---
title: "Ikiru"
year: 1952
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/ikiru-1952"
media_type: "movie"
tmdb_id: 3782
imdb_id: "tt0044741"
status: "Released"
runtime_minutes: 143
community_rating: 8.3
vote_count: 1366
content_rating: "NR"
---

# Ikiru (1952) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/ikiru-1952

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

Ikiru is a 1952 Japanese drama film. The story revolves around a middle-aged man who has worked in a monotonous bureaucratic position for an unspecified amount of time. His life takes a turn when he receives a health diagnosis. The film explores his search for the meaning of his life, as he grapples with the reality of his situation. Directed by Akira Kurosawa, Ikiru is a narrative that delves into themes of existentialism and the human condition.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "A bureaucratic office worker seeks meaning in his life after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis."

### Why Watch
- A compelling story about a middle-aged man seeking purpose
- Explores deep existential themes

### Caveats & Content Note
- Features a heavy and emotional premise about terminal illness
- Tone & Suitability: The film deals with terminal illness and mortality in a dramatic tone.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: dramatic, thought-provoking, melancholic, reflective

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel, HBO Max | Kanopy | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| **United Kingdom (GB)** | BFI Player, BFI Player Amazon Channel, BFI Player Apple TV Channel | None | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| **Canada (CA)** | Criterion Channel | None | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| **Australia (AU)** | None | None | Apple TV Store |

## Creative Credits

- **Directed by**: Akira Kurosawa
- **Networks / Studios**: TOHO

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Takashi Shimura** as *Kanji Watanabe*
- **Haruo Tanaka** as *Sakai*
- **Nobuo Kaneko** as *Mitsuo, son of Kanji*
- **Bokuzen Hidari** as *Ohara*
- **Miki Odagiri** as *Toyo*
- **Shinichi Himori** as *Kimura*
- **Minoru Chiaki** as *Noguchi*
- **Minosuke Yamada** as *Subordinate Clerk Saito*
- **Kamatari Fujiwara** as *Sub-Section Chief Ono*
- **Makoto Kobori** as *Kiichi Watanabe, Kanji's Brother*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: What is the main character's name?
The main character is Kanji Watanabe.

### Q: What does Kanji Watanabe do for a living?
He has worked in a monotonous bureaucratic position for decades.

### Q: What prompts him to look for the meaning of his life?
He learns that he has cancer.

### Q: What genre is the film?
The film is a drama.

### Q: When was the film released in the United States according to the provided sources?
It was released on 03/25/1956 in the United States.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Ikiru — The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/3782)

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