Call Me Chihiro

"She's always lived on her own."

2023 2h 11m JA

👍

7.2

SOLID

★7.2TMDB · 152

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

An unapologetic former sex worker starts working at a bento stand in a small seaside town, bringing comfort to the lonely souls who come her way.

“She's always lived on her own.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

NetflixSubscription

Netflix Standard with AdsSubscription

Cast

Kasumi Arimura
Chihiro
Hana Toyoshima
Kuniko Seo / Okaji
Ryuya Wakaba
Taniguchi
Yui Sakuma
Hitomi
Van
Basil
Lily Franky
Utsumi
Jun Fubuki
Tae
Mitsuru Hirata
Bito

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Rikiya Imaizumi
Writers: Rikiya Imaizumi, Kaori Sawai
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 3 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Rikiya Imaizumi, shot by Hiroshi Iwanaga. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Shigeru Kishida. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Takashi Sato shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Kasumi Arimura and Hana Toyoshima and Ryuya Wakaba carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "She's always lived on her own.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt21825858 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Rikiya Imaizumi directs. Hiroshi Iwanaga behind the camera. Shigeru Kishida scores. Takashi Sato cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 3 years ago.
2Directed by Rikiya Imaizumi, shot by Hiroshi Iwanaga. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Shigeru Kishida. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Takashi Sato shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Kasumi Arimura and Hana Toyoshima and Ryuya Wakaba carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "She's always lived on her own.".
7IMDB entry: tt21825858 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 12 themes, including "high school", "parent child relationship", "slice of life", "loneliness".

The technical file

Cinematography: Hiroshi Iwanaga
Original score: Shigeru Kishida
Editing: Takashi Sato
Production design: Shinpei Inoue
Makeup / hair: Michiyo Miyauchi
Sound: Yosuke Hamada
Runtime: 131 min · 2h 11m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Call Me Chihiro (2023)

Also by

Rikiya Imaizumi

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Giovanni2023-03-16
★ 8/10
Call Me Chihiro is a calm and introspective journey through lonely souls looking for their soulmates. A film that is full of meaning and humanity. Released in 2023, the film teaches us powerful lessons about family, life, forgiveness and compassion. It’s a drama about loneliness and how it is so difficult to find someone like you. It’s a movie made for those who can understand self-development and the complexity of human relationships. Growing as a human is a complex task, but if you do it with the right mindset and heart, it may actually be lovely. Find out more at Spotamovie.com - https://www.spotamovie.com/call-me-chihiro-2023-movie-review/
Alunauwie2025-09-29
★ 9/10
Call Me Chihiro is a contemplative film adapted from Chihirosan by Hiroyuki Yasuda, offering a deep emotional narrative told through multiple character perspectives that enrich Chihiro’s own story. Supported by stunning visuals, thoughtful music, and natural acting, the film gently immerses viewers into themes of loneliness and emotional healing. While some background elements—like Chihiro’s traumatic past and unexplained decisions—remain vague, the film still resonates strongly with those drawn to introspective, slow-paced storytelling. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)