Ikiru Machi Japanese Film Guide

Ikiru Machi (Japanese: 生きる街) is a 2018 Japanese drama film directed by Hideo Sakaki. Released on March 3, 2018, the feature has a runtime of 124 minutes and was distributed by ARK Entertainment and Uzumasa.

Production and Release

The film was directed by Hideo Sakaki, who also served as a producer. The screenplay was written by Inochi Akiyama and Masashi Shimizu, with cinematography handled by Shin Hayasaka. Principal photography and setting center on the seaside town of Ishinomaki.

Plot Synopsis

Chieko Sato, portrayed by Mari Natsuki, lives in the seaside town of Ishinomaki where she was born and raised. Having lived a stable life with her fisherman husband and two children, her circumstances change following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Her husband goes missing after that day, and the lives of her children are severely affected.

Do-Hyun, played by Lee Jong-Hyun, previously lived in Ishinomaki before returning to South Korea. He later travels back to the coastal town and shares information with Chieko Sato regarding her husband.

Cast and Characters

The film features an ensemble cast:

• Mari Natsuki as Chieko Sato
• Aimi Satsukawa as Kanae Noda
• Arata Horii as Tetsuya Sato
• Lee Jong-Hyun as Kang Do-Hyun
• Maya Okano as Miyuki Nakamura
• Hisashi Yoshizawa as Takashi Noda
• Hideko Hara as Haruko Ikegami
• Takeshi Masu as Kozo Takahashi

Additional supporting cast members include Hoshi Ishida as Makoto Takahashi, Yu Koyanagi as Kengo Komura, Lasalle Ishii as Isamu Noda, Takumi Saito as Shinichi Noda, Rio Uchida as Tomomi Noda, Chise Niitsu as Rei Noda, Daikichi Sugawara as Tooru Yamada, Saburo Ishikura as Toshiyuki Sato, and Yukie Nakama providing the voice of DJ Misuzu.

Notes

Ikiru Machi marked the first time Lee Jong-Hyun, a member of the K-pop group CNBLUE, appeared in a Japanese film.