What Is I Give My First Love to You About?
The premise of I Give My First Love to You in 288 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a quiet Japanese town where the rhythm of daily life is punctuated by the gentle hum of school corridors and the soft glow of hospital lights, two childhood friends find their bond deepening into something more profound. Takuma Kakunouchi carries a secret that shadows every sunrise—a heart condition that quietly counts down the moments he has left. Beside him, Mayu Taneda is bright and determined, her world revolving around family, school, and the lingering promise they made when they were still children.
The story unfolds against a backdrop that blends the ordinary with the delicate strain of impending loss. The hospital where both their lives intersect becomes a place of quiet hope, while the school setting buzzes with upcoming milestones, youthful ambition, and the subtle pressures of future plans. Within this gentle, realistic world, the tone is tender yet tinged with melancholy, inviting viewers to feel the weight of unspoken fears while savoring the simple joys of youth.
Takuma’s protective nature drives him to push Mayu away, believing that a future without him would be kinder for her. Yet Mayu’s resilience shines through; she is not the fragile figure he imagines, but a spirited girl who meets his distance with quiet strength and steadfast affection. Their relationship is a dance of love and sacrifice, where each gesture carries an undercurrent of both hope and heartache.
The film whispers of a promise made long ago, of dreams that linger like postcards from the past, and of the quiet courage required to hold onto love when time feels fragile. It invites the audience to linger in the spaces between words, feeling the tender tension of two souls navigating the inevitable, while the world around them watches, patient and hopeful.
What Happens in I Give My First Love to You?
The complete story of I Give My First Love to You, from the first scene to the last, in 593 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Takuma Kakunouchi Masaki Okada and Mayu Taneda Mao Inoue begin as childhood friends, their bond forming long before they fully understand the weight of Takuma’s heart condition. A cardiologist, who happens to be Mayu’s father, treats him as Takuma learns that his life may end far earlier than anyone hopes. The two friends overhear a stark truth: Takuma might not live past twenty because of his illness. Yet this grim knowledge does not dampen their closeness; instead, it deepens their connection and blossoms into a first love. In a field full of possibilities, Takuma promises to marry Mayu when they both turn twenty, sealing a dream that will test the limits of time and heart alike.
As they move into junior high, their feelings endure even as life grows more complicated. Takuma, burdened by the knowledge of his limited years, tries to distance himself to spare Mayu further heartbreak, believing that he must leave her behind after his final school day. He sets his sights on an elite high school, convinced that Mayu can’t enter the same prestigious institution. To his surprise, Mayu not only enters but excels enough to become a first-year student body representative. Her presence disrupts Takuma’s resolve: she openly challenges him in the school hall, reminding him that she won’t be pushed away, and soon the community recognizes them as a couple.
At school, Mayu’s path crosses with Kou Suzuya [Yoshihiko Hosoda], who asks her to be his girlfriend, but she declines. Meanwhile, Takuma reconnects with Teru Uehara [Natsuki Harada], another patient with the same heart condition, and Mayu feels a twinge of jealousy as Takuma spends more time with her. Kou even suggests that Takuma should hand Mayu over to him to spare her from further pain. The pair briefly break up, wound by circumstance, until Takuma honors Teru’s wish to share a kiss before she dies. The very next day, Teru passes away.
A public challenge follows: a 100-meter race proposed by Kou. Takuma wins, and afterward he shortly seeks a date with Mayu. But fate intervenes when Kou, leaving the school at the same time, is struck by an oncoming train. In the aftermath, Takuma learns there may be a donor heart available.
Mayu discovers the donor is Kou, now brain-dead, and she hides this fact from Takuma, hoping to spare him further heartbreak. Takuma eventually learns the truth and refuses the donation, while Kou’s family—moved by signs of emotion they’d seen in him—initially refuse to allow the transplant, despite Kou having registered as a donor.
Takuma suffers a heart attack and, in the hospital, doctors acknowledge he has a slim chance of recovery. In a quiet moment of faith, he wishes for even a little more time to live and miraculously pulls through. He and Mayu embark on what they call a “honeymoon,” visiting places that hold meaning for their shared past. Along the way, Takuma gives Mayu his handwritten will, written when they were eight, as a symbol of his enduring love.
Back at the hospital, another heart attack proves fatal despite the best efforts of the medical team. Mayu climbs to the rooftop and reads his letter, which urges everyone to be happy even after he’s gone. In the final act, she borrows his urn and goes to a church for a symbolic “wedding,” completing the promise they made long ago. A closing flashback returns to the day they first met in the hospital when they were eight, underscoring the film’s meditation on love, memory, and the fragile thread that holds life together.
I Give My First Love to You Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Childhood friendship and a fateful vow” to “A wedding with the urn and a circular memory”. 13 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Childhood friendship and a fateful vow
Mayu and Takuma become friends at age eight. Takuma suffers from a heart condition and is treated by Mayu's father, a cardiologist. They overhear that Takuma may not live past twenty, and they vow to marry when they turn twenty.
When:Age eight Where:Hospital/clinic
- 2
A plan to distance himself
As years pass, Takuma learns his days may be numbered and resolves to distance himself from Mayu after his last day of junior high. He hopes to spare her pain by stepping away and pursues a future elsewhere.
When:End of junior high Where:Town
- 3
High school debut and a heated confrontation
Mayu enters an elite high school and shines as the first-year student body representative. In the school hall, she scolds Takuma, insisting that his plan to abandon her cannot succeed. Their relationship becomes a visible, whispered romance among the students.
When:Early high school Where:Elite high school hall
- 4
Lovers recognized at school
Despite his intention to withdraw, Mayu and Takuma’s bond remains strong, and they are soon known around the school as a couple. They share quiet moments that reinforce their commitment. The school community watches their romance with a mix of awe and tension.
When:Early high school Where:High school grounds
- 5
Kou's interest and Teru's arrival
Kou confesses interest in Mayu and asks her to be his girlfriend, but she declines. Meanwhile Takuma meets Teru, another heart patient, and Mayu grows jealous as Teru spends more time with Takuma.
When:Mid high school Where:School; hospital visits
- 6
Kou, Teru, and a dying wish
Kou asks Takuma to step aside, but Takuma refuses. To honor Teru's dying wish, Takuma shares a kiss with Teru, which triggers a temporary rift between him and Mayu. Their bond endures despite the tension.
When:During Teru's illness Where:Hospital
- 7
Teru's death and its impact
The day after the kiss, Teru dies, leaving Takuma shaken and more determined to protect Mayu's happiness. He carries Teru's memory as a quiet weight. Mayu's jealousy softens in the wake of Teru's loss.
When:The day after Teru's kiss Where:Hospital
- 8
A race and a train tragedy
Takuma challenges Kou to a 100-meter race and wins, sparking a renewed rivalry. On the same day, Kou leaves the school with Mayu and Takuma and is struck by an oncoming train. The accident profoundly alters the course of their lives.
When:Same day as the race Where:School track / railway crossing
- 9
The donor twist and a family's decision
Takuma learns there is a suitable donor heart available. Mayu discovers the donor is brain-dead Kou and tries to shield Takuma from the truth. Kou's family, moved by tears, refuses the donation, hoping for a miracle instead.
When:Shortly after the train incident Where:Hospital
- 10
A heart attack and a miraculous reprieve
Takuma suffers a heart attack and medical odds look bleak. In a miraculous moment, he prays for more time and unexpectedly recovers. He later takes Mayu on a honeymoon across various places to celebrate life.
When:After the donor-related events Where:Hospital, then various places
Show the other 3 events of I Give My First Love to You Hide the last 3 events
- 11
The will and the field moment
During the honeymoon, Takuma expresses gratitude and happiness with life, handing Mayu his written 'will.' They revisit the field where they first kissed to mark the moment and seal their renewed bond.
When:End of honeymoon Where:Field; various places
- 12
The final heart ache
Back at the hospital, Takuma suffers another heart attack and dies despite the doctors' best efforts. Mayu is left to cope with the loss and the weight of their shared promise.
When:Immediately after the field moment Where:Hospital
- 13
A wedding with the urn and a circular memory
Mayu reads Takuma's final letter on the hospital rooftop, then goes to a church with his urn to perform a symbolic wedding. The ending flashes back to the first moment they met in the hospital when they were eight, completing the circle of their story.
When:After his death Where:Rooftop; church
Who Are the Main Characters in I Give My First Love to You?
4 characters, among them Takuma Kakunouchi (Masaki Okada), Mayu Taneda (Mao Inoue) and Kou Suzuya (Yoshihiko Hosoda): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Takuma Kakunouchi (Masaki Okada)
Played by Masaki Okada
A bright, loving boy who contends with a fatal heart condition. He consciously distances himself to spare Mayu pain, yet clings to a hopeful promise that they will marry when he turns twenty. His resilience and care for Mayu drive the couple’s journey, even as time narrows.
- 💗 Romance
- 🩺 Illness
- 🕊️ Resolve
- MT
Mayu Taneda (Mao Inoue)
Played by Mao Inoue
A devoted, strong-willed girl who grows from a childhood friend into Takuma’s lifelong partner. She navigates social pressures and heartbreak with determination, insisting that their love endure beyond his illness. Her courage and loyalty anchor the story.
- 💖 Romance
- 💪 Loyalty
- 🗺️ Determination
- KS
Kou Suzuya (Yoshihiko Hosoda)
Played by Yoshihiko Hosoda
A classmate who becomes a central catalyst in the lovers’ tragedy. He forms a bond with Mayu and becomes involved in the heartbreak of a donor dilemma. His actions and the family’s decision mirror the film’s exploration of sacrifice and fate.
- 💔 Sacrifice
- 🎯 Loyalty
- 🕰️ Fate
- TU
Teru Uehara (Natsuki Harada)
Played by Natsuki Harada
A fellow heart patient who shares a poignant moment with Takuma, and whose wish for a kiss becomes a bittersweet memory. Her presence intensifies the drama around life, death, and the value of genuine connection.
- 💀 Death
- 🫀 Illness
- 🤝 Sympathy
Where and When Is I Give My First Love to You Set?
I Give My First Love to You is set in Fields, Hospital, Elite High School and Church. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Fields, Hospital, Elite High School, Church
Primarily set across countryside fields, the childhood memories frame the couple's bond. The hospital and the elite high school mark the central settings where their hopes, promises, and heartbreak unfold. A church and hospital scenes punctuate the ending as Mayu and Takuma confront love, loss, and a final farewell.
- 🌾 Fields
- 🏥 Hospital
- 🎓 Elite High School
- ⛪ Church
What Are the Themes of I Give My First Love to You?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love & Sacrifice, Mortality and Promises.
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01
Love & Sacrifice
Love drives the relationship from childhood to adulthood, anchoring their stubborn hope against a looming deadline. Takuma's illness casts a shadow over their happiness, forcing difficult choices and sacrifices. Mayu's devotion persists even as Takuma tries to push her away to spare her pain. The film frames love as both a source of strength and a catalyst for painful decisions.
-
02
Mortality
The story centers on the fragility of life as Takuma battles a heart condition and the specter of death hovers over their time together. A potential heart donor and the drama around consent expose how fate can hinge on family wishes and medical limits. Kou's role as a donor candidate and the subsequent refusal underline the harsh reality of life versus hope. In the end, life continues in memory even as Takuma's time runs out.
-
03
Promises
Childhood vows set the emotional course of the film, most notably the promise to marry when they turn twenty. Those promises persist through illness, separation, and social pressures, shaping every decision they make. Mayu and Takuma defend their bond with quiet resilience, even when the world seems ready to pull them apart. The ending reframes the promise as a lasting memory and a ceremonial goodbye.
What Kind of Film Is I Give My First Love to You?
Melancholic in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A deeply melancholic and heartbreaking romantic drama that charts the tender love story of two teenagers grappling with a terminal illness, building towards a tearjerking conclusion.
- melancholic
- heartbreaking
- romantic
- tragic
- poignant
- sentimental
- terminal illness
- first love
- childhood friends
- teen romance
Content notes: terminal illness, death of a young person, traumatic accident (train).
Quiz
How well do you remember I Give My First Love to You? Test yourself on the story.
