The Man Who Failed to Die

2025 1h 49m JA

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Comedy writer Ippei Sekiya decides to end his life one day, contemplating suicide by jumping in front of a train during his return home from work. Just as he is about to jump, a person is hit by a train at the previous station, which makes him reconsider. In tribute to Tomohiro, the man who died instead of him, Ippei sneaks into his funeral. Upon returning home, he is confronted by his ghost. Grateful that Ippei continues to live because of his death, Tomohiro makes an astonishing request.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Mizukawa Katamari
Bokuzo Masana
Erika Karata
Yutaka Kyan
Miona Hori
Ryu Morioka

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Seiji Tanaka
Writers: Seiji Tanaka
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

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Released last year.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

CRAFT

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Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Seiji Tanaka, shot by Mitsuaki Fujimoto. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Mizukawa Katamari and Bokuzo Masana and Erika Karata carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt35840294 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Seiji Tanaka directs. Mitsuaki Fujimoto behind the camera. Moshimoss scores. Naoichiro Sagara cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released last year.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Seiji Tanaka, shot by Mitsuaki Fujimoto. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Moshimoss. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Naoichiro Sagara shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Mizukawa Katamari and Bokuzo Masana and Erika Karata carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt35840294 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.