The Boy Made in Japan (1995): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1995, The Boy Made in Japan is a drama film directed by Ataru Oikawa, running about 105 minutes.

What it’s about. Yamato Tanaka, who attempted to murder his father in the past, used to work as a janitor in a theme park. Now unemployed, Yamato lives in a very humble apartment room. He lost his family by the crime he committed with the urge he himself couldn’t and even now can explain. He has nowhere to go, and becomes isolated in the big city. His continuous job search is unsuccessful, and one day he meets a young girl Kaoru who is passing out advertisement packaged with free tissue to the crowd at a train station. He aggressively gets involved with her. The two immediately feel the mutual isolation and desperation within themselves. These are youngsters with no purpose in their lives, symbolizing the Japanese society which passed the post-war economic peak period. Yamato and Kaoru go down the road of destruction, being sucked into the deep, dark ditch of society. Filling the screen images both stark and surreal, director Ataru Oikawa draws an unadulterated portrait of youth.

Who’s in it. The Boy Made in Japan stars Mikio Osawa as Yamato Tanaka, Kaori Shimada as Kaoru, Kazuyoshi Suzuki and Shoji Mari, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, The Boy Made in Japan has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Boy Made in Japan page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Boy Made in Japan tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.