Ikigai poster
Basic Info
Release: April 30, 2024
Runtime: 16 min
Status: Released
Videos
Ikigai | Official Trailer | CSUN Cinema
Ikigai | Official Trailer | CSUN Cinema (YouTube)
THAT’S A WRAP ON ‘IKIGAI’!!🎥🎬
THAT’S A WRAP ON ‘IKIGAI’!!🎥🎬 (YouTube)

Ikigai

2024 16 min
Overview

'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.

Genres
Family Drama
Production Countries
  • United States of America
Spoken Languages
  • English en
  • Japanese ja

No streaming providers available for this content

Cast
Natsuko Aoike
Natsuko Aoike
Hanako Nakaji
Brian Takahashi
Brian Takahashi
Kenji Nakaji
Julia Saito
Mayumi Nakaji
Becca Bell
Mrs. Anderson
Mary Lapari
Katherine
Sullivan Lapari
Jackson
Joilena Fang
Yumi
Jared Hayes Lawrence
Andrew
Sayana Kitagawa
Yuka
Joventino Fuentes
Jason
Frankie Fuentes
Keith
Joe Fuentes
Alan
Crew
Maren Emiko Elardo
Maren Emiko Elardo
Director
Maren Emiko Elardo
Maren Emiko Elardo
Writer
Maren Emiko Elardo
Maren Emiko Elardo
Producer
Maya Tydor
Producer
Mateo Simon
Producer
Mayumi Elardo
Executive Producer
Marjorie Nakaji
Executive Producer
Jim Slutman
Executive Producer
Barbara Bauer
Executive Producer
Thomas Elardo
Executive Producer
Backdrops
backdrop
backdrop
backdrop
backdrop
backdrop
Posters
poster