Leave the Cat Alone

Leave the Cat Alone (2026)



猫を放つ

5.0 2026 102 min Japan

Director: Daisuke Shigaya

Cast: Soma Fujii, Yukino Murakami, Ran Taniguchi, Meiry Mochizuki, Naoyuki Miyahara

Drama
Struggling through sleepless nights and a fog of exhaustion, Mori drifts through endless, unproductive days, unable to write a single meaningful note of music. He shares a restless home with Maiko, his wife—a sharp, ambitious photographer thriving in her career. A chance encounter with Asako, his former lover, stirs buried memories, and as they trade stories over coffee, they realize how differently each remembers their shared past. Later, Asako returns to find a warm meal waiting, lovingly prepared by her partner, and feels a forgotten spark to pick up her paintbrush again. Meanwhile, Mori steps into Maiko’s gallery exhibition, where he’s stunned to find his own quiet, everyday moments framed through her affectionate lens.

More About This Film

Leave the Cat Alone is a Japanese relationship drama about Mori, a musician struggling with lethargy and insomnia while his marriage to the ambitious photographer Maiko grows increasingly uneasy. A chance encounter with Mori's former lover Asako forces him to reconsider memories and relationships he thought belonged to the past.

Daisuke Shigaya's feature debut unfolds over three days and two nights, using carefully observed conversations and everyday spaces to examine intimacy, memory and creative frustration. Soma Fujii, Yukino Murakami and Ran Taniguchi form the central triangle of the story.

  • Written and directed by Daisuke Shigaya.
  • It is Shigaya's feature directorial debut.
  • Stars Soma Fujii, Yukino Murakami and Ran Taniguchi.
  • The film premiered in competition at the 2025 Busan International Film Festival.
  • Shigaya had previously received recognition for his short films.

Where to Watch

Leave the Cat Alone has primarily circulated through international festivals and arthouse distribution, with online availability depending on territory.