Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round Poster

Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round 2015

★ 5.54 votes73 min📅 2015-07-04

"Love and fantasy, spinning 'round and around..."

In *Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round* (2015), director Yusuke Ichikawa crafts a delicate, bittersweet romance set against the backdrop of Tokyo's publishing world.

Director: Yusuke Ichikawa

Cast

Maya Okano
Maya Okano
Kotori Haneda
Ryo Narita
Ryo Narita
Eba Shimazaki
Momo
Momo
Yuka
Koharu
Mika-senpai
Yutaro Watanabe
Yutaro Watanabe
Noboru Higa
Kazuya Kojima
Kazuya Kojima
Masao Haneda
Sanshiro Inomata
Sanshiro Inomata
Boss Ohata
Yume Shimano
High School Girl

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round (2015) about?

The film follows Kotori Haneda, a university intern at a Tokyo publishing house, who falls into a tender but doomed relationship with fellow intern Eba Shimazaki. Their short-lived romance is marked by youthful passion and the looming uncertainty of adulthood. The story explores the bittersweet nature of first love and the choices that shape our futures.

Who directed Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round?

Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round was directed by Yusuke Ichikawa, known for his nuanced storytelling in Japanese indie and romance films.

Who stars in Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round?

The film features Maya Okano and Ryo Narita as the lead couple, supported by Momo, Koharu, Yutaro Watanabe, and Kazuya Kojima.

Is Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round (2015) worth watching?

While it doesn't carry an IMDb rating, *Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round* offers a charming and emotionally rich experience for fans of Japanese romance. Its short runtime and delicate storytelling make it an easy recommendation for those seeking a tender, low-stakes drama with heartfelt performances.

How long is Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round?

Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round runs for 73 minutes, making it a concise yet impactful viewing experience.

🎥 Trailer

About Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round (2015) — A Sweet but Bitter Japanese Romance

In *Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round* (2015), director Yusuke Ichikawa crafts a delicate, bittersweet romance set against the backdrop of Tokyo's publishing world. The story follows Kotori Haneda, a university intern navigating the challenges of early adulthood, who finds herself drawn into an unexpected relationship with fellow intern Eba Shimazaki. Their fleeting connection, filled with youthful passion and whimsy, dances on the edge of reality before fate spins their paths in different directions. The film blends gentle melancholy with dreamlike fantasy, capturing the fragility of first love and the inevitable shifts that come with growing up.

With a runtime of just 73 minutes, *Flightless Bird & Merry-Go-Round* is a compact yet emotionally resonant slice-of-life drama. Ichikawa's direction infuses the narrative with a soft, poetic atmosphere, while the chemistry between leads Maya Okano and Ryo Narita brings authenticity to their fleeting romance. The film's themes of transience and longing are underscored by its melancholic yet hopeful tone, making it a standout entry in the Japanese romance genre.