---
title: "Asako I & II"
year: 2018
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/asako-i-ii-2018"
media_type: "movie"
tmdb_id: 487850
imdb_id: "tt7112154"
status: "Released"
runtime_minutes: 120
community_rating: 6.8
vote_count: 211
content_rating: "NR"
---

# Asako I & II (2018) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/asako-i-ii-2018

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

Asako I & II is a 2018 Japanese romantic drama film directed by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi and starring Masahiro Higashide and Erika Karata. The film follows a woman named Asako living in Osaka who falls in love with a free spirit named Baku before he suddenly disappears, and her subsequent encounter two years later in Tokyo with Ryohei, a man who looks just like Baku but possesses a completely different personality. It is an official selection of the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

The film unfolds as a feature-length drama and romance with a runtime of two hours. It examines human relationships and emotional transformations through Asako's journey between Osaka and Tokyo, highlighting the uncanny experience of meeting someone identical in appearance to a lost love yet entirely different in character.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "A young woman falls for a free spirit who vanishes, then meets his identical double."

### Why Watch
- Directed by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi.
- Starring Masahiro Higashide and Erika Karata.
- Official selection of the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

### Caveats & Content Note
- It has a runtime of 2 hours, which may not suit viewers seeking a fast-paced narrative.
- Tone & Suitability: The film runs for two hours as a dramatic and romantic feature directed by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: #romantic-drama, #doppelganger, #missing-lover, #osaka-tokyo, #cannes-selection

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | Philo, Fandor, MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Fandor Amazon Channel, AsianCrush, Cineverse Amazon Channel | Hoopla | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Pijama Films |
| **United Kingdom (GB)** | None | None | Pijama Films |
| **Canada (CA)** | Fandor | None | Pijama Films |
| **Australia (AU)** | None | None | Pijama Films |

## Creative Credits

- **Directed by**: Ryusuke Hamaguchi
- **Networks / Studios**: Nagoya Broadcasting Network, Bitters End, Comme des Cinémas

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Masahiro Higashide** as *Baku / Ryohei*
- **Erika Karata** as *Asako*
- **Koji Seto** as *Kushihashi*
- **Rio Yamashita** as *Maya*
- **Sairi Ito** as *Haruyo*
- **Daichi Watanabe** as *Okazaki*
- **Kōji Nakamoto** as *Hirakawa*
- **Misako Tanaka** as *Eiko*
- **Erika Osanai**
- **Takeshi Onishi**

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: Where to stream Asako I & II?
Streaming availability details can be found on platforms such as TMDB and Plex.

### Q: Whether it is worth watching?
The film is an official selection of the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and was directed by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi.

### Q: Binge duration?
Asako I & II is a feature film with a total runtime of 2 hours.

### Q: Essential episodes?
Asako I & II is a standalone feature film rather than an episodic television series.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Asako I & II — The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/487850)
- [ASAKO I & II - mk2 Films](https://mk2films.com/en/film/asako-i-ii/)
- [ASAKO I & II | FCCJ](https://www.fccj.or.jp/committee-blog/asako-i-ii)
- [Asako I & II - Grasshopper Film](https://grasshopperfilm.com/film/asako/)

---
*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*