BLANK CANVAS: MY SO-CALLED ARTIST'S JOURNEY Press Notes and Photo Gallery From Warner Bros. Japan

A young artist is mentored by a tough teacher in the autobiographical story, BLANK CANVAS: MY SO-CALLED ARTIST'S JOURNEY. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Akiko Higashimura /Shueisha ©︎2025 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Film Partners

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan, Pony Canyon

Official Site: kakushika-movie.jp (Japan)

Theatrical poster. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Akiko Higashimura /Shueisha ©︎2025 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Film Partners

Warner Bros. Pictures Japan has provided information and photos for BLANK CANVAS: MY SO-CALLED ARTIST'S JOURNEY (かくかくしかじか, Kakukaku Shikajika), a live-action film based on a true story of a real-life manga artist and her mentor that will open in Japanese cinemas on May 16th.

Akiko Higashimura is an award-winning manga artist who has inspired fans across the world with for her series Princess Jellyfish and Tokyo Tarareba Girls. Her manga Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey is a true story about Higashimura herself and her mentor, cherished memories that take place over 9 years, that has now been adapted into a live-action film.

Set in three cities in Japan - Miyazaki, Ishikawa and Tokyo - the film vividly depicts the irreplaceable days she spent with her mentor. An emotional new story is woven out of the meetings and partings with precious people that we all experience in life.

BLANK CANVAS: MY SO-CALLED ARTIST'S JOURNEY is directed by Kazuaki Seki (JIGOKU-NO-HANAZONO ～OFFICE ROYALE～, 2021) and stars Mei Nagano (JIGOKU-NO-HANAZONO ～OFFICE ROYALE～, CELLS AT WORK!) and Yo Oizumi (MOM, IS THAT YOU?!).

Story

I can still hear my teacher's voice...

While she has dreamed of becoming a manga artist since childhood, Akiko (Mei Nagano) has become a lazy high school student who spends her days in a haze.

As she sets out to become a popular manga artist, her days are suddenly filled with battles between Akiko and her private art school teacher, the dreadful Mr. Hidaka (Yo Oizumi). She begins to harbor cruel lies and secrets that she couldn’t bring herself to confess to her own mentor.

The supporting cast of BLANK CANVAS: MY SO-CALLED ARTIST'S JOURNEY. Top Row, Left to Right: Kitami (Ai Mikami), Sato (Mei Hata), Imada (Jin Suzuki) and Nishimura (Fuju Kamio). Top Row, Left to Right: Oka (Kenjiro Tsuda), Mr. Nakata (Teppei Arita), Mrs. Hayashi (Megumi) and Mr. Hayashi (Nao Omori). Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Akiko Higashimura /Shueisha ©︎2025 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Film Partners

Details

Release Date: Friday, May 16, 2025 (Japan)
Running Time: 126 Minutes

Cast
Akiko Hayashi: Mei Nagano
Kenzo Hidaka: Yo Oizumi
Kitami: Ai Mikami
Sato: Mei Hata
Imada (Ima-chan): Jin Suzuki
Nishimura: Fuju Kamio
Oka (Shueisha Editor): Kenjiro Tsuda
Mr. Nakata (Art Club Advisor): Teppei Arita
Mrs. Hayashi: Megumi
Mr. Hayashi: Nao Omori
Kawasaki: Shoot Mori
Sho Aoyagi
Mijika Nagai
Yuki Saito (Special Appearance)

Staff
Original Story: Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey by Akiko Higashimura (Serialized in Shueisha's Cocohana)
Director: Kazuaki Seki
Screenplay: Akiko Higashimura, Date-san

Cinematographer: Hiroyuki Yabe
Producers: Tatsuya Kato, Yuichi Sakurai

Music: Yuki Munakata

Theme Song: "Message" by MISAMO

Production: "Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey" Film Partners
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan

Manga artist Akiko Hayashi (Mei Nagano). Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Akiko Higashimura /Shueisha ©︎2025 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Film Partners

Art teacher Kenzo Hidaka (Yo Oizumi). Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Akiko Higashimura /Shueisha ©︎2025 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Film Partners

Akiko's father (Nao Omori) and mother (Megumi). Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Akiko Higashimura /Shueisha ©︎2025 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Film Partners

On a date with Nishimura (Fuju Kamio). Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Akiko Higashimura /Shueisha ©︎2025 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Film Partners

Akiko is praised by her high school art club advisor, Mr. Nakata (Teppei Arita). Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Akiko Higashimura /Shueisha ©︎2025 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Film Partners

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Akiko Higashimura /Shueisha ©︎2025 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Film Partners

Hidaka confronts Imada (Jin Suzuki). Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Akiko Higashimura /Shueisha ©︎2025 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Film Partners

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Akiko Higashimura /Shueisha ©︎2025 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Film Partners

BLANK CANVAS: MY SO-CALLED ARTIST'S JOURNEY key art. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Akiko Higashimura /Shueisha ©︎2025 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Film Partners

Logo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Akiko Higashimura /Shueisha ©︎2025 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Film Partners