Shisei (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Shisei is a Japanese drama romance adapted from a Junichiro Tanizaki short story. It follows a tattoo artist, a barefoot woman seeking transformation, and an old friend drawn into their uncertain escape.

Shisei is a 2026 Japanese drama romance directed and written by Shinji Imaoka. Adapted from a short story by Junichiro Tanizaki, the film centers on tattooing, desire and the possibility of remaking oneself.

The story brings together Seiji, Chisato and Takashi as they move beyond the lives they have known. With a 1-hour, 34-minute runtime, the film presents an intimate character-driven premise shaped by personal struggle and emotional reinvention.

Shisei movie details

Story without spoilers

Seiji, a tattoo artist, returns to Japan after his father’s death. While walking through the city, he encounters Chisato, a woman who goes barefoot and is living under difficult circumstances for the sake of her younger brother and her lover.

Seiji becomes increasingly focused on tattooing Chisato’s back. For him, the act is connected to a sense of resistance against his own failing, illness-ridden body. Chisato, meanwhile, wants to leave behind her timid identity and be reborn in some form. Seiji’s renewed connection with Takashi, a childhood friend living a dissolute life, draws the three of them into a journey away from everything familiar.

What to expect

The supplied premise points to a serious, intimate drama romance built around three unsettled characters. Tattooing serves as the story’s central image and personal act, while the plot also explores departure, physical vulnerability, desire and the wish to begin again.

As an adaptation of Junichiro Tanizaki’s short story, Shisei has a literary foundation, but its focus remains on the changing relationship between Seiji, Chisato and Takashi. The film’s Japanese setting, 94-minute length and compact cast suggest a concentrated character study rather than a sprawling narrative.

Cast and creative team

Kei Kanno plays Chisato, while Yasushi Fuchikami portrays Seiji. Daichi Saeki, Noriko Kohara, Takehiro Murata, Ryo Igarashi, Naoki Sasaki, Buchaa and Yoko Kamon also appear in the cast.

Shinji Imaoka directed and wrote the film. The screenplay is based on a short story by Junichiro Tanizaki.

• Kei Kanno as Chisato
• Yasushi Fuchikami as Seiji
• Daichi Saeki
• Noriko Kohara
• Takehiro Murata
• Ryo Igarashi
• Naoki Sasaki
• Buchaa
• Yoko Kamon

Release and production context

Shisei is a Japanese production from Legend Pictures, with Japanese as its spoken language. It is listed as a 2026 release with a release date of November 13, 2026, and a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. The film is categorized as Drama and Romance.

Production companies: Legend Pictures

Shisei official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

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With its literary source, tattoo-centered premise and focus on people seeking escape from difficult lives, Shisei is positioned as a compact Japanese drama romance about identity and transformation. Its appeal will likely depend on how its central trio and their departure are developed, details not established by the supplied information.

Film data:
TMDB