Susumu Kobayashi is a Japanese actor. He was born in Nagano, Japan, on April 15, 1954, and made his acting debut in 1992. Over the course of his career, he appeared in a number of films and a wide variety of television dramas, including “Heavenly Forest” (2006). After putting up a brave fight, he lost his battle with cancer on May 16, 2012.

Susumu Kobayashi

Makoto (Hiroshi Tamaki) wasn’t quite sure what to expect, his first day as a university student, but meeting Shizuru (Aoi Miyazaki) certainly hadn’t been part of his plans. Meeting at their university entrance ceremony, Shizuru and Makoto just clicked. Usually shy and withdrawn, Makoto was never one to open up with others but there was something about the way Shizuru made him feel... For the first time ever, he felt like he could actually be himself around her and the two soon became fast friends.

Sharing a love of photography, Makoto and Shizuru often visited a nearby forest to take pictures. Spending time together, Shizuru’s feelings for Makoto naturally began to deepen, unfortunately his heart already belonged to someone else. Realizing Makoto only had eyes for their classmate, Miyuki (Meisa Kuroki), Shizuru accepted her fate and even went so far as to befriend Miyuki. Though she did warn Makoto that someday, she was going to become a true beauty and when that day came, he was going to regret having ever rejected her. Despite everything, the three became the best of friends, so when Shizuru asked Makoto for his help with a photograph for a competition, he readily agreed. Heading to their favorite spot in the forest, Makoto and Shizuru set up the shot Shizuru envisioned. Sharing their one and only kiss, Shizuru captured the moment on film, well aware that it held no meaning for Makoto. After thanking her friend for his help, Shizuru walked away, completely disappearing from his life.

Years later, Makoto receives a call from his long-lost friend, inviting him to the opening of her photography exhibition but when he arrives, he’s shocked by what he finds. Realizing only too late, exactly what he lost the day Shizuru left, he begins to wonder if he will ever have a chance to make things right.

Based on the novel, “Collage of Our Life - Another Story” by Takuji Ichikawa, “Heavenly Forest” is a 2006 romance film directed by Takehiko Shinjo.

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