The Zen Diary
土を喰らう十二ヵ月
“To eat is to live. To eat is to love, that's why food tastes the best when eaten together.”
Synopsis
An essayist, he finds peace in his mountain life. His routine is pleasantly disturbed by occasional visits from Machiko, his editor and love interest, as he struggles to let go of his late wife's ashes.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
THE ZEN DIARY Trailer English Subtitled
Type: Trailer • Published 2023-05-01
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
Eiga-Sai
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Yuji Nakae
- Screenplay & Story
- Tsutomu Mizukami, Yuji Nakae
- Original Score
- Yoshihide Otomo
- Original Title
- 土を喰らう十二ヵ月
- Country of Origin
- Japan
- Spoken Languages
- Japanese
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Production Studios
- Office Shirous
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Yuji Nakae
Tsutomu Mizukami, Yuji Nakae
Yoshihide Otomo
Yasutaka Fuke
Department Leadership Roster
Yuji Nakae
Director
Yuji Nakae
Writer
Yoshihide Otomo
Original Music Composer
Kentaro Kosaka
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 0 — Approved without age restriction.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Zen Diary.
Featured In Curated Collections
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2025-2026 (TV/Mov)
Kinema Junpo - Best Japanese Films (1926-2024) [Imported]
Japanese Films of 2022
A list of all non-animated Japanese movies released in 2022.
Japanese Film Festival 2024
https://watch.jff.jpf.go.jp/
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Zen Diary
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Zen Diary about?
An essayist, he finds peace in his mountain life. His routine is pleasantly disturbed by occasional visits from Machiko, his editor and love interest, as he struggles to let go of his late wife's ashes.
Who directed The Zen Diary?
The Zen Diary was directed by Yuji Nakae.
Who stars in The Zen Diary?
The principal cast of The Zen Diary includes Kenji Sawada, Takako Matsu, Naomi Nishida, Toshinori Omi, Fumi Dan.
When was The Zen Diary released and how long is it?
The Zen Diary was released in 2022 with a total runtime of 1h 52m.
Who composed the musical score for The Zen Diary?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Zen Diary was composed by Yoshihide Otomo.
Is The Zen Diary based on a book or true story?
The Zen Diary is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Tsutomu Mizukami".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Zen Diary?
The Zen Diary holds official age classifications: DE: 0 (FSK 0 — Approved without age restriction.).