This is I: Release Date, Cast, Plot, and All You Need to Know

A Japanese LGBTQ movie, This is I, is coming to Netflix this February, starring Haruki Mochizuki and Saito Takumi. Get all the details here.

Follow Login to Follow ×

SUMMARY

ELI5 Read Next

Netflix is set to release a new Japanese LGBTQ+ drama titled This is I. Based on the real-life story of Ai Haruna, a prominent Japanese transgender celebrity, this movie will explore gender identity, self-acceptance, and societal prejudices.

Starring rising actor Haruki Mochizuki and acclaimed star Saito Takumi, the movie is heading for Netflix’s February lineup. Directed by Yusaku Matsumoto, This Is I is already gaining attention from LGBTQ+ audiences and drama enthusiasts. Here is everything we know so far about This Is I on Netflix.

When is This is I Releasing?

This is I will be released worldwide on February 10, 2026. The release date was revealed through the movie’s official poster, which also confirms that the movie will stream exclusively on Netflix.

The movie will be available to audiences globally on the same day.

Who Is in the Cast of This is I?

Haruki Mochizuki stars as Haruna Ai, the movie’s central character. Saito Takumi plays Wada Koji, a doctor who becomes a pivotal figure in Ai’s life. Here’s the full list of cast:

• Haruki Mochizuki as Haruna Ai
• Saito Takumi as Wada Koji
• Kimura Tae as Hatsue, Ai’s mother
• Chihara Seiji as Kazutaka, Ai’s father
• Nakamura Ataru as Aki
• Yoshimura Kaito as Takuya
• Megumi as Yuko
• Nakamura Shido as Tsuruhisa

The movie marks Mochizuki’s first major lead role in a Netflix original movie. Takumi is a widely known actor and filmmaker. His works include Shin Ultraman, Hirugao, Bullet Train Explosion, Blank13, and more.

What Is Netflix’s This is I About?

The movie follows Kenji Onishi, a young boy with dreams of becoming an idol, but who struggles with deep inner conflict and society’s cold stares. His life begins to change when he meets Dr. Koji Wada, a compassionate physician who becomes a crucial ally in his transition. The movie explores their bond as Kenji embraces his true identity and courageously pursues a career in entertainment. The logline reads:

Haruna Ai, who took the world by storm in 2008 with her lip-synching impersonation of Air Ayaya, struggled from a young age with her true self. Despite suffering from the cold stares of society, she never gave up on her dream of becoming an idol. Ai’s fate changed when she met a doctor, Wada, who also had a traumatic past. Feeling alone amidst social backlash and adversity, the two built an irreplaceable bond of trust and friendship.

It tells a personal story rooted in the real struggles of Kenji Onishi, who became Ai Haruna after gender-affirming surgery and faced lifelong struggles with gender identity and societal expectations (via Variety).

Is There Any Trailer for This is I?

Netflix released an official trailer for This Is I on December 16, 2025. Check out the trailer here:

The movie is directed by Yusaku Matsumoto and written by Masahiro Yamaura. Production is handled by TOHO Studio. Yoshihiro Sato is serving as executive producer, and Yoshihiro Kubota is also producing the movie.

Are you planning to watch the movie when it premieres? Let us know your thoughts.

This is I will be released on February 10, 2026, on Netflix (US).

🎮 Take a short break — play a quick game