While horror and thriller films have always piqued people’s interest, a change of pace into more lighthearted genres is always encouraged. The Japanese film industry has a long history of creating groundbreaking animated and live-action works that have captivated viewers worldwide. They label the genre as “Slice of Life” and present a heartwarming yet emotional premise with unforgettable characters. Call Me Chihiro is one such film that will be released this year and has fans of lighthearted dramas excited.

Call Me Chihiro is an upcoming Japanese drama film based on Yasuda Hiroyuki’s manga Chihiro-san. The film is directed by Imaizumi Rikiya, a filmmaker who is well-versed in making lighthearted films, and stars Arimura Kasumi in the leading role. While fans of Japanese dramas and movies eagerly await the film’s release, here’s what we know so far about Call Me Chihiro.

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Call Me Chihiro: The Plot

According to the Netflix trailer, the film is about Chihiro, a girl who used to be a prostitute and happens to stop by a seaside shop for a bento meal one day. She was mesmerized by the taste of one of the best bentos in the region and decided to work at the bento shop to start a new chapter in her life. Without hiding her past in the slightest, she now cheerfully greets customers and engages them in thought-provoking and interesting conversations.

She offers assistance and comfort after learning about the customers’ troubles, but her history eventually catches up with her. Chihiro has been lonely since childhood due to her family issues, and despite facing new challenges in life, she sees this as an opportunity to find a new version of herself that she will be proud of for the rest of her life.

While we elaborated on the plot based on the Netflix trailer, the streaming service provides its own synopsis, which is as follows.

Given that we’re dealing with a slice-of-life film here, we can presume that the film will start off on a positive note. However, viewers may anticipate both humorous and heartfelt life lessons.

“I’m sure you’ll want to meet her. Chihiro is a former sex worker who works at a bento shop in a small seaside town. She has a foul mouth and goes at her own pace, and she is free. Such a girl is floating in the city. She is a strange “adult.” But for some reason, I want to meet her. An elementary school student waiting for her mother to come home, a high school girl who can’t say what she really thinks, and a homeless man who doesn’t talk much. Let’s go meet Chihiro to experience this wonder.”

Call Me Chihiro: The Cast & Crew

     Netflix

Call Me Chihiro is led by Arimura Kasumi, who plays the role of Chihiro, a former sex worker who began changing the lives of lonely souls who come her way. In 2010, she made her television debut on Hagane no Onna, but she rose to prominence with the TV series Ama-chan. She also received Leading Actress awards for Strobe Edge and Flying Colors at the 39th Japan Academy Awards and the 58th Blue Ribbon Awards.

While these films established her as a famous actress in Japan, overseas audiences will recognize her as Yukishiro Tomoe in Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning and Rurouni Kenshin: The Final. She had a significant role in both films and portrayed the character from manga and anime to perfection, earning praise from viewers. Prior Convictions, Phases of the Moon, Hiyokko, and Konto ga Hajimaru are among her most notable works. Apparently, the entire film centers around Chihiro, with the other characters relegated to supporting roles.

Despite having a supporting role as Seo Kuniko, Toyoshima Hana appears to have more screen time than the other actors as a lonely high school girl who finds new light in her life after meeting Chihiro. Her popular works as a supporting actress include Todome no Kiss, Daisy Luck, Oishi Kyushoku, and Minato Shouji Coin Laundry. Though several other characters have had substantial screen time, none made much of an impression in the trailer. Shimada Tetta, Lily Franky, Fubuki Jun, Hirata Mitsuru, Negishi Toshie, Wakaba Ryuya, Sakuma Yui, Nagasawa Itsuki, Suzuki Keiichi, and Ichikawa Miwako are among the film’s supporting cast members.

As previously stated, the film is directed by Imaizumi Rikiya, a well-known filmmaker, for his ability to create moving stories on significant issues facing modern society. The director has won two awards at the Nippon Connection Japanese Film Festival and the Tokyo International Film Festival for his films His and By the Window.

Furthermore, his movies have been nominated over seven times in various categories, demonstrating how much effort he puts into each of them. Sad Tea, What is Love?, Their Distance, and The Cat Escaped are among his best-known works. The script was written by Kaori Sawai with assistance from director Imaizumi Rikiya. The scriptwriter has already worked with the director on several occasions, including Skeleton Flower, and What is Love? Makiko Okano is executive producing the film, while Akira Yamano serves as the producer.

Release Date

Call Me Chihiro will be released on Netflix and in Japanese theaters on February 23.