🎬 Tokyo Taxi (2025) EN Review | Yoji Yamada, Takuya Kimura & Chieko Baisho's Poignant Journey ❤️🚕🇯🇵

We've just published our full review of Tokyo Taxi (2025), the latest heartfelt drama from the legendary director Yoji Yamada. This film is a deeply moving experience and a must-watch for fans of Japanese cinema.

In this post, we break down why the performances of Takuya Kimura and Chieko Baisho make this one of the most poignant films of the year.





The Film's Story: A Lifetime in a Day

Tokyo Taxi follows Koji (played by Takuya Kimura), a struggling taxi driver trying to afford his daughter's tuition, when he accepts a fare from Sumire (played by Chieko Baisho), an 85-year-old woman. On her way to a retirement home, Sumire asks Koji to make a series of detours to meaningful places from her past.

What begins as a simple ride across Tokyo and Yokohama quickly unfolds into a powerful, emotional history of one woman's life—a story of war, great love, personal loss, and her eventual fight for independence.

Our Spoiler-Free Takeaway

This is a beautiful, traditional film that offers a powerful and subtle study of Japanese cultural and social development across generations. The entire narrative is built around the core themes of female independence, freedom, and the progress of modern society.

Chieko Baisho’s performance as Sumire is truly legendary, giving the film its emotional weight. If you appreciate cinematic history and quiet, character-driven dramas over high-octane action, this film will leave you with a strong and lasting impression.

Why Yoji Yamada's Vision Matters

Director Yoji Yamada, known for his deep exploration of the human condition (like in the Tora-san series), masterfully adapts the original French film (Driving Madeleine / Paris Taxi) to a Japanese context. The film beautifully contrasts the past and the present, reflecting on a rapidly changing Japan through the eyes of its two central characters.

Takuya Kimura (Koji) also delivers a nuanced performance, providing the perfect counterpoint to Baisho's powerful lead, grounding the historical story in the struggles of contemporary life.

Ready to Discuss?

Have you seen Tokyo Taxi (2025) yet? Do you think the Japanese version lives up to the French original?

Click the link above to watch our full review, and then let us know your thoughts in the comments below!


Keywords: Yoji Yamada, Takuya Kimura, Chieko Baisho, Tokyo Taxi 2025, Japanese Drama, Movie Review, Driving Madeleine, Japanese Cinema.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

GPU Comparison 2025: Radeon RX 9070 XT vs. RTX 5070 Ti & CPU for these 🎶

Exploring Analog Photography: 35mm & 110 film - Kodak ColorPlus 200, Lomography Color Tiger 110 Film

NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti - The Gaming & AI Sweet Spot HD ♫🎹 Johnny JAM🎸