Ikigai
'Ikigai' follows Mayumi, a 9-year-old girl, as she tries to find balance in her Japanese identity and American nationality. Hanako, her mother who celebrates their culture through Nihon Buyo, sees Mayumi's new school as an opportunity to share their culture with the white students. When Mayumi is assigned a show-and-tell presentation, she takes it as a chance to prove to her classmates that she is not that different from them. But, that plan is soon ruined when Hanako unexpectedly shows up and teaches the class a Japanese dance, embarrassing and exposing Mayumi's cultural background. After coming home ashamed of her mother and Japanese identity, Mayumi receives guidance from her parents that motivates her to return to school and redo her show and tell in a way that would make her ancestors proud.
Where to watch
Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
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Cast
18 people
Natsuko Aoike
Hanako Nakaji
Also in
The Wind Phone
Ashley Jones Is Perfectly Normal
Brian Takahashi
Kenji Nakaji
Known for
Nemesis
Julia Saito
Mayumi Nakaji
Also in
The Big Squeeze
Becca Bell
Mrs. Anderson
Also in
Becky
The Sheltered Women
Mary Lapari
Katherine
Also in
black-ish
Sullivan Lapari
Jackson
No other roles listed
Joilena Fang
Yumi
No other roles listed
Jared Hayes Lawrence
Andrew
No other roles listed
Sayana Kitagawa
Yuka
No other roles listed
Joventino Fuentes
Jason
No other roles listed
Frankie Fuentes
Keith
No other roles listed
Joe Fuentes
Alan
No other roles listed
Maren Emiko Elardo Director · Joshua Ratti Cinematographer Priya Burleson Cinematographer
Budget $35K · United States release April 30, 2024 · Produced in United States
Box office
Budget
$35,000
Production
California State University of Northridge
Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · Japanese
Release dates
United States · April 30, 2024
Physical · California State University Northridge, Senior Thesis Film Showcase