Departures

2008 · 2h10 · Film

Directed by Yojiro Takita

Starring Masahiro Motoki, Hirosue Ryoko, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kimiko Yo, Tetta Sugimoto, Toru Minegishi, Tatsuo Yamada, Yukiko Tachibana, Yukari Tachibana, Genjitsu Shu

Ideal when you feel… Sad / low Exhausted Curious

Daigo, a cellist, is laid off from his orchestra and moves with his wife back to his small hometown where the living is cheaper. Thinking he’s applying for a job at a travel agency he finds he’s being interviewed for work with departures of a more permanent nature - as an undertaker’s assistant.

Original title

おくりびと

Original language

Japanese

Country

Japan

Screenplay

Kundo Koyama

Music

Joe Hisaishi

Cinematography

Takeshi Hamada

Cast

Kimiko Yo, Tetta Sugimoto, Toru Minegishi, Tatsuo Yamada, Yukiko Tachibana, Yukari Tachibana, Genjitsu Shu

Critics score

74/100

Updated August 12, 2026

Trailer

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