Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

Year: 2020

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Kyohei Ishiguro

Echo Score: 77
RomanceAnimationDramaTouching and sentimental family storiesCaptivating relationships and charming romance

After meeting one day, a shy boy who expresses himself through haiku and a bubbly but self-conscious girl share a brief, magical summer.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (2020)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (2020). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Summer

The events unfold over a bright summer season, capped by a major summer festival and fireworks. Characters juggle daily life at the mall with performances and preparations for the festival. The warm days and evening crowds create a backdrop for confession, risk, and rediscovery. The time frame emphasizes a single transformative summer rather than a long-span arc.

Location

Oda Nouvelle Mall, elderly care center, Fujiyama's vintage record shop

The story centers around the bustling Oda Nouvelle Mall, a local hub that hosts a lively summer festival. Within the mall complex sits an elderly care center where Cherry and Smile cross paths and rehearse the Daruma Folk Song. A vintage record shop owned by Fujiyama becomes a key quest site, with the record YAMAZAKURA at the heart of the story. The mall atmosphere blends youth, nostalgia, and community activity throughout the summer.

🎢 Mall life 🎵 Music culture 🏥 Community care 🛍️ Shopping district

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:59

Main Characters – Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (2020)

Meet the key characters of Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (2020), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Cherry (Ichikawa Somegorō VIII)

A quiet, reserved boy who writes haikus to express himself but struggles to recite them in front of others. He blossoms through his online connection with Smile and gathers the courage to reveal his feelings in person. His growth centers on choosing honesty over fear, especially as he faces moving away before the festival.

🎭 Introverted 📝 Haiku 💫 Romance

Smile (Hana Sugisaki)

An online influencer who hides her buckteeth behind a face mask, Smile is warm, determined, and musically inclined. She helps Cherry rehearse for the festival and embarks on a quest to find the Yamazakura record, revealing her vulnerabilities along the way. Her journey culminates in a genuine confession and a transformative moment of openness.

🎭 Masked Identity 💬 Social Media 💖 Romance

Mr. Fujiyama (Koichi Yamadera)

A vintage record shop owner and regular at the care center, Fujiyama carries a nostalgic dream to hear the record YAMAZAKURA one more time. His longing for a lost memory and the encouragement he provides to Cherry and Smile drive a key plot thread. He embodies reverence for music and memory, tying personal history to the present festival.

🎶 Music 🕰️ Nostalgia 👨‍🦳 Elderly

Beaver (Megumi Han)

A delinquent who triggers a chaotic chase around the mall, Beaver leaves his mark by spray-painting haikus on street signs. His antics propel Cherry and Smile to take action and eventually show the consequences of reckless mischief. The character provides tension that is resolved through community and confession rather than punishment.

🎨 Mischief 🗺️ Urban chase 🧭 Clues

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:59

Major Themes – Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (2020)

Explore the central themes of Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (2020), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Masks

The film explores how people hide and reveal themselves. Smile wears a mask to conceal her buckteeth, while Cherry’s quiet demeanor hides a deeper longing to connect. The online personas they share contrast with real-life interactions, and both learn to risk vulnerability in front of others. The fireworks finale becomes a symbolic unmasking and acceptance of true identity.

🎵 Music

Music acts as memory and a bridge between characters. The search for the Yamazakura recording ties to Fujiyama’s late wife, turning a simple album into a cherished symbol of longing and connection. Rehearsing songs at the care center threads through the festival, giving emotional weight to performance and remembrance. The reassembled record on the wall clock underscores how music preserves moments past and present.

💌 Connection

Cherry and Smile form a bond through a chance phone swap and shared hobbies, proving that communication can bloom from chance encounters. Their growing closeness confronts obstacles—distance, fear of rejection, and the stigma of appearances—but culminates in a heartfelt confession. The narrative treats connection as a catalyst for personal growth, courage, and mutual understanding. The post-credits kiss seals a hopeful future built on honesty.

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:59

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Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop Summary

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop Timeline

Track the full timeline of Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop Timeline

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

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