A shy teen from rural Aomori finds herself unexpectedly working at a Tokyo-style maid café—and slowly begins to bloom.
Ito, directed by Yokohama Satoko, is a touching coming-of-age drama that blends the soulful tradition of shamisen music with the quirky world of cosplay cafés. Komai Ren plays Ito, a high school student who battles identity, loneliness, and grief until she finds her voice and her roots again thanks to an odd part-time job and a diverse group of coworkers and café patrons.
With performances by Kurokawa Mei and Toyokawa Etsushi, this delicate yet potent tale offers a moving look at growing up, family, and self-expression by fusing deep tradition with modern subculture.
This endearing coming-of-age movie is set in northern Japan and is based on the novel by Koshigaya Osamu. Growing up in Aomori prefecture herself, director Yokohama Satoko skillfully blends cinematic human drama with the region’s hidden treasures and traditions. Savor the characters’ distinct dialect and the sound of the shamisen.
Fans of character-driven narratives and the subtleties of Japanese culture should not miss this.
