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Perfect Days

Perfect Days is a 2023 drama film directed by Wim Wenders and co-written with Takuma Takasaki.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Perfect Days is a 2023 drama film directed by Wim Wenders and co-written with Takuma Takasaki. A Japan–Germany co-production, it follows Hirayama, a Tokyo public toilet cleaner whose structured routine is interrupted by unexpected encounters, prompting reflections on everyday beauty and memory.

Plot

The film centres on Hirayama, who leads a quiet, highly structured life cleaning public toilets in Tokyo. His routines are gradually disrupted by encounters that reveal more about his past and relationships.

Production

Perfect Days is a Japan–Germany co-production directed by Wim Wenders from a screenplay by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki. It was filmed in Tokyo and presented in Japanese.

Release and reception

The film premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 23 May 2023, where it won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and Kōji Yakusho won Best Actor. It later received an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature Film as Japan’s entry.

Themes

Reviews and official descriptions highlight the film’s focus on ordinary beauty, routine, and reflective everyday living. Hirayama’s interests in cassette music, books, and photography are presented as part of this contemplative style.

Key facts

  • The film stars Kōji Yakusho as Hirayama, a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo.
  • It premiered in competition at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 23 May 2023.
  • The film won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and Kōji Yakusho won Best Actor at Cannes.
  • It was Japan’s submission for the 96th Academy Awards and was nominated for Best International Feature Film.
  • The story emphasizes routine, solitude, music, books, photography, and observations of ordinary life.
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Canadian context

The film screened and circulated internationally, including in Canada through festival and arthouse distribution channels typical for award-winning foreign-language cinema, but the provided sources do not specify a distinct Canadian production or setting connection.

Frequently asked questions

What is Perfect Days about?
It follows Hirayama, a Tokyo toilet cleaner whose orderly life is interrupted by unexpected encounters that lead him to reflect on his past and on everyday life.
Who directed Perfect Days?
Wim Wenders directed the film.
Who stars in Perfect Days?
Kōji Yakusho plays Hirayama. Other listed cast members include Tokio Emoto and Arisa Nakano.
When did Perfect Days premiere?
It premiered on 23 May 2023 at the Cannes Film Festival.
Did Perfect Days receive major awards or nominations?
Yes. It won Cannes’ Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, Yakusho won Best Actor, and the film was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_Days
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, co-writer, plot, premiere date, Cannes awards, and Oscar nomination.
  2. Wikipedia (Japanese) — https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/PERFECT_DAYS
    Supports: Japanese-language details, Cannes awards, and Japan’s Oscar submission.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/perfect_days_2023
    Supports: Genre, runtime, language, release timing, and production credits.
  4. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzZBbX5A1FA
    Supports: Official trailer description of the premise and Wim Wenders authorship.
  5. Apple TV — https://www.apple.com/us/movie/perfect-days/
    Supports: Story description, cast, director, and themes such as music, books, and photography.
  6. MUBI — https://mubi.com/en/us/films/perfect-days
    Supports: Premise, character details, and thematic description.