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Aichaku

  • 2024
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
589
YOUR RATING
Christopher Nishizawa and Christopher McCombs in Aichaku (2024)
American expat Lucas works at a small, struggling English language school in the countryside of Chiba, Japan and is doing what it takes to make ends meet with his meager salary. In the same town, half-Japanese Ken has been working at his uncle's construction business since he was fifteen years old and is struggling to figure out what he wants with his life. Over the course of three days, Lucas and Ken meet and help each other realize how important it is to have people and places to attach yourself to.
Play trailer2:35
7 Videos
16 Photos
DramaRomance

The lives of an American expat and a half Japanese construction worker living in rural Japan are forever changed over the course of three days as they engage in an unexpected romance.The lives of an American expat and a half Japanese construction worker living in rural Japan are forever changed over the course of three days as they engage in an unexpected romance.The lives of an American expat and a half Japanese construction worker living in rural Japan are forever changed over the course of three days as they engage in an unexpected romance.

  • Directors
    • Raito Nishizaka
    • Michael Williams
  • Writer
    • Christopher McCombs
  • Stars
    • Christopher McCombs
    • Christopher Nishizawa
    • Cynthia Cheston
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    589
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Raito Nishizaka
      • Michael Williams
    • Writer
      • Christopher McCombs
    • Stars
      • Christopher McCombs
      • Christopher Nishizawa
      • Cynthia Cheston
    • 11User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos7

    Aichaku - Theatrical Trailer -
    Trailer 2:35
    Aichaku - Theatrical Trailer -
    AICHAKU - Teaser Trailer -
    Trailer 0:31
    AICHAKU - Teaser Trailer -
    AICHAKU - Teaser Trailer -
    Trailer 0:31
    AICHAKU - Teaser Trailer -
    Aichaku: One Fork
    Clip 1:35
    Aichaku: One Fork
    Aichaku: American Underwear
    Clip 1:16
    Aichaku: American Underwear
    Aichaku: Do You Know Him?
    Clip 0:50
    Aichaku: Do You Know Him?
    Aichaku: Save the School
    Clip 1:15
    Aichaku: Save the School

    Photos16

    View Poster
    View Poster
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    + 12
    View Poster

    Top cast14

    Edit
    Christopher McCombs
    Christopher McCombs
    • Lucas
    Christopher Nishizawa
    • Ken
    Cynthia Cheston
    Cynthia Cheston
    • Cathy
    Yayoi Fujiwara
    • Marie
    Naoya Gômoto
    Naoya Gômoto
    • Ryosuke
    Emika Kamieda
    • Erika
    Kôichi Sakaguchi
    • Nobu
    Kaori Takeshita
    Kaori Takeshita
    • Yoshiko
    Anya Floris
    • Podcaster
    • (voice)
    Inko Haku
    • Kumi
    Alexander W. Hunter
    Alexander W. Hunter
    • Shadow Customer One
    • (voice)
    Kosuke Imai
    • Otani
    Masahito Kawahata
    • Shibuya
    Bob Werley
    Bob Werley
    • Shadow Customer Two
    • (voice)
    • Directors
      • Raito Nishizaka
      • Michael Williams
    • Writer
      • Christopher McCombs
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    7.0589
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    Featured reviews

    10alexit-3

    Back in time

    This film took me back in time, as I've experienced similar situations to what it portrays. The two actors played their roles very well, moving the viewer. The ending wasn't predictable, and in fact it was moving. Definitely worth watching again.

    And yes, i love Japan and hope one day visit the country!
    10andrewingleby

    Beautiful, sweet and gorgeous movie

    It was amazing and what a beautiful setting and story. I've wanted to visit Japan in the past but it made me fall in love more.

    The story of Luke and Ken is beautiful and they make such an cute and powerful couple, a true example that two people can change the course of their futures.

    The Christophers are so compelling and heartfelt. They make it so easy to follow the story and journey of Luke and Ken.

    The setting in Japan compliments the love story and family stories lines so well and bridges two cultures in one bucolic masterpiece of a country.

    Definitely recommend this to everyone an hour and a half well spent.
    2Davalon-Davalon

    Someone's fantasy

    I struggled to get through this film and finally gave up about 70 minutes in.

    This entire film is apparently a showcase for the (American) lead actor's Japanese speaking ability. As a story, it is predictable and laughable and not really that interesting.

    There is a lot of unnecessary dialogue, there are over-the-top screaming scenes (which are de rigueur for Japanese films, even, apparently, ones featuring foreign leads), there are tired tropes (English teachers in Japan), and there are huge miscalculations by the writer/star, mainly about why anyone would care that he can speak Japanese as well as he does.

    The entire onsen scene came across as totally unbelievable and bizarre and fake.

    The lead actor does tons of mugging and has apparently learned every single Japanese facial expression or reaction, since he has very few of his own.

    His character is not developed at all, and as such, I could not care what happens to him.

    The Japanese actors all fare better, and the lead Japanese "half" actor is legitimately hot and sexy and has potential in the right story (not this one).

    There was tons of unnecessary (and incorrectly chosen) music with singing, played over scenes where the actors were talking -- and yet, how could we understand what they were saying when they were being drowned out by background music?

    The two star rating is for the hot Japanese male lead, who gives us a hint of what paradise might be like in the onsen, but it is nearly totally destroyed by the virginal worry-wart first-time-ever in an onsen foreigner who acts like a scared girl on her first date.

    I have lived in Japan for a long time and I understand a lot of what was going on, and the idea that we are supposed to care about anyone in this film is one that apparently never occurred to the writer/star, since he spent his entire time on screen being obvious about everything he said and did, all without a soupçon of subtlety.
    10SamuL-5

    Oriental Dream

    I've been watching this movie often since I discovered it, and every time it moves me as if it were the first time! I usually love movies where the main message is clear from the start, but in this case, there's the surprise that love can do anything! Ken is a boy shaped by the bitterness of life. Without emotions, he suffers because he can't express them and doesn't know what he wants from his life. Then Luke, with his simplicity, wins Ken's heart. This movie is a succession of emotions, but it's not boring because at times it's funny! A beautiful movie! I highly recommend it! The actors are magnificent!
    10lernindame

    I was part of crowd funding

    In 2023, I participated in the crowd funding for this and Max Emerson's novel. I was a bit worried because it felt like there was a long wait between the end of the campaign and the release of the movie. They apparently sent out an email with download codes for the movie in 2024 for people who purchased it from the crowd funding and I must have missed it.

    I was really happy to see the finished movie and I'm glad to say it was worth the wait. They said that they were mainly using the money from the crowd funding to help with post production and it really shows. The music they got for the movie is really good and I was surprised to find that most of the songs are original.

    Originality really is what makes this movie special. There's so many things that are different about this movie, it's hard to write it all with out giving a lot of the movie away. They way they play with language, the setting, the flow of the characters all felt really fresh and made you want to see more of it. Also, as a mom I really liked the way moms were portrayed in this movie.

    I hope there's another movie or something else. Aichaku ends in a way that all of the questions are answered, but the characters are all moving on to new things. You want to see how that works out.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Christopher McCombs wrote the part of Ken specifically for Christopher Nishizawa.
    • Soundtracks
      Mary Lou
      Written by First Day Lions

      Performed by First Day Lions

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 1, 2024 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • Japanese
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 愛着
    • Filming locations
      • Ibaraki, Japan
    • Production company
      • Tokyo Cowboys
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • ¥5,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Contribute to this page

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    Christopher Nishizawa and Christopher McCombs in Aichaku (2024)
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