True Tears (stylized as true tears) is a Japanese visual novel developed by La'cryma, a collaboration between Broccoli, Circus, GameCrab and Rei Izumi,[1] and was originally released on March 31, 2006 for the Windows as a DVD in Japan rated for everyone, followed by a Hong Kong and Taiwanese release on March 31, 2007.

The gameplay in True Tears follows a linear plot line, which offers pre-determined scenarios and courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the five female main characters.

The gameplay in True Tears requires little player interaction as much time is spent on reading the text that appears on the lower portion of the screen, representing either dialogue between characters, or the inner thoughts of the protagonist.

Depending on which choice the player makes, the "tear points" of the heroine associated with the events of the day would either increase, decrease, or remains the same.

If a character's tear points exceed the maximum amount of eight, her ending is rendered inaccessible during that specific playthrough.

The story of True Tears revolves around the protagonist Tetsuya Mizuno (水野 哲也, Mizuno Tetsuya), a third year high school student whose role the player assumes, and his interactions with his schoolmates during the second half of his final year attending Mizuho Academy (瑞鳳学園, Mizuho Gakuen), in which the main part of the story takes place.

[3] He later also meets Rui Nakane (仲根 るい, Rui Nakane, Voiced by: Yui Itsuki) at the pool after running errands for Asumi Akiyama (秋山 飛美, Akiyama Asumi, Voiced by: Kyōko Hikami), his cousin who is also the school nurse.

[4] Rui is the main heroine in the story, who holds vast knowledge, and is very affectionate towards animals to the extent where her aim is to become a veterinarian.

Other characters include Hikari Ogasawara (小笠原 光里, Ogasawara Hikari, Voiced by: Ami Koshimizu), a friend of Yuzuko's, and Mako Momose (百瀬 真子, Momose Mako, Voiced by: Akeno Watanabe), Io's fellow broadcasting club member who strives to be a comedian.

[13][14] Art direction was headed by Rei Izumi, known for her work on Hibiki's Magic and .hack//Legend of the Twilight, who also provided character designs.

It was later transferred to Comi Digi + on April 21, 2006 after the magazine was renamed, and ended serialization on August 21, 2006, spanning a total of five chapters.

[22] The second single, titled "Kimi to Ashita e", was released on April 26, 2006, containing the ending theme and remixed versions of the song.

The first drama CD, titled X'mas Party, first available to the public on December 29, 2005, as part of a set of True Tears related products sold during Comiket 69.

[22] It was directed by Kazuya Hatazawa, and starred Azusa Takeda as Rui Nakane, Arisa Suzuki as Yuzuko Sanada, Makoto Kawahara as Katsura Yukishiro, Miki Tachibana as Honoka Uehara, and Hikari Kajiwara as Io Sakuragawa.

Yūna Inamura and Erina Nakayama, who voiced Yuzuko Sanada and Honoka Uehara in the visual novel respectively, also appeared in the film.

The anime series was produced by P.A.Works and was directed by Junji Nishimura, with screenplay written by Mari Okada, while La'cryma is still credited for creating the original work.