Kikuchi (1991): cast, story & where to watch
1991 · Film · ★ 9.5
Released in 1991, Kikuchi is a notable film directed by Kenchi Iwamoto, running about 68 minutes.
What it’s about. Saddled with a slavish, boring laundry job and no social life whatsoever, Kikuchi rarely leaves his bare apartment except to follow home and spy on a supermarket check-out girl. But there's no one he can tell about his secret passion, least of all his gawping, work-shy colleague. Even a stray kitten can't alleviate Kikuchi's frustration; clearly, something's got to give... This first film by a former manga illustrator, a terse and enigmatic blend of black comedy and psychodrama, has been compared to both Eraserhead and Chantal Akerman's Jeanne Dielman; another point of reference might be the slow, deceptively banal domestic dramas of Ozu, with whom Iwamoto shares a penchant for a mostly static camera, simple compositions, and an eye for the absurd details of everyday life.
Who’s in it. Kikuchi stars Jiro Yoshimura as Kikuchi, Yasuhiro Oka as Man and Misa Fukuma as Woman.
How it landed. With an audience score of 9.5/10, Kikuchi sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Kikuchi page.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Kikuchi (1991)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Kikuchi change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Kikuchi worth watching?
- Kikuchi holds an audience score of 9.5 out of 10. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Kikuchi?
- Kikuchi stars Jiro Yoshimura, Yasuhiro Oka and Misa Fukuma.
- When was Kikuchi released?
- Kikuchi was released in 1991, with a runtime of about 68 minutes.