What is the plot of Ikiru?

Kanji Watanabe is a long-serving civil servant stuck in a monotonous office routine. When he learns he has terminal cancer, he sets out to find meaning in the time he has left.

Who is in the cast of Ikiru?

Takashi Shimura stars as Kanji Watanabe. He is joined by Nobuo Kaneko, Miki Odagiri, Haruo Tanaka, Minoru Chiaki, Bokuzen Hidari, Shinichi Himori, Kamatari Fujiwara, Minosuke Yamada and Makoto Kobori. Akira Kurosawa directed the film.

When was Ikiru released in the Philippines?

The film first premiered on October 9, 1952. A specific Philippine release date has not been announced in the available data.

Where can I watch Ikiru in the Philippines?

As of October 24, 2026, no Philippine streaming, rental or purchase options are listed in TMDB/JustWatch data. Check local platforms for updates.

Ikiru runs 143 minutes, or about 2 hours and 23 minutes. It is in Japanese and filmed in black and white.

Ikiru (1952): Plot, Cast & Where to Watch in the PH

Ikiru Plot: What the Film Is About (No Spoilers)

Kanji Watanabe has spent decades at the same desk in a Japanese city office. His days follow an unchanging routine of paperwork, stamps and polite inaction, and his co-workers whisper about him behind stacks of files. Then he gets news no one wants: he has terminal cancer, and his time is running out.

The diagnosis shakes him out of his routine. Watanabe realises how little of his life he has actually lived. He is distant from his son Mitsuo and feels deeply alone, and he does not know how to make the time he has left count. He tries to find an answer in places he has never gone before, including Tokyo’s night life and a friendship with a much younger former colleague named Toyo. In a world run by office politics and red tape, he begins to ask whether one ordinary man can still do something that matters.

Ikiru (生きる, “To Live”) is a quiet, searching drama about loneliness, purpose and the gap between being alive and truly living.

Ikiru — Mood illustration, not a still from the film — Mood illustration, not a still from the film

What Makes Ikiru Notable

Director: Akira Kurosawa, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni.
Lead performance: Takashi Shimura plays Kanji Watanabe. The supporting cast includes Nobuo Kaneko as his son Mitsuo, Miki Odagiri as Toyo, Haruo Tanaka as Sakai, Minoru Chiaki as Noguchi, Bokuzen Hidari as Ohara, Shinichi Himori as Kimura, Kamatari Fujiwara as Sub-Section Chief Ono, Minosuke Yamada as clerk Saito and Makoto Kobori as Kiichi Watanabe, Kanji’s brother.
Origin: A 1952 Japanese production from TOHO, filmed in black and white and spoken in Japanese.
Themes: Mortality, bureaucracy, the routine of office life, and the search for meaning. Its tagline calls it “a big story of a little man.”
Runtime: 143 minutes (about 2 hours 23 minutes).

If you are searching for an Ikiru review, expect a reflective, emotionally heavy character study rather than a fast-paced plot. It also offers a sharp, sometimes satirical look at government offices and the people who work in them. The film’s Drama4U Score is shown separately on this page.

Who Will Enjoy Ikiru

Fans of classic Japanese cinema and Akira Kurosawa’s work beyond his samurai films
Viewers drawn to slow, thoughtful dramas about life, death and purpose
Anyone who has worked in a large office or government agency and knows the frustration of red tape
Film students and cinephiles exploring black-and-white classics
Viewers ready for a moving, sometimes sombre story

Ikiru Release Date & Where to Watch in the Philippines

Ikiru first premiered on October 9, 1952, and has been out for decades. A specific Philippine release date has not been announced in the available data.

As of October 24, 2026, streaming, rental and purchase options for the Philippines are not yet listed in TMDB/JustWatch data. Availability on local services can change, so check your preferred platforms for updates. A trailer is available if you want a preview of the film’s tone before watching.

Trailer

Cast

Takashi Shimuraas Kanji WatanabeSee credits →
Haruo Tanakaas Sakai
Nobuo Kanekoas Mitsuo, son of Kanji
Bokuzen Hidarias Ohara
Miki Odagirias Toyo
Shinichi Himorias Kimura
Minoru Chiakias Noguchi
Minosuke Yamadaas Subordinate Clerk Saito

Photo: TMDB

FAQ

What is the plot of Ikiru?: Kanji Watanabe is a long-serving civil servant stuck in a monotonous office routine. When he learns he has terminal cancer, he sets out to find meaning in the time he has left.
Who is in the cast of Ikiru?: Takashi Shimura stars as Kanji Watanabe. He is joined by Nobuo Kaneko, Miki Odagiri, Haruo Tanaka, Minoru Chiaki, Bokuzen Hidari, Shinichi Himori, Kamatari Fujiwara, Minosuke Yamada and Makoto Kobori. Akira Kurosawa directed the film.
When was Ikiru released in the Philippines?: The film first premiered on October 9, 1952. A specific Philippine release date has not been announced in the available data.
Where can I watch Ikiru in the Philippines?: As of October 24, 2026, no Philippine streaming, rental or purchase options are listed in TMDB/JustWatch data. Check local platforms for updates.
How long is Ikiru?: Ikiru runs 143 minutes, or about 2 hours and 23 minutes. It is in Japanese and filmed in black and white.

Sources

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