Ikigai

Overview

'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.

Details

Status

Released

Release date

April 30, 2024

Original language

English

Production

California State University of Northridge

Cast

Ransom Melton,Jared Hayes Lawrence,Frankie Fuentes,Joilena Fang,Mary Lapari,Joventino Fuentes,Mayumi Elardo,Sullivan Lapari,Natsuko Aoike,Kameron Gallegos-Whittakerand 8 more

Director

Maren Emiko Elardo

Writer

Maren Emiko Elardo

Producer

Jim Slutman,Maya Tydor,Mayumi Elardo,Thomas Elardo,Maren Emiko Elardo,Mateo Simon,Barbara Bauer,Marjorie Nakaji

Cinematography

Joshua Ratti,Priya Burleson

Budget

$35,000

Revenue

Not recorded

Homepage

Official site

IMDb

tt30973093