Akari
Natsuno Miina
Okamoto Takuro
Hosohara Yoshio

Direction: Kita Ichiro

Script: Okada Shigeru

Music: Takayama Hidetake

Cinematography: Oka Masakazu

Audio recording: Yanagiya Fumihiko

Editing: Memita Ken

Art direction: Fukuda Nori

Costume design: Hakamada Chiyoe

Traditional folk music: Maki Shinobu (artist name Shinobu Maki)

Insert song: "Kimi" by Maki Shinobu

Ending credits song: "Tinsagu nu Hana" (Okinawan folk song) sung by Ottohonbaira

MDL Page | Letterboxd Page

Note: Earsubbed as usual, so there may be errors. Also, the poster is of my own making because I didn't want that vertical poster and there's no other version :/

Upscale version:

Non-upscale version:

Some BTS and promotional event pics: