In Kyoto, a solitary student finds his life upended when he meets a luminous yet enigmatic young woman. With Sous le ciel de Kyoto, the Japanese director Akiko Ohku delivers a romantic drama that probes chance encounters, the randomness of life, and the burden of absence. The film hits French cinemas on 22 July 2026.
Between his university studies and a job at a bathhouse, Toru leads a quiet, discreet life, always keeping an umbrella at hand as a shield against the world. His encounter with Hana, a spontaneous and fragile young woman, upends his routine. As a romance seems to bloom between them, Hana suddenly disappears, leaving Toru to confront a loss he can’t quite grasp.
Adapted from the novel by Shusuke Fukutoku, Sous le ciel de Kyoto is written and directed by Akiko Ohku, who again turns her attention to intimate emotions and human relationships. The film blends a romantic chronicle, a coming-of-age tale, and musings on serendipity—those chance encounters capable of transforming a life. Kyoto itself plays a central role, serving as the backdrop to a story where everyday places accompany the characters’ upheavals.
The cast features Riku Hagiwara as Toru and Yuumi Kawai as Hana. They are joined by Aoi Itô, Kodai Kurosaki, Hajime Anzai, Honoka Matsumoto and Arata Furuta.
Presented at several international festivals, including the Saisons Hanabi 2026, the film has been praised for its delicacy and its fresh take on contemporary Japanese romance. With a running time of 2h08, it is distributed in France by Art House.
Under Kyoto's Sky speaks to fans of contemporary Japanese cinema, to those who love sensitive romances, and to stories where emotions arise as much from silence as from dialogue.
To extend the in‑theatre experience, consult the sorties cinéma du mois de juillet, the films à voir en ce moment and our selection of drames à voir au cinéma.
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