Kabei: Our Mother
Kabei: Our Mother (母べえ, Kābē) is a 2008 Japanese drama film directed by Yoji Yamada. It is based on the autobiographical novel by Teruyo Nogami, who worked with Akira Kurosawa for many years.
Set in Tokyo in 1940, the story follows the Nogami family when the father, Shigeru, is arrested and accused of being a Communist. His wife Kayo works hard to keep the family together and raise their two daughters, with help from Shigeru’s sister Hisako and Shigeru’s former student Yamazaki. But Shigeru does not return home. As World War II approaches, Kayo stays hopeful and determined, doing everything she can to support her family with love.
The film stars Sayuri Yoshinaga as Kayo, with Tadanobu Asano, Rei Dan, and Mirai Shida in supporting roles. It runs 132 minutes, is in Japanese, and was released by Shochiku on January 26, 2008. The movie earned about $18.4 million at the box office and received several Japan Academy Prize nominations, including Best Film and Best Director, as well as acting nominations for Yoshinaga, Asano, and Dan.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:48 (CET).