YUKIKAZE (2025)
A Japanese war drama tracing the human stories of sailors and their waiting families across the brutal theater of World War II naval combat.
YUKIKAZE - Movie Information
- Original Title: 雪風 YUKIKAZE
- Release Year: 2025
- Directed by: Toshihisa Yamada
- Type: Movie
- Genres: History, War, Drama
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): August 15, 2025 (Japan)
- Production Companies: Destiny, Toei Labo Tech, KADOKAWA Daiei Studio
- Production Countries: Japan
YUKIKAZE - Plot
Just 80 years ago, the peaceful sea was a battlefield. Soldiers continued to fight, dreaming of returning home, and their families continued to pray and wait for their safety. What stories were there in each of their lives, and what were they each thinking?
YUKIKAZE - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Toshihisa Yamada
Main Cast
- Yutaka Takenouchi
- Hiroshi Tamaki
- Daiken Okudaira
- Ami Touma
- Takahiro Fujimoto
- Masaki Miura
- Takaya Yamauchi
- Takahiro Kawaguchi
- Taiki Nakabayashi
- Miou Tanaka
Writers
- Yasuo Hasegawa
Producers
- Mamoru Maeda
- Shinji Nakano
YUKIKAZE - FAQs
Is YUKIKAZE based on a true story?
Yes, YUKIKAZE is rooted in real history. The film draws on the documented wartime record of the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Yukikaze, one of World War II's most legendary warships. Its human drama is grounded in the lived experiences of sailors and families during the Shōwa-era conflict.
Who are the main actors in YUKIKAZE?
The film stars Yutaka Takenouchi and Hiroshi Tamaki in leading roles, supported by Daiken Okudaira, Ami Touma, Takahiro Fujimoto, Masaki Miura, Takaya Yamauchi, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Taiki Nakabayashi, and Miou Tanaka as part of its ensemble cast.
What is the real ship Yukikaze's historical significance?
The Yukikaze was a Kagerō-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy celebrated for surviving nearly every major naval engagement of World War II — from Pearl Harbor to the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Her extraordinary survival record while sister ships were lost earned her the legendary reputation as the Imperial Navy's luckiest warship.
What is YUKIKAZE about?
Set during World War II, YUKIKAZE follows sailors fighting across deadly naval battlefields while holding onto the dream of coming home, alongside the families on shore who prayed for their return. The film weaves together individual human stories, asking what each person thought and felt amid the wider sweep of war.
Who directed the 2025 film YUKIKAZE?
YUKIKAZE was directed by Toshihisa Yamada from a screenplay by Yasuo Hasegawa. The film's score was composed by Taro Iwashiro, with cinematography by Takahide Shibanushi and editing by Hideki Seino. Producers Mamoru Maeda and Shinji Nakano oversaw the production.
When is YUKIKAZE released?
YUKIKAZE opens in Japanese theaters on August 15, 2025. The release date carries deep historical weight, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender — a deliberate and resonant choice for a film meditating on the war's human cost and the passage of time.
What genre is the film YUKIKAZE?
YUKIKAZE is a History, War, and Drama film. Rather than centering on large-scale combat spectacle, it prioritizes intimate character study and emotional authenticity, exploring camaraderie, sacrifice, and longing within the context of Imperial Japanese Navy operations during World War II.
What are similar movies to YUKIKAZE?
Viewers drawn to YUKIKAZE may also appreciate Downfall (2004), Life Is Beautiful (1997), Soldier of Orange (1977), Operation Dunkirk (2017), and The Last Emperor (1987). Each film examines war's deeply personal dimensions — survival, loss, and the enduring human spirit — across different nations and historical moments.
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