Directing

Wataru Hiranami

Born December 13, 1978 · Nagano Prefecture, Japan (age 47)

Wataru HIRANAMI, born in Nagano Prefecture in 1978, learned his craft from Kazuyoshi KUMAKIRI starting in 2003. After graduation, he became heavily involved in Japan's independent filmmaking scene.

Known For

Let Me Hear It BarefootLet Me Hear It Barefoot · 2021
Let Me Hear It Barefoot
★ 7.02021
MovieDrama
Student dropout Naomi befriends happy-go-lucky Maki, who lives with his blind adoptive mother Midori. When Midori becomes seriously ill and is hospitalized, Naomi and Maki send her tapes from an imaginary trip around the world. Their relationship grows while recording, but they only dare engage in rough, painful horseplay.
Love NonethelessLove Nonetheless · 2022
Love Nonetheless
★ 5.42022
MovieDramaRomance
Koji runs a second-hand bookstore. He likes female drummer Ichihana, but, suddenly, female high school student Misaki appears in front of him and keeps confesses her feelings for him.
The CurseThe Curse · 2026
The Curse
★ 5.52026
MovieThrillerMystery
After seeing her friend’s disturbing social media posts, Riko tries to intervene to help her but fails to prevent her from dying a mysterious, violent death. Convinced there is more to the story than a suicide, Riko dives into a world of memes, influencers, and posting for attention. As the pile of bodies grows, and Riko faces her own possible curse, she and her friends travel to Taiwan to find the source of this demonic social media killer.
UndercurrentUndercurrent · 2023
Undercurrent
★ 8.12023
MovieDrama
Kanae's husband disappeared without a trace while on a union trip. Though usually headstrong and independent, the woman becomes plagued with worry over what happened to him, and is unable to move on with her life. Thus, Kanae decides to hire a private investigator, and keeps running the public bathhouse to the best of her abilities. As he tries to figure out the truth about her husband, Kanae must deal with the stress from a work-intensive job, meddlesome neighbors, and recurring nightmares in which she is drowning.
Over the TownOver the Town · 2019
Over the Town
★ 7.32019
MovieComedyRomance
Arakawa Ao lives happily on his own and hardly ever leaves Shimokitazawa, where he works at a vintage clothing shop, goes to occasional concerts and hangs out at his favorite bar. Then, he gets an unusual request to appear in an independent film.
A Girl on the ShoreA Girl on the Shore · 2021
A Girl on the Shore
★ 7.02021
MovieDramaRomance
Keisuke Isobe and Koume Satou live a rather dull life. But when Koume's crush breaks her heart, their situation becomes quite unordinary. She starts a "no-strings-attached" relationship with Keisuke, whom she had previously rejected, both finding solace in the other in order to fill the emotional voids in their lives.
IchikoIchiko · 2023
Ichiko
★ 7.52023
MovieDramaMystery
On August 12, 2015, Hasegawa proposed to Ichiko. Ichiko is moved by Hasegawa's proposal and sheds tears, but the next day, she suddenly leaves home, seemingly shocked after seeing the TV news. Where did Ichiko go? Hasegawa reports the disappearance to the police, and the detective in charge of the investigation tells an unexpected story.
Dreaming in BetweenDreaming in Between · 2023
Dreaming in Between
★ 6.52023
MovieDrama
Facing an unacceptable reality, a teacher is trying to reclaim relationships with his family, students and former friends. Reassessing his past, he contemplates how to go on with his life.

Filmography

Sort
I’m Glad to Be AliveI’m Glad to Be Alive · 2022
I’m Glad to Be Alive
★ 7.02022
MovieActionDrama
Professional boxer Sota Kusunoki has gained popularity for his fighting style, where he goes headlong into his opponents. However, years of fighting have taken their toll on his body, and he is forced to retire by a doctor's stoppage. He takes the opportunity of his retirement to marry his girlfriend, Sachiko, and start a new life, but he is completely useless in society and is made acutely aware of the harsh reality of his situation. One day, a mysterious man who claims to be a fan of Sota's receives an offer to fight in an underground martial arts tournament, where he will fight for a large sum of money and where his desires are thriving... The prospect of fighting once again revives his almost forgotten excitement, and his adrenaline surges as if to fill the emptiness in him. Will the madness and honesty of a man obsessed with fighting have a happy ending or a bad one?

Assistant Director