461 Days of Bento: A Promise Between Father and Son (2020)
A tender Japanese drama about a divorced father who makes his son a homemade bento every school day, forging an unbreakable bond one lunch at a time.
461 Days of Bento: A Promise Between Father and Son - Movie Information
- Original Title: 461個のおべんとう
- Release Year: 2020
- Directed by: Atsushi Kaneshige
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Family
- Runtime: 1h 59m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): November 6, 2020 (Japan), October 28, 2021 (South Korea - ALL)
- Alternative Titles: 461 ko no Obento (JP)
- Production Companies: JOKER FILMS, Toei Company, Happinet Pictures, MAGAZINE HOUSE, Nippan Group Holdings, Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures, TV Osaka, J Storm, TV Tokyo, Happinet
- Production Countries: Japan
461 Days of Bento: A Promise Between Father and Son - Plot
Kazuki Suzumoto is divorced and he lives with his 15-year-old son Kouki. Kouki is in a susceptible time. The father feels guilty about his son. Kouki then fails his high school entrance exam. In the spring of the following year, Kouki barely passes his high school entrance exam. Kouki mentions to Kazuki that he likes his father's lunch box. The father and son make a promise to each other. Kazuki promises that he will make a lunch box everyday for Kouki. Kouki promises that he will never skip school.
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461 Days of Bento: A Promise Between Father and Son - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Atsushi Kaneshige
Main Cast
- Yoshihiko Inohara
- Shunsuke Michieda
- Nana Mori
- Jiei Wakabayashi
- Junko Abe
- Toru Nomaguchi
- Kurara Emi
- KREVA
- Ichiro Yatsui
- Maki Sakai
Writers
- Atsushi Kaneshige
- Tadashi Shimizu
Producers
- HIRAISHI Akihiro
461 Days of Bento: A Promise Between Father and Son - FAQs
What is the promise at the heart of this film?
The central promise is a mutual pact between father Kazuki and son Kouki: Kazuki will prepare a homemade bento lunch for his son every single school day, while Kouki pledges never to skip school. This simple agreement becomes the emotional backbone of their relationship across three years of high school.
What is 461 Days of Bento about?
461 Days of Bento is a Japanese family drama about a divorced father, Kazuki Suzumoto, who rebuilds his bond with his teenage son Kouki through a heartfelt daily ritual: preparing a homemade bento lunch for every school day. The film explores themes of parental guilt, perseverance, and the quiet power of small, consistent acts of love.
Is 461 Days of Bento based on a true story?
Yes. The film is adapted from the memoir "461 ko no Obento" by Kazuki Suzumoto, a real father who documented his experience making a bento lunch for his son every school day throughout high school. The book became a bestseller in Japan before being adapted into this 2020 film.
Who are the main actors in 461 Days of Bento?
The film stars Yoshihiko Inohara as the devoted father Kazuki Suzumoto and Shunsuke Michieda as his teenage son Kouki. The supporting cast includes Nana Mori, Jiei Wakabayashi, Junko Abe, Toru Nomaguchi, Kurara Emi, rapper KREVA, Ichiro Yatsui, and Maki Sakai.
When was 461 Days of Bento released?
461 Days of Bento had its theatrical release in Japan on November 6, 2020. It subsequently opened in South Korea on October 28, 2021.
Who directed 461 Days of Bento?
461 Days of Bento was directed by Atsushi Kaneshige, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Tadashi Shimizu. Kaneshige adapted the story from the real-life memoir by Kazuki Suzumoto, bringing a warm and grounded sensibility to this father-son drama.
How long is 461 Days of Bento?
461 Days of Bento has a runtime of 1 hour and 59 minutes (119 minutes). The film's measured pace allows the emotional relationship between father and son to develop naturally across the span of three high school years.
What are similar movies to 461 Days of Bento?
If you enjoyed 461 Days of Bento, you may also appreciate Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), a classic drama about a father navigating single parenthood, My Brilliant Life (2014), a Korean family drama with deep emotional resonance, and The First Day of the Rest of Your Life (2008), a French film exploring family bonds across generations.
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