The World of Kanako

"Say goodbye to reason."

2014 1h 58m JA

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 232

MysteryCrimeThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When Kanako, a model daughter and a brilliant student, disappears, her mother asks her ex-husband, a violent former policeman, to find her. As his investigation progresses, his idealized image of Kanako cracks: the girl hides a dark life that her father can not even imagine.

“Say goodbye to reason.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Cast

Koji Yakusho
Akikazu Fujishima
Nana Komatsu
Kanako Fujishima
Hiroya Shimizu
I / Narrator
Satoshi Tsumabuki
Detective Asai
Joe Odagiri
Detective Aikawa
Asuka Kurosawa
Kiriko Fujishima
Jun Kunimura
Dr. Tsujimura
Munetaka Aoki
Sakiyama

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Tetsuya Nakashima
Writers: Tetsuya Nakashima, Miako Tadano, Nobuhiro Monma
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 12 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima, shot by Shôichi Atô. 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 Yoko Kanno. 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 Yoshiyuki Koike 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

Koji Yakusho and Nana Komatsu and Hiroya Shimizu carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Say goodbye to reason.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt3108158 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Tetsuya Nakashima directs. Shôichi Atô behind the camera. Yoko Kanno scores. Yoshiyuki Koike cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 12 years ago.
2Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima, shot by Shôichi Atô. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Yoko Kanno. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Yoshiyuki Koike shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Koji Yakusho and Nana Komatsu and Hiroya Shimizu carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Say goodbye to reason.".
7IMDB entry: tt3108158 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 17 themes, including "japan", "drug abuse", "obsession", "yakuza".

The technical file

Cinematography: Shôichi Atô
Original score: Yoko Kanno
Editing: Yoshiyuki Koike
Production design: Toshiharu Nakamae
Makeup / hair: Satoshi Yamazaki
VFX supervisor: Takayuki Masuo
Sound: Masato Yano
Runtime: 118 min · 1h 58m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $6,457,479
Original language: JA
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The World of Kanako (2014)

Also by

Tetsuya Nakashima

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

ColinJ2017-02-16
★ 8/10
A visual and emotional sledghammer of a movie.
Alunauwie2025-09-23
★ 9/10
The World of Kanako, adapted from Akio Fukamachi’s novel Endless Thirst, delivers a disturbing yet powerful portrayal of teenage darkness and broken families. With its non-linear narrative and intense visuals, the film demands full attention, as its fragmented structure gradually reveals the emotional depth behind Kanako’s seemingly perfect facade. Though some editing choices and plot logic feel inconsistent, the raw performances—especially by Nana Komatsu and Koji Yakusho—elevate the film into a gripping psychological experience that boldly exposes the dark undercurrents of modern youth. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)