Rent a Neko (Rent a Cat)
Release Date: 12th May 2012 (Japan)
Running Time: 110 mins.
Director: Naoko Ogigami
Writer: Naoko Ogigami
Starring: Mikako Ichikawa, Reiko Kusamura, Ken Mitsuishi, Maho Yamada, Kei Tanaka
I first saw this title when I wrote my posts rounding-up the Japanese films at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival. Unfortunately there was no trailer available until now. It stars Mikako Ichikawa (Memories of Matsuko) and Ken Mitsuishi (Himizu) and Kei Tanaka (Tajomaru). This looks like a genuinely charming title and I hope it gets a release in the UK.
Sayoko (Ichikawa) walks along a river daily with a cart full of cats. Why? Well she rents cats to lonely people. Unfortunately Sayoko is lonely herself and finds it easier to deal with cats than people but things get interesting when a face from her past (Tanaka) turns up.
UPDATE: Here’s my film review Rent-a-neko
Genkinahito 
Cute cats in Japan–I so want to watch this! 🙂 It looks funny and heartwarming too. Let us know how it is when you see it.
Will do! I’m looking forward to this one.
One of the things I most want to experience in Japan is a cat café; one of the many reasons why I would love to see this film! I totally second your first commenter, and would really like to know what you think when you see this. Cute cats and Japan… you can’t lose with this, surely?!
Funnily enough I was watching an Australian travel programme with a cat cafe in it at the beginning of this week.
I do not believe in coincidences. There is surely an important message in there; a message relating to cats, Japan, and Aussies. I just do not know what it is.