Numakage Public Pool
6.7
For over five decades, a beloved Tokyo suburban pool affectionately called “the ocean” offered health, joy, and belonging to elderly swimmers, families, and the local gay community. But when urban development forces its demolition, a wave of grief sweeps through those who called it home. Through powerful, intimate moments, this deeply human story explores loss not tied to death, but to place, memory, and identity. Guided by the five stages of grief, director Ota invites us to reflect on what it means to say goodbye not just to a building, but to a vital space of connection, healing, and shared life.
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Shingo Ota Director
First release July 1, 2025 · Produced in Japan · Original title 沼影市民プール
Production
Japan
Produced in
Languages
Original title
沼影市民プール
Original language
Japanese
Spoken on screen
Japanese
Release dates
New Zealand · July 1, 2025
Premiere · Doc Edge
Japan · September 5, 2026
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
South Korea
September 20, 2025 · Premiere · Busan International Film Festival
August 30, 2026 · TV · EBS International Documentary Festival
Taiwan
June 30, 2026 · Premiere · Taipei Film Festival
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