# Call Me Chihiro
**Call Me Chihiro** (*Chihiro-san*, ちひろさん) is a 2023 Japanese drama film directed by Rikiya Imaizumi and starring [Kasumi Arimura](https://www.edgepedia.org/kasumi-arimura) as Chihiro, a former sex worker who works at a small bento shop in a seaside town and quietly affects the lives of the lonely people around her. It was co-produced by Netflix and Asmik Ace and released worldwide on Netflix and in Japanese theaters on February 23, 2023.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-reveals-production-lead-actor-and-first-look-for-film-call-me) • [2](https://eiga.com/movie/97680/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Japanese title | ちひろさん (*Chihiro-san*)[2](https://eiga.com/movie/97680/) |
| Release | February 23, 2023, worldwide on Netflix and theatrically in Japan (Musashino-kan Shinjuku)[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-reveals-production-lead-actor-and-first-look-for-film-call-me) |
| Director / screenplay | Rikiya Imaizumi; screenplay by Kaori Sawai and Imaizumi[3](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/call-me-chihiro-launched-and-has-been-a-big-hit) |
| Source | Manga *Chihiro-san* by Hiroyuki Yasuda, serialized in *Elegance Eve* (Akita Shoten) from 2013 to 2018 for its first part[4](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/netflix-announces-full-cast-for-film-call-me-chihiro) |
| Runtime / rating | 131 minutes; PG12 in Japan[2](https://eiga.com/movie/97680/) |
| Music | Shigeru Kishida; theme song "Ai no Taiyou" by Quruli[3](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/call-me-chihiro-launched-and-has-been-a-big-hit) |
| Reception | IMDb 7.0/10 (about 5,000 ratings); Rotten Tomatoes 75% Tomatometer from 8 reviews, 88% Popcornmeter[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/call_me_chihiro) |
## Spoilers
### Story
Chihiro drifts into a small seaside town, is captivated by the food at a bento shop, and starts working there.[6](https://www.asmik-ace.co.jp/works/lineup/7805/) She makes no attempt to hide that she formerly worked in the sex industry, and she treats everyone alike: the men who look at her with desire, a homeless old man, children, and animals.[2](https://eiga.com/movie/97680/)
Her words and behavior gradually influence people carrying their own burdens, including an elementary school boy waiting alone for his mother, a high school girl unable to speak her true feelings, and a young man estranged from his father.[2](https://eiga.com/movie/97680/) Chihiro herself has carried loneliness rooted in her childhood family relationships, and through her encounters she begins to change little by little.[2](https://eiga.com/movie/97680/)
## Production
The film adapts Hiroyuki Yasuda's manga *Chihiro-san*, whose first part ran in the monthly manga magazine *Elegance Eve* (published by Akita Shoten) from 2013 to 2018.[4](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/netflix-announces-full-cast-for-film-call-me-chihiro) Elements from a prequel series titled *Chihiro* also appear in the adaptation.[7](https://thecinemaholic.com/is-netflixs-call-me-chihiro-based-on-a-true-story-or-a-manga/)
**Director and cast.** Rikiya Imaizumi, whose earlier films include *Just Only Love*, *His*, and *Little Nights, Little Love*, directed; the role of Chihiro was Kasumi Arimura's first Netflix production.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-reveals-production-lead-actor-and-first-look-for-film-call-me) The cast also includes Hana Toyoshima, Tetta Shimada, van, Ryuya Wakaba, Yui Sakuma, Itsuki Nagasawa, Miwako Ichikawa, Keiichi Suzuki, Mitsuru Hirata, Lily Franky, and Jun Fubuki.[3](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/call-me-chihiro-launched-and-has-been-a-big-hit)
The screenplay is credited to Kaori Sawai and Rikiya Imaizumi, with music by Shigeru Kishida and the theme song "Ai no Taiyou" by the band Quruli.[3](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/call-me-chihiro-launched-and-has-been-a-big-hit) Production companies were Asmik Ace and Digital Frontier, with Asmik Ace handling distribution.[3](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/call-me-chihiro-launched-and-has-been-a-big-hit)
## Release and reception
The film premiered worldwide on Netflix and opened theatrically at the Musashino-kan Shinjuku theater on February 23, 2023.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-reveals-production-lead-actor-and-first-look-for-film-call-me) Netflix later reported that the film had reached viewers across many countries and regions.[3](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/call-me-chihiro-launched-and-has-been-a-big-hit)
On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 75% Tomatometer from 8 critics and an 88% Popcornmeter audience score from more than 100 ratings; on IMDb it is rated 7.0/10 from about 5,000 users.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/call_me_chihiro) • [8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21825858/ratings/) Critics responded to its slow, gentle pace in different ways: Dennis Schwartz called it "a slow-paced humanitarian film" and graded it C+, while the Asian Movie Pulse review described it as "a touching and meaningful movie" and praised its handling of relationships outside blood ties.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/call_me_chihiro) Common themes in reviews are loneliness, chosen family, and the film's contemplative, slice-of-life rhythm.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/call_me_chihiro)
## References
1. [Netflix Reveals Production, Lead Actor and First Look for Film 'Call Me Chihiro', About Netflix](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-reveals-production-lead-actor-and-first-look-for-film-call-me)
2. [ちひろさん : 作品情報・キャスト・あらすじ・動画, 映画.com](https://eiga.com/movie/97680/)
3. [映画『ちひろさん』が国や地域を超えて多くの人に届いている, About Netflix](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/call-me-chihiro-launched-and-has-been-a-big-hit)
4. [Netflix映画『ちひろさん』キャスト一挙解禁, About Netflix](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/netflix-announces-full-cast-for-film-call-me-chihiro)
5. [Call Me Chihiro, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/call_me_chihiro)
6. [ちひろさん, アスミック・エース](https://www.asmik-ace.co.jp/works/lineup/7805/)
7. [Netflix's Call Me Chihiro: Is the Movie Based on a True Story or a Manga?, The Cinemaholic](https://thecinemaholic.com/is-netflixs-call-me-chihiro-based-on-a-true-story-or-a-manga/)
8. [Call Me Chihiro (2023) – Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21825858/ratings/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Drama and biographical films (individual works) › Drama films 2023 and 2024 › Titles A to G*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
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