Perfect Days

{{Short description|2023 film by Wim Wenders}}

{{About|the 2023 film}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Perfect Days

| image = Perfect Days poster.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Japanese theatrical release poster

| director = Wim Wenders

| writer = {{plainlist|

  • Wim Wenders
  • Takuma Takasaki

}}

| producer = {{plainlist|

  • Wim Wenders{{cite web|url=https://www.the-match-factory.com/catalogue/films/perfect-days.html|title=Perfect Days|publisher=The Match Factory|access-date=27 May 2023|archive-date=9 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609165630/https://www.the-match-factory.com/catalogue/films/perfect-days.html|url-status=live}}
  • Takuma Takasaki
  • Koji Yanai

}}

| starring = {{plainlist|

}}

| cinematography = Franz Lustig

| editing = Toni Froschhammer

| music =

| production_companies = {{plainlist|

  • Master Mind
  • Spoon
  • Wenders Images

}}

| distributor = {{plainlist|

  • DCM (Germany)
  • Bitters End (Japan)

}}

| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2023|5|25|Cannes|2023|12|21|Germany|2023|12|22|Japan}}

| runtime = 124 minutes

| country = {{plainlist|

  • Japan
  • Germany

}}

| language = Japanese

| budget =

| gross = $25.7 million{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=27503384|title=Perfect Days (2023)|access-date=27 September 2024|publisher_hide=yes}}{{cite The Numbers|id=Perfect-Days-(2023-Japan)|title=Perfect Days (2023)|access-date=6 September 2024|publisher_hide=yes}}

}}

Perfect Days is a 2023 drama film directed by Wim Wenders from a script written by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki.{{cite news|last=Bradshaw|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Bradshaw|date=25 May 2023|title=Perfect Days review – Wim Wenders explores a quiet life in Tokyo|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/25/perfect-days-review-wim-wenders-tokyo-toilet-cleaner|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=27 May 2023|archive-date=23 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023131711/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/25/perfect-days-review-wim-wenders-tokyo-toilet-cleaner|url-status=live}} A co-production between Japan and Germany, the film follows the routine life of Hirayama (Kōji Yakusho), a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo.{{cite web|last=Breitenbach|first=Dagmar|date=12 May 2022|title=Tokyo's public toilets inspire Wim Wenders|url=https://www.dw.com/en/tokyos-stylish-public-toilets-inspire-filmmaker-wim-wenders/a-61772123|publisher=DW|access-date=19 April 2023|archive-date=29 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129014945/https://www.dw.com/en/tokyos-stylish-public-toilets-inspire-filmmaker-wim-wenders/a-61772123|url-status=live}}

Perfect Days premiered on 23 May 2023 at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or and won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and the Best Actor Award for Kōji Yakusho. It was nominated for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards, becoming the first film directed by a non-Japanese filmmaker to be nominated as the Japanese entry.{{cite web|url=http://www.eiren.org/academy/exhibition.html|title=第96回米国アカデミー賞国際長編映画賞への出品作品として、申請8作品から「PERFECT DAYS」監督:ヴィム・ヴェンダース(出品会社:有限会社ビターズ・エンド)を選考しました。|trans-title=From the eight submitted works, we have selected "PERFECT DAYS" directed by Wim Wenders (submitted by Bitters End LLC) as the entry for the 96th Academy Awards International Feature Film. The 96th Academy Awards International Feature Film|publisher=Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan|language=ja|access-date=28 October 2024|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407084032/http://www.eiren.org/academy/exhibition.html|url-status=deviated}}

Plot

Hirayama works as a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo's upscale Shibuya district, across town from his modest home in a middle-class neighbourhood east of the Sumida River. He repeats his structured, repetitive routine each day, starting at dawn. He dedicates his free time to his passion for music cassettes, which he listens to in his van to and from work, and to his books, which he reads every night before going to sleep. He reads stories by William Faulkner and Patricia Highsmith, and the essays of Aya Kōda. His dreams are shown in flickery impressionistic sequences at the end of every day.

Hirayama is also very fond of trees and spends time gardening and photographing trees. He has a sandwich every day in the shade under trees on the grounds of a shrine, and takes analog photos of their branches and leaves and the 'Komorebi' (木漏れ日) – sunlight filtered by the leaves. His pride in his work is apparent by its thoroughness and precision. Hirayama's young assistant, Takashi, is often late, loud, and not as thorough. One day, a young woman named Aya stops by the public toilet Takashi is cleaning, so he hurries to finish. He tries to leave with Aya, but his motorbike will not start, so he convinces Hirayama to let him use his van.

When Aya says Takashi can stay with her as she works at a girls bar, he complains loudly that he is broke. Unbeknownst to Hirayama, Takashi slips Hirayama's Patti Smith tape into Aya's purse. Takashi talks Hirayama into going into a shop to get some of his cassettes appraised. When Takashi discovers how valuable they are, he urges Hirayama to sell, but Hirayama refuses, giving him some cash so he can take Aya out. When Hirayama runs out of gas on the way home, he is forced to sell a cassette for gas money. Hirayama commences a tic-tac-toe game with a stranger after finding a piece of paper left hidden in a stall. The game continues over the course of the film. He exchanges furtive glances with a strange woman eating lunch one bench over.

Aya catches up with Hirayama to return the Patti Smith cassette. She asks to play it in his van one last time, and then gives him a thank-you kiss on the cheek, leaving him visibly startled. On his free day, Hirayama does his laundry, takes the film with his tree photos to be developed, cleans his flat, buys a new book, and dines out at a restaurant where the proprietor shares gossip with him. Niko, Hirayama's niece, shows up unannounced, having run away from his wealthy estranged sister Keiko's home. Hirayama lets Niko accompany him to work during the next two days. The two photograph the trees in the park and ride bikes together. Eventually, Keiko comes to pick up Niko in a chauffeured car.

Keiko tells him that their father’s dementia has worsened and asks whether Hirayama will visit him in the nursing home where he lives. She says that he does not recognise anything anymore and will not behave the way he did before. Hirayama sorrowfully refuses but hugs his sister goodbye. Before she leaves, she asks him whether he really cleans toilets for a living, and he says yes. As they drive away, Hirayama begins to cry inconsolably. The next day, Takashi quits without giving notice, leaving Hirayama to cover his shift. Later, as Hirayama goes to his usual restaurant, he opens the door and sees the proprietor embracing a man. Hirayama hurries off, buying cigarettes and three bottled highballs to consume at a nearby riverbank. The man Hirayama saw at the restaurant approaches and asks him for a cigarette.

The man tells him the restaurant proprietor is his ex-wife whom he had not seen in seven years, and that she opened her restaurant the year after divorcing him. He says he visited her to make peace before he dies of cancer, telling Hirayama to look after her. Hirayama lightens the mood by offering him a drink and inviting him to play shadow tag, and they eventually part ways. The following morning, Hirayama begins another workweek. As he drives his van and listens to Nina Simone sing "Feeling Good", a range of powerful emotions washes over his face.

Cast

Backstory

In an interview with The Progressive, Wenders revealed that, in his conception, Hirayama was a wealthy alcoholic businessman who, after ending up in a hotel room with no memory, contemplating suicide, and being struck by the beauty of sunlight falling through leaves, gave up his career and became a gardener and then a toilet cleaner.{{cite news|last=Rampell|first=Ed|date=1 February 2024|url=https://progressive.org/latest/perfect-days-interview-with-wim-wenders-rampell-20240201/|title=Perfect Days: An Interview with Wim Wenders|work=The Progressive|access-date=11 January 2025}}

Production

File:Yoyohachi 2302d.jpg

File:Hukamachi 230524.jpg

File:代々木八幡宮 - panoramio (77).jpg

Right after COVID-19 pandemic precautions eased, Wenders was invited to Tokyo by Koji Yanai to observe The Tokyo Toilet, a project in which Japanese public toilets were redesigned in 17 locations throughout Shibuya with the help of 16 creators invited from around the world. Wenders was invited to take a look at the uniqueness of each of these facilities. At first, the producers envisioned Wenders would make a short film or series of short films on the facilities, but he opted for a feature film, with co-screenwriter Takuma Takasaki explaining that the conception of the character of Hirayama felt like new territory for them.{{cite web|url=https://goldenglobes.com/articles/perfect-days-portrait-simple-man-tokyo-story-wim-wenders/|title="Perfect Days": Portrait of a Simple Man in a Tokyo Story by Wim Wenders|last=Manelis|first=Michele|date=11 June 2023|publisher=Golden Globe Awards|access-date=5 December 2023|archive-date=5 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205224737/https://goldenglobes.com/articles/perfect-days-portrait-simple-man-tokyo-story-wim-wenders/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g02303/|title=The Tokyo Toilet Project Makes a Splash in Shibuya and Cannes|last=Yukinori|first=Hashino|date=14 July 2023|website=Nippon.com|access-date=5 December 2023|archive-date=5 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205224737/https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g02303/|url-status=live}} The film is produced by Master Mind Limited (Japan) and Spoon Inc. (Japan) in collaboration with Wenders Images (Germany).{{cite news|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|date=14 April 2023|title=The Match Factory To Handle Wim Wenders' Tokyo-Set Cannes Competition Entry 'Perfect Days', Film Details & First-Look Revealed|url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/wim-wenders-cannes-competition-perfect-days-japan-toilets-movie-film-1235325215/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=19 April 2023|archive-date=18 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418183821/https://deadline.com/2023/04/wim-wenders-cannes-competition-perfect-days-japan-toilets-movie-film-1235325215/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/f/perfect-days/|title=Perfect Days|publisher=Cannes Film Festival|access-date=6 May 2023|archive-date=16 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016180320/https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/f/perfect-days/|url-status=live}}

The film was shot over 17 days in Tokyo.{{cite news|last=Thorpe|first=Vanessa|date=18 May 2023|title=Wim Wenders: cinema today 'makes me nauseous'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/18/wim-wenders-cinema-today-makes-me-nauseous|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=5 July 2023|archive-date=5 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705060136/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/18/wim-wenders-cinema-today-makes-me-nauseous|url-status=live}}

The style of the film takes inspiration from the style of Japanese director Yasujirō Ozu. The minimalist approach to storytelling, the focus on ordinary life, and the 4:3 aspect ratio of the film are all nods to Ozu.{{cite web |url=https://www.screenslate.com/articles/another-little-fleeting-moment-wim-wenders-perfects-days|title=Another Little Fleeting Moment: Wim Wenders on Perfects Days|last=Shields|first=Chris|date=7 February 2024|website=Screen Slate|access-date=11 March 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://aframe.oscars.org/news/post/wim-wenders-koji-yakusho-perfect-days-interview|title='Perfect Days' Director Wim Wenders and Koji Yakusho on Toilets and Tranquility (Exclusive)|date=8 February 2024|website=A.Frame|access-date=11 March 2024}} Also, the name Hirayama comes from a common character name in Ozu's films (Tokyo Story, An Autumn Afternoon).{{Cite web |date=8 February 2024 |title=Wim Wenders and Yakusho Kōji Take Film to the Toilet with "Perfect Days" |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c030250/ |access-date=12 March 2024 |website=nippon.com |language=en}}

Soundtrack

The music that Hirayama listens to with his cassettes is a major motif in the film.{{Cite magazine |last=Pilley |first=Max |date=23 February 2024 |title=Here's every song on the 'Perfect Days' soundtrack |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/heres-every-song-on-the-perfect-days-soundtrack-3592061 |access-date=26 February 2024 |magazine=NME}}{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Ffion |date=21 February 2024 |title=Patrick Watson unveils "Perfect Day (Komorebi Version)" a solo piano cover of Lou Reed's cult song |url=https://www.secretcityrecords.com/2024/02/21/patrick-watson-unveils-perfect-day-komorebi-version-a-solo-piano-cover-of-lou-reeds-cult-song/ |access-date=26 February 2024 |publisher=Secret City Records}} In describing the way that Hirayama chooses the music he listens to, Wenders said: "Maybe he's clinging to the past. But he's clinging a little bit also to his youth and he loves that music. He chooses in the morning exactly what he's going to listen to that day. And it's not random." Wenders described Lou Reed as "a mighty voice in the film."{{Cite magazine |last=Mottram |first=James |date=8 February 2024 |title=Wim Wenders' life was saved by rock and roll: "Lou Reed is a mighty voice in my new film" |url=https://www.nme.com/features/film-interviews/wim-wenders-music-rock-lou-reed-perfect-days-3583870 |access-date=26 February 2024 |magazine=NME}}

class="wikitable"

! Title !! Artist !! Year

"The House of the Rising Sun"The Animals1964
"Pale Blue Eyes"The Velvet Underground1969
"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay"Otis Redding1968
"Redondo Beach"Patti Smith1975
"(Walkin' Thru The) Sleepy City"The Rolling Stones1964
"Perfect Day"Lou Reed1972
"Aoi Sakana"Sachiko Kanenobu1972
"Sunny Afternoon"The Kinks1966
"The House of the Rising Sun" (Japanese version){{efn|Translated into Japanese by Maki Asakawa, who first recorded the version in 1972.}}Sayuri Ishikawa2023
"Brown Eyed Girl"Van Morrison1967
"Feeling Good"Nina Simone1965
"Perfect Day" (Komorebi Version)Patrick Watson2024

Release

Perfect Days was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival,{{Cite press release |title=The films of the Official Selection 2023 |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-releases/the-films-of-the-official-selection-2023/ |access-date=18 April 2023 |publisher=Cannes Film Festival |date=13 April 2023 |archive-date=1 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601041152/https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-releases/the-films-of-the-official-selection-2023/ |url-status=live}} where it had its world premiere on 25 May.{{Cite web |date=10 May 2023 |title=The Screenings Guide of the 76th Festival de Cannes |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/2023/the-screenings-guide-of-the-76th-festival-de-cannes/ |access-date=10 May 2023 |publisher=Cannes Film Festival |archive-date=10 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510161350/https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/2023/the-screenings-guide-of-the-76th-festival-de-cannes/ |url-status=live}} It was also invited to the 27th Lima Film Festival in the Acclaimed section, where it was screened on 11 August 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://festivaldelima.com/2023/pelicula/perfect-days/|title=Perfect Days|publisher=Lima Film Festival|access-date=9 August 2023|language=es|archive-date=10 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810232152/https://festivaldelima.com/2023/pelicula/perfect-days/|url-status=live}} Subsequent screenings were held at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and 2023 New York Film Festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/festivals/tiff-2023-centerpiece-1234894195/|title=TIFF 2023 Centerpiece Program Showcases Aki Kaurismäki, Wim Wenders, Agnieszka Holland, and More|last=Lattanzio|first=Ryan|date=10 August 2023|website=IndieWire|access-date=12 August 2023|archive-date=21 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821161009/https://www.indiewire.com/news/festivals/tiff-2023-centerpiece-1234894195/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=8 August 2023|title=New York Film Festival Unveils 2023 Lineup: 'Zone of Interest,' 'Poor Things,' 'Anatomy of a Fall' and More|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/new-york-film-festival-lineup-zone-of-interest-poor-things-1235689845/|magazine=Variety|access-date=12 August 2023|archive-date=3 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003155210/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/new-york-film-festival-lineup-zone-of-interest-poor-things-1235689845/|url-status=live}}

World sales were handled by The Match Factory, with Neon distributing the film in the United States, and Mubi distributing the film in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey and Latin America.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/wim-wenders-perfect-days-the-match-factory-1235383370/ |title=Wim Wenders' Cannes Competition Title 'Perfect Days' Sells Out For The Match Factory |first=Zac |last=Ntim |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=31 May 2023 |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=10 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810231529/https://deadline.com/2023/05/wim-wenders-perfect-days-the-match-factory-1235383370/ |url-status=live}}

Perfect Days was released in Germany on 21 December 2023 by DCM,{{cite magazine|last=Roxborough|first=Scott|date=23 May 2023|title=Cannes: DCM Takes Wim Wenders Festival Double Pack for Germany|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-2023-wim-wenders-film-sales-perfect-days-anselm-1235498244/|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=6 September 2023|archive-date=15 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815060422/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-2023-wim-wenders-film-sales-perfect-days-anselm-1235498244/|url-status=live}} and in Japan on 22 December by Bitters End.{{cite web|last=Rosser|first=Michael|date=30 August 2023|title='Perfect Days', 'Godzilla Minus One' to booked Tokyo film festival 2023|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/perfect-days-godzilla-minus-one-to-booked-tokyo-film-festival-2023/5185350.article|website=Screen Daily|access-date=6 September 2023|url-access=limited|archive-date=30 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830193856/https://www.screendaily.com/news/perfect-days-godzilla-minus-one-to-booked-tokyo-film-festival-2023/5185350.article|url-status=live}} The film was released in the U.S. on 7 February 2024.{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=9 February 2024 |title=Oscar-Nominated 'Perfect Days', 'The Taste Of Things', 'The Monk And The Gun' & The Ennio Morricone Doc That Almost Disappeared – Specialty Preview |url=https://deadline.com/2024/02/indie-films-opening-perfect-days-the-taste-of-things-ennio-1235820420/ |access-date=12 February 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

The film is available on home video from the Criterion Collection.{{cite web|url=https://www.criterion.com/films/34274-perfect-days|title=Perfect Days (2023)|website=criterion.com|access-date=20 July 2024|language=en}}

Reception

=Critical response=

File:Yakusho Koji "The World of Harada Masato" at Opening Ceremony of the 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (22403788836) (cropped).jpg's performance received universal acclaim with him winning the Cannes Film Festival Award For Best Actor and many regarding that he was snubbed of an Academy Award nomination{{Cite web |last=Zeynalov |first=Mansur |date=19 March 2024 |title=10 Great 2023 Movie Performances Snubbed By The Oscars. |url=https://www.tasteofcinema.com/2024/10-great-2023-movie-performances-snubbed-by-the-oscars/ |access-date=5 September 2024 |website=Taste of Cinema - Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists |language=en-US}}.]]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 96% based on 184 reviews, with an average rating of 8.3/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "An absorbing slice-of-life drama led by a remarkable Kôji Yakusho performance, Perfect Days adds a quietly soaring gem to director/co-writer Wim Wenders' estimable filmography."{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|title=Perfect Days|type=m|id=perfect_days_2023|access-date=15 February 2025}} Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 80 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.{{cite Metacritic|id=perfect-days|type=movie|title=Perfect Days|access-date=19 April 2024}}

Hsin Wang of FIPRESCI described the film as Wim Wenders' lifetime masterpiece.{{cite web |title=Return To Essence At Cannes 2023 |url=https://fipresci.org/report/cannes-2023-wang/ |access-date=15 June 2023 |publisher=FIPRESCI |archive-date=16 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616005315/https://fipresci.org/report/cannes-2023-wang/ |url-status=live}} German film journalist Dieter Oßwald wrote, "With furious ease, Wenders succeeds in making a rather perfect film."{{Cite web |last=Oßwald |first=Dieter |title=Perfect Days |url=https://doppelpunkt.de/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=editorial&cid=38&id=447583&startDate=-1-11-30&Itemid=240 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=Doppelpunkt |language=de |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207211832/https://doppelpunkt.de/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=editorial&cid=38&id=447583&startDate=-1-11-30&Itemid=240 |url-status=live}} Wendy Ide of The Guardian called Perfect Days "Wim Wenders's best film in years," praising the film for being "as much a manifesto as a movie...advocating not just a new way of looking, but of new way of living." Kōji Yakusho's performance drew acclaim for his ability to "convey an extraordinarily rich interior life, almost entirely without leaning on dialogue."{{cite news |last=Ide |first=Wendy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/25/perfect-days-review-wim-wenders-koji-yakusho-tokyo-toilet-cleaner |title=Perfect Days review |work=The Guardian |date=25 February 2024 |access-date=3 August 2024}}

=Accolades=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! scope="col" | Award or film festival

! scope="col" | Date of ceremony

! scope="col" | Category

! scope="col" | Recipient(s)

! scope="col" | Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Ref heading}}

scope="row" | AARP Movies for Grownups Awards

| 17 January 2024

| Best Foreign Language Film

| rowspan="3" | Perfect Days

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{Cite magazine |last=Chuba |first=Kirsten |date=9 January 2024 |title=Oppenheimer Leads Nominations for 2024 AARP Movies for Grownups Awards |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oppenheimer-nominations-2024-aarp-movies-for-grownups-awards-1235782490/ |access-date=9 January 2024 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |archive-date=9 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109150030/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oppenheimer-nominations-2024-aarp-movies-for-grownups-awards-1235782490/ |url-status=live}}
{{Cite web |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |last2=Petski |first2=Denise |date=17 January 2024 |title=Killers Of The Flower Moon Wins Best Picture At AARP Movies For Grownups Awards: Full List |url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/aarp-movies-for-grownups-awards-2024-list-1235794526/ |access-date=17 January 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

scope="row" | Academy Awards

| 10 March 2024

| Best International Feature Film

| {{Nominated}}

| align="center" | {{cite news|last=Gonzalez|first=Shivani|date=23 January 2024|title=Oscar Nominees 2024: See the Full List|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/23/movies/2024-oscar-nominees-list.html|url-status=live|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240124224309/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/23/movies/2024-oscar-nominees-list.html|archive-date=24 January 2024|access-date=24 January 2024}}

rowspan="2" scope="row" | Asia Pacific Screen Awards

| rowspan="2" | 3 November 2023

| Best Film

| {{won}}

| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/asia-pacific-screen-awards-ryusuke-hamaguchis-evil-does-not-exist-celine-song-past-lives-1235562416/|title=Asia Pacific Screen Awards: Ryusuke Hamaguchi's 'Evil Does Not Exist' Leads Nominations & First Round Winners Announced|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Zac|last=Ntim|date=3 October 2023|access-date=5 November 2023|archive-date=4 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004021825/https://deadline.com/2023/10/asia-pacific-screen-awards-ryusuke-hamaguchis-evil-does-not-exist-celine-song-past-lives-1235562416/|url-status=live}}
{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2023/awards/news/apsa-film-awards-winners-1235778977/|title='Perfect Days' Wins Best Film at Asia Pacific Screen Awards as Japan, Korea, Kazakh Titles Dominate|magazine=Variety|first=Patrick|last=Frater|date=3 November 2023|access-date=5 November 2023|archive-date=4 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104202142/https://variety.com/2023/awards/news/apsa-film-awards-winners-1235778977/|url-status=live}}

Best Performance

| Kōji Yakusho

| {{nom}}

rowspan="2" scope="row" | Asian Film Awards

| rowspan="2" | 10 March 2024

| Best Film

| Perfect Days

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2024/01/asian-film-awards-12-12-the-day-ryusuke-hamaguchi-evil-does-not-exist-wim-wenders-nominations-1235724148/|title= Asian Film Awards; Korean Historical Drama '12.12: The Day' & Ryusuke Hamaguchi's 'Evil Does Not Exist' Lead Nominations|access-date= 14 January 2024|website= Deadline Hollywood}}{{Cite web |date=10 March 2024 |title=Evil Does Not Exist wins Best Film! – Asian Film Awards Academy |url=https://www.afa-academy.com/20240311_en/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Asian Film Awards Academy |language=en-US}}

Best Actor

| Kōji Yakusho

| {{won}}

scope="row" rowspan="3" | Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards

| rowspan="3" | 6 January 2024

| Best International Feature

| Perfect Days

| {{nom}}

| align="center" rowspan="3" | {{cite web |last=Anderson |first=Erik |date=7 December 2023 |title='Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' Lead Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) Astra Awards Nominations |url=https://awardswatch.com/barbie-and-oppenheimer-lead-hollywood-creative-alliance-hca-astra-awards-nominations/ |access-date=8 December 2023 |website=AwardsWatch |archive-date=8 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208022109/https://awardswatch.com/barbie-and-oppenheimer-lead-hollywood-creative-alliance-hca-astra-awards-nominations/ |url-status=live}}

Best International Filmmaker

| Wim Wenders

| {{nom}}

Best International Actor

| Kōji Yakusho

| {{nom}}

scope="row" rowspan="2" | Blue Ribbon Awards

| rowspan="2" | February 2024

| Best Film

| Perfect Days

| {{nom}}

| align="center" rowspan="2" | {{cite news |url= https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/831779|script-title=ja: 「エゴイスト」「月」が作品賞など最多5部門に選出 「第66回ブルーリボン賞」各部門候補決まる|access-date= 5 January 2024|newspaper= Chunichi Shimbun |language= ja}}

Best Actor

| Kōji Yakusho

| {{nom}}

scope="row"| Belgian Film Critics Association

| 6 January 2024

| Grand Prix

| Perfect Days

| {{nom}}

| align="center"|{{Cite web |date=2024-01-05 |title=The Quiet Girl Grand Prix de la Critique du cinéma belge 2023! |url=https://madamefaitsoncinema.be/2024/01/05/the-quiet-girl-grand-prix-de-la-critique-du-cinema-belge-2023/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Madame fait son Cinéma - Le cinéma d'auteur et plus... |language=fr-FR}}

scope="row" | Boston Society of Film Critics Awards

| 10 December 2023

| Best Actor

| Kōji Yakusho

| {{runner-up}}{{efn|Tied with Cillian Murphy for Oppenheimer}}

| align="center" | {{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Erik |date=10 December 2023 |title=2023 Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC): 'The Holdovers' Wins Best Film, Actor, Supporting Actress, Screenplay |url=https://awardswatch.com/2023-boston-society-of-film-critics-bsfc-the-holdovers-wins-best-film-actor-supporting-actress-screenplay/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=AwardsWatch |archive-date=11 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211053354/https://awardswatch.com/2023-boston-society-of-film-critics-bsfc-the-holdovers-wins-best-film-actor-supporting-actress-screenplay/ |url-status=live}}

rowspan="3" scope="row" | Cannes Film Festival

| rowspan="3" | 27 May 2023

| Palme d'Or

| Wim Wenders

| {{nom}}

| align="center" |

Best Actor

| Kōji Yakusho

| {{won}}

| align="center" | {{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/cannes-film-festival-2023-palme-dor-prizes-awards-1235627110/|title=Cannes Awards: 'Anatomy of a Fall' Takes Palme d'Or, 'The Zone of Interest' and 'The Pot au Feu' Among Winners|magazine=Variety|first=Peter|last=Debruge|date=27 May 2023|access-date=27 May 2023|archive-date=28 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528070941/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/cannes-film-festival-2023-palme-dor-prizes-awards-1235627110/|url-status=live}}

Prize of the Ecumenical Jury

| Wim Wenders

| {{won}}

| align="center" | {{cite news|last=Rouden|first=Céline|date=27 May 2023|title=Palmarès Festival de Cannes 2023 : La Française Justine Triet remporte la Palme d'or|url=https://www.la-croix.com/Culture/Palmares-Festival-Cannes-2023-Francaise-Justine-Triet-remporte-Palme-dor-2023-05-27-1201269108|newspaper=La Croix|language=fr|access-date=28 May 2023|archive-date=28 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528002218/https://www.la-croix.com/Culture/Palmares-Festival-Cannes-2023-Francaise-Justine-Triet-remporte-Palme-dor-2023-05-27-1201269108|url-status=live}}

scope="row" | César Awards

| 23 February 2024

| Best Foreign Film

| rowspan="3" | Perfect Days

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{cite magazine|last=Keslassy|first=Elsa|date=24 January 2024|title=Cesar Awards Nominations: Thomas Cailley's 'The Animal Kingdom,' Justine Triet's Oscar-Nominated 'Anatomy of a Fall' Lead the Way|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/cesar-awards-nominations-animal-kingdom-anatomy-of-a-fall-1235885601/|magazine=Variety|access-date=24 January 2024}}
{{cite magazine|last1=Roxborough|first1=Scott|last2=Szalai|first2=Georg|date=24 January 2024|title=Cesar Nominations: 'Anatomy of a Fall,' 'The Animal Kingdom' Lead the Pack for French Film Awards|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cesar-nominations-2024-awards-anatomy-of-a-fall-the-animal-kingdom-1235805751/|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=24 January 2024}}

scope="row" | Critics' Choice Movie Awards

| 14 January 2024

| Best Foreign Language Film

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{Cite magazine |last=Nolfi |first=Joey |date=13 December 2023 |title=2024 Critics Choice Awards film nominations: See the full list |url=https://ew.com/2024-critics-choice-awards-nominations-full-list-8415063 |access-date=13 December 2023 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-date=13 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213145759/https://ew.com/2024-critics-choice-awards-nominations-full-list-8415063 |url-status=live}}

scope="row" | Houston Film Critics Society

| 22 January 2024

| Best Foreign Language Feature

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{Cite news |last=Darling |first=Cary |date=9 January 2024 |title=Barbie, Oppenheimer lead Houston Film Critics Society's nominations |url=https://houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/houston-film-critics-society-awards-18594525.php |access-date=9 January 2024 |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |archive-date=9 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109175233/http://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/houston-film-critics-society-awards-18594525.php |url-status=live}}
{{Cite news |last=Darling |first=Cary |date=22 January 2024 |title=Houston Film Critics Society names Poor Things the best film of 2023 |url=https://houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/houston-film-critics-society-poor-things-18621412.php |access-date=22 January 2024 |newspaper=Houston Chronicle}}

rowspan="2" scope="row" | IndieWire Critics Poll

| rowspan="2" | 11 December 2023

| Best Performance

| Kōji Yakusho

| {{draw|10th Place}}{{efn|Tied with Glenn Howerton for BlackBerry, Benoit Magimel for Pacifiction, and Franz Rogowski for Passages}}

| rowspan="2" align="center"|{{Cite web |last=Blauvelt |first=Christian |date=11 December 2023 |title=2023 Critics Poll: The Best Films and Performances, According to 158 Critics from Around the World |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/best-of/best-movies-2023-critics-survey-poll-performances-1234933605/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=IndieWire |archive-date=21 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221140607/https://www.indiewire.com/features/best-of/best-movies-2023-critics-survey-poll-performances-1234933605/ |url-status=live}}

Best International Film

| Perfect Days

| {{draw|4th Place}}

scope="row" | International Cinephile Society

| 11 February 2024

| Best Actor

| Kōji Yakusho

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{cite web|url=https://icsfilm.org/our-yearly-awards/2024-ics-award-winners/|title=2024 ICS Award Winners|last=Stevens|first=Beth|date=11 February 2024|website=International Cinephile Society|access-date=12 February 2024}}

rowspan="3" scope="row" | Japan Academy Film Prize

| rowspan="3" | 8 March 2024

| Picture of the Year

| Perfect Days

| {{Nominated}}

| rowspan="3" align="center" | {{cite web |url= https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2311800/full/|script-title=ja: 『第47回 日本アカデミー賞』受賞者・作品発表 授賞式司会は羽鳥慎一、岸井ゆきの【コメント全文】|access-date= 25 January 2024|publisher= Oricon |language= ja}}
{{cite web |url= https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2317483/full/|title= 【日本アカデミー賞】『ゴジラ-1.0』最優秀作品賞含む最多8冠【受賞者・作品一覧】|access-date= 8 March 2024|work= Oricon|language= ja}}

Director of the Year

| Wim Wenders

| {{won}}

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

| rowspan="2" | Kōji Yakusho

| {{won}}

scope="row" | Kinema Junpo Awards

| 18 February 2024

| Best Actor

| {{won}}

| align="center" |{{cite web |url= https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/559384|script-title=ja: キネ旬ベスト・テン1位は「せかいのおきく」「TAR/ター」、趣里と役所広司が主演賞|access-date= 2 February 2024|website= Natalie |language= ja}}

scope="row" | Georgia Film Critics Association Awards

| 5 January 2024

| Best International Film

| Perfect Days

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{Cite web |last=Neglia |first=Matt |date=29 December 2023 |title=The 2023 Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) Nominations |url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2023-georgia-film-critics-association-gafca-nominations/ |access-date=30 December 2023 |website=Next Best Picture}}
{{Cite web |last=Neglia |first=Matt |date=5 January 2024 |title=The 2023 Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) Winners |url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2023-georgia-film-critics-association-gafca-winners/ |access-date=5 January 2024 |website=Next Best Picture}}

scope="row" | Manaki Brothers Film Festival

| 29 September 2023

| Golden Camera 300

| Franz Lustig

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{Cite web |date=11 September 2023 |title=Official Selection "Camera 300" – Narrative Features |url=https://manaki.com.mk/narrative-features/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |publisher=Manaki Brothers Film Festival |archive-date=23 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023045821/https://manaki.com.mk/narrative-features/ |url-status=live}}

scope="row" | Miskolc International Film Festival

| 9 September 2023

| Emeric Pressburger Prize for Best Feature Film

| rowspan="4" | Perfect Days

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{cite web|url=https://www.filmneweurope.com/news/hungary-news/item/125048-festivals-cinefest-miskolc-international-film-festival-2023-announces-lineup|title=FESTIVALS: CineFest Miskolc International Film Festival 2023 Announces Lineup|date=17 August 2023|publisher=Film New Europe Association|access-date=4 September 2023|archive-date=4 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004173213/https://www.filmneweurope.com/news/hungary-news/item/125048-festivals-cinefest-miskolc-international-film-festival-2023-announces-lineup|url-status=live}}

scope="row" | Montclair Film Festival

| 30 October 2023

| Junior Jury

| {{won}}

| align="center" | {{Cite web |title=2023 Montclair Film Festival Award Winners Announced! |url=https://montclairfilm.org/events/mff23-award-winners-announced/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |publisher=Montclair Film |archive-date=20 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120183022/https://montclairfilm.org/events/mff23-award-winners-announced/ |url-status=live}}

scope="row"| North Texas Film Critics Association

| 18 December 2023

| Best Foreign Language Film

| {{nom}}

| align="center"|{{Cite web |last=Neglia |first=Matt |date=18 December 2023 |title=The 2023 North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) Winners |url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2023-north-texas-film-critics-association-ntfca-winners/ |access-date=21 January 2024 |website=Next Best Picture}}

scope="row" | San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards

| 9 January 2024

| Best International Feature Film

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{Cite web |last=Neglia |first=Matt |date=5 January 2024 |title=The 2023 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations |url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2023-san-francisco-bay-area-film-critics-circle-sfbafcc-nominations/ |access-date=5 January 2024 |website=Next Best Picture}}

scope="row" | Seattle Film Critics Society Awards

| 8 January 2024

| Best Actor in a Leading Role

| Kōji Yakusho

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{Cite web |last=Neglia |first=Matt |date=3 January 2024 |title=The 2023 Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) Nominations |url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2023-seattle-film-critics-society-sfcs-nominations/ |access-date=3 January 2024 |website=Next Best Picture}}

scope="row" | St. Louis Film Critics Association

| 17 December 2023

| Best International Film

| Perfect Days

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Eric |title=2023 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations |url=https://awardswatch.com/2023-st-louis-film-critics-association-stlfca-nominations/ |website=AwardsWatch |date=10 December 2023 |access-date=11 December 2023 |archive-date=14 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214005751/https://awardswatch.com/2023-st-louis-film-critics-association-stlfca-nominations/ |url-status=live}}

scope="row" | Toronto Film Critics Association

| 17 December 2023

| Outstanding Lead Performance

| Kōji Yakusho

| {{runner-up}}{{efn|Tied with Paul Giamatti for The Holdovers, Andrew Scott for All of Us Strangers, and Emma Stone for Poor Things}}

| align="center" | {{Cite web |last=Neglia |first=Matt |date=17 December 2023 |title=The 2023 Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) Winners |url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2023-toronto-film-critics-association-tfca-winners/ |access-date=17 December 2023 |website=Next Best Picture |archive-date=17 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217212729/https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2023-toronto-film-critics-association-tfca-winners/ |url-status=live}}

scope="row" | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards

| 10 December 2023

| Best Foreign Language Film

| Perfect Days

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{Cite web |last=Neglia |first=Matt |date=9 December 2023 |title=The 2023 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) Nominations |url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2023-washington-dc-area-film-critics-association-wafca-nominations/ |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=Next Best Picture |archive-date=9 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209222600/https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2023-washington-dc-area-film-critics-association-wafca-nominations/ |url-status=live}}

Impact

Following the theatrical release of Perfect Days in international markets, interest in Japanese public facilities, particularly those of the Tokyo Toilet Project in Shibuya, has surged.{{Cite news |last=McCurry |first=Justin |date=2024-03-09 |title=Tokyo offers toilet tours amid flush of excitement over Wim Wenders's Oscar hopeful |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/09/tokyo-toilet-tour-japan-wim-wenders-film-perfect-days |access-date=2024-04-18 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Jack |date=2024-04-18 |title=Perfect Days elevates the everyday—not unlike Bêka & Lemoine's Moriyama-San |url=https://www.archpaper.com/2024/04/perfect-days-film-moriyama-san/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=The Architect's Newspaper |language=en-US}}

See also

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}