Ikiru follows Kanji Watanabe, a man who spends thirty years in a monotonous Tokyo public works department before discovering he has stomach cancer and less than a year to live. He attempts hedonistic pleasures but ultimately finds meaning by using bureaucracy to build a playground for children.
Toho released the film in Japan on the 9th of October 1952. It competed for the Golden Bear at the 4th Berlin International Film Festival held from the 18th to the 29th of June 1954.
Akira Kurosawa began developing this film in 1952 with screenwriter Hideo Oguni, marking their first collaboration together. Co-writer Shinobu Hashimoto received ¥150,000 while Oguni received ¥500,000 for his work.
Takashi Shimura portrayed Kanji Watanabe earning widespread critical acclaim for his performance. Bosley Crowther writing for The New York Times called it a strangely fascinating and affecting film and stated Shimura measures up through his performance in this picture with the top film actors anywhere.
A British remake titled Living adapted by Kazuo Ishiguro was released in 2022 directed by Oliver Hermanus and starring Bill Nighy. In 2003, DreamWorks attempted a U.S. remake starring Tom Hanks though production never occurred.