Kikujiro
1999 · Movie · 121 min · ★ 7.5 · 53% critics
A lonely child sets out during summer break to find a parent they’ve never met, and ends up traveling with a brash, unreliable adult. Their road trip turns into a string of odd encounters, small scams, and unexpected kindness, mixing goofy humor with quieter moments about loneliness, growing up, and connection.
Also known as Summer of Kikujiro · Kikujiro's Summer · Kikujiro: A Journey to Friendship
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Details
- Original title
- 菊次郎の夏
- Years
- 1999
- Release date
- 1999-06-05
- Language
- Japanese
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Critic score
- 53/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.5/10 (601 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a quirky, bittersweet road-trip comedy that shifts between silliness and genuine emotion; Not for you if you dislike slow pacing, abrasive behavior, or whimsy like Tampopo.
Pros: funny and touching mix; memorable oddball encounters; heartfelt human connection | Cons: uneven pacing; humor can fall flat; some scenes feel long
Themes
- japan
- loser
- road trip
- travel
- disappearance
- summer
- hitchhiking
Awards & recognition
- Japan Academy Prize — Picture of the Year · 2000 · nominated
Cast & crew
Takeshi Kitano
as Kikujiro
Yusuke Sekiguchi
as Masao
Kayoko Kishimoto
as Kikujiro's Wife
Yuko Daike
as Masao's Mother
Kazuko Yoshiyuki
as Masao's Grandmother
Beat Kiyoshi
as Man at Bus Stop
The Great Gidayû
as Biker Fatso
Rakkyo Ide
as Biker Baldy
- NI
Nezumi Imamura
as An-chan
Fumie Hosokawa
as Juggler Girl
Directed by Takeshi Kitano