Ichiko (film)

Ichiko (市子) is a 2023 Japanese thriller film written and directed by Akihiro Toda and starring Hana Sugisaki, Ryuya Wakaba, Yūki Morinaga, Daichi Watanabe, Shōhei Uno, Yuri Nakamura.

Natsumi Kawabe, a twice-divorced lone mother, worked at a bar and lived with her two little daughters in an apartment complex.

The social worker in charge of the case, Koizumi, having an affair with Natsumi, became a frequent guest in her apartment.

As Tsukiko's illness progressed, Natsumi and Ichiko were burdened with caring for her, including oxygen inhalation, suctioning of phlegm, and assistance with toileting.

One hot summer day, while Natsumi was at work, Ichiko was tempted to stop the oxygen.

Koizumi, who had since lost his job and started drinking alcohol during the day, began sexually abusing Ichiko, who was now a high school student.

When Ichiko accidentally killed Koizumi, her classmate Kita Hidekazu spied on her from the balcony.

She met Kiki Yoshida and started working part-time as a live-in newspaper delivery girl.

On the day of a summer festival, she met Yoshinori Hasegawa, who knew nothing about Ichiko, and they began to live together.

Surprised, Hasegawa visited the newspaper store where Ichiko worked and Kiki Yoshida to retrace her steps.

At the bottom of the bag Ichiko had left behind was a health insurance card and a family photo of Tsukiko Kawabe.

Hana Sugisaki at Red Carpet of the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival