Netflix’s ‘This Is I’ Chronicles the Journey of Japanese Transgender Icon Ai Haruna

This Is I is a Japanese drama feature set to premiere globally on Netflix on February 10. It recounts the true story of Ai Haruna, one of Japan’s most prominent transgender entertainers, tracing her path from humble origins to nationwide fame. Haruna, born as Kenji Ōnishi in the 1970s, grew up dreaming of becoming a pop idol at a time when openly expressing her gender identity was met with scorn. The film arrives as part of Netflix’s expanded international slate and carries particular significance now: it shines a spotlight on LGBTQ+ experiences in Japan at a moment when conversations about representation are resonating worldwide.

At its heart, This Is I is about the struggle and triumph of finding one’s true self. The story follows young Kenji (who later takes the name Ai Haruna) through childhood and adolescence marked by bullying and isolation. Classmates and even society at large were unkind to a teenager who loved singing and dancing in a traditionally feminine way. Yearning to become an idol singer, she faces rejection in the conventional entertainment world. The film portrays how Kenji finds refuge and community in the underground cabaret scene of Osaka: performing in glittering clubs alongside drag queens and queer performers. These vibrant, bittersweet sequences – set against the backdrop of late-90s and early-2000s Japan – lend the film a nostalgic tone. Amid neon-lit stages and retro J-Pop anthems, Kenji begins to embrace her identity, and This Is I delicately shows the evolution of a shy outcast into the confident Haruna Ai, ready to take the spotlight as her authentic self. Throughout, the narrative balances the glitz of showbiz with the harsher realities of prejudice, creating a heartfelt, inspiring atmosphere that never loses sight of hope.

A key turning point in the film is Ai’s relationship with Dr. Koji Wada, a fictionalized version of the trailblazing doctor who aids in her gender transition. Played by actor Takumi Saitoh, Wada is depicted as a compassionate physician with his own painful past, which makes him uniquely empathetic to Ai’s journey. When Ai feels alone amid social backlash, Dr. Wada becomes both mentor and friend, offering medical help and emotional support at a critical time. This Is I highlights their unlikely bond of trust, using it as a narrative backbone that underscores the importance of allyship. Their friendship – forged across generations and against societal odds – is one of the film’s most uplifting aspects. It also serves to educate viewers on the challenges of transitioning in an era when information and support were scarce. By focusing on this mentor-mentee relationship, the film expands beyond a simple “rise to fame” tale, framing Ai Haruna’s success as a collective triumph made possible by understanding and support.

Yusaku Matsumoto, the film’s 34-year-old director, brings a steady, humanistic approach to Ai Haruna’s story. Matsumoto has garnered attention for socially conscious dramas in Japan (his previous work includes indie films like Noise and the tech-world legal drama Winny), and here he grounds the biopic in realism while celebrating its subject’s flamboyant world. Working from a screenplay by Masahiro Yamaura, Matsumoto blends intimate character moments with lively musical interludes, reflecting the dual nature of Haruna’s life. In one scene, viewers might witness a solitary Ai struggling with self-doubt; in the next, she’s electrifying a nightclub stage in a sequined gown. The director reportedly collaborated closely with the real Ai Haruna – who is credited with “special cooperation” on the project – to ensure an authentic portrayal. Backed by Toho Studios (the legendary Japanese film studio) and distributed as a Netflix Original, This Is I benefits from high production values and period detail, recreating everything from 1980s school classrooms to 2000s talent shows. The result is a film that is both culturally specific and universally relatable, inviting audiences into a very personal journey while highlighting broader themes of inclusion.

The casting of This Is I pairs fresh talent with veteran presence. In the title role as Ai Haruna, Haruki Mochizuki makes a leap to leading actor status. A relative newcomer with only a few TV drama credits to his name, Mochizuki was chosen to embody Ai’s complexity – from the awkwardness of youth to the glamorous confidence of a woman who has learned to love herself. His performance, including scenes where he must believably transform from “Kenji” to “Ai,” will likely be a talking point, as it’s both a sensitive portrayal of gender transition and a star-making turn for the young actor. Takumi Saitoh, one of Japan’s more internationally recognized actors, co-stars as Dr. Wada. Saitoh’s involvement lends the film gravitas; he is known for a wide range of roles in Japanese cinema and TV, and notably headlined Netflix’s pregnancy comedy-drama He’s Expecting (2022). In This Is I, Saitoh brings warmth and dignity to the role of Ai’s mentor, providing a steady counterpart to Mochizuki’s emotionally charged lead.

Rounding out the ensemble are experienced actors who add depth to Ai Haruna’s world. Tae Kimura, a Japan Academy Prize-winning actress, plays Hatsue – Ai’s mother – portraying a woman grappling with confusion and concern for her child’s unconventional path. Opposite her, comedian Seiji Chihara takes a dramatic turn as Ai’s father, Kazutaka, whose traditional expectations are challenged by his son’s transformation. Their family dynamics in the film mirror those of many real families learning to accept a transgender child, and the performances are described as empathetic, not one-note. Meanwhile, iconic character actor Shidō Nakamura appears as Tsuruhisa, a figure in the nightlife scene who becomes an important ally to Ai (Nakamura’s commanding screen presence is used to memorable effect in the cabaret club segments). Notably, the film also features Ataru Nakamura, a real-life transgender singer-songwriter, in the role of Aki – one of Ai’s close friends on the club circuit. By casting Ataru Nakamura (who in reality came out as trans in the 2000s and achieved pop success), This Is I adds an extra layer of authenticity to its depiction of queer community life. In smaller roles, young actor Kaito Yoshimura and actress Megumi portray friends from Ai’s Osaka days, each representing aspects of the social circle that helped shape her. Together, the cast brings a mix of fresh perspective and seasoned skill, signaling that the film is at once an intimate character piece and a story with broad appeal.

In terms of genre and mood, This Is I positions itself as both a biopic and an uplifting showbiz drama. It shares DNA with classic performer-journey films – viewers will recognize the beats of a dream pursued and obstacles overcome – but it stands out by centering a transgender woman’s experience in a culture where such stories have seldom been told on screen. The film’s style melds earnest family melodrama with the sparkle of musical performance sequences. Early teasers released by Netflix hint at a careful balance: there are emotionally raw scenes of Ai confronting discrimination or loneliness, but these are interspersed with exuberant moments like her joyous lip-synced impersonation of pop idol Aya Matsuura (a routine that, in real life, helped launch Ai Haruna’s celebrity in 2008). The soundtrack and costuming play significant roles in evoking the eras depicted, from 1980s idol ballads to flashy 2000s J-Pop stage outfits. The overall tone is described as “nostalgic” and “inspiring,” suggesting the film will leave viewers with a sense of hope. Notably, This Is I follows on the heels of recent Japanese productions that have tackled transgender themes – such as 2020’s award-winning Midnight Swan – but unlike those fictional stories, this film dramatizes the life of a well-known public figure. That real-world connection may give This Is I extra resonance, as audiences can draw parallels between the on-screen narrative and Japan’s evolving attitudes towards gender diversity over the past few decades.

Beyond its local context, This Is I is poised to connect with international viewers as part of a broader wave of inclusive storytelling. Netflix has increasingly invested in content that elevates LGBTQ+ voices from different cultures, and Ai Haruna’s story carries a universal message even as it delves into distinctly Japanese settings. The film highlights how one individual’s courage to be herself helped shift perceptions in her home country – a theme that will be familiar to global audiences aware of similar trailblazers in other societies. In Japan, Ai Haruna became a trailblazer by winning an international transgender beauty pageant in 2009 and later appearing prominently on television; her journey from societal marginalization to mainstream success is significant in its own right. Now, by bringing that journey to a worldwide platform, the filmmakers and Netflix are framing it within the larger conversation about transgender representation. This Is I arrives at a time when transgender narratives – from biopics to series – are gaining visibility and sparking dialogue. For Netflix, which is delivering the film simultaneously to audiences from Asia to Europe to the Americas, it’s an opportunity to showcase a story of empowerment that crosses cultural boundaries. And for viewers, the movie offers both an education on a pivotal figure in Japan’s LGBTQ+ history and an uplifting drama about the power of authenticity. In connecting Ai Haruna’s personal odyssey to broader currents of change, This Is I not only celebrates one woman’s triumph over adversity, but also underscores the value of understanding and acceptance in today’s world.