Ikigai
Synopsis
'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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Ikigai | Official Trailer | CSUN Cinema
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-04-10
Top Cast
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Natsuko Aoike
Hanako Nakaji
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
Kameron Gallegos-Whittaker
Nicholas
Ransom Melton
Bethanne
Parker James Logie
William
Corrine Fuentes
Background Parent
Kristen Lapari
Background Parent
Mayumi Elardo
Background Dance Parent
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 30, 2024
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$35K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
Pending
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Maren Emiko Elardo
- Screenplay & Story
- Maren Emiko Elardo
- Original Title
- Ikigai
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Japanese
- Runtime
- 16m
- Production Budget
- $35K
- Production Studios
- California State University of Northridge
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Maren Emiko Elardo
Maren Emiko Elardo
Priya Burleson, Joshua Ratti
Cesar De Luna, Matthew Alley
Maren Emiko Elardo, Maya Tydor, Mateo Simon, Mayumi Elardo, Marjorie Nakaji
Department Leadership Roster
Maren Emiko Elardo
Director
Maren Emiko Elardo
Writer
Maren Emiko Elardo
Producer
Priya Burleson
Director of Photography
Joshua Ratti
Director of Photography
Maya Tydor
Producer
Mateo Simon
Producer
Chloë Benz
Production Design
Cesar De Luna
Editor
Matthew Alley
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Ikigai.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ikigai
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Ikigai about?
'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.
Who directed Ikigai?
Ikigai was directed by Maren Emiko Elardo.
Who stars in Ikigai?
The principal cast of Ikigai includes Natsuko Aoike, Brian Takahashi, Julia Saito, Becca Bell, Mary Lapari.
When was Ikigai released and how long is it?
Ikigai was released in 2024 with a total runtime of 16m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Ikigai?
Ikigai holds official age classifications: US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).