Perfect Days

Perfect Days follows Hirayama, a middle-aged man living a life of humble simplicity in Tokyo. His days are governed by a meticulous routine: he wakes at dawn to the sound of a street sweeper, tends to his maple saplings, and drives his small van through the city to his job cleaning public toilets. Despite the seemingly lowly nature of his work, Hirayama performs his duties with the grace and precision of a master craftsman, finding deep contentment in the order and service he provides.

The film captures the quiet poetry of his existence through his hobbies—listening to classic rock on cassette tapes, reading second-hand novels by Faulkner and Highsmith, and photographing the shifting light through the trees during his lunch breaks. His solitary peace is occasionally punctured by the presence of others: a chaotic younger coworker, a mysterious homeless man, and eventually his runaway niece, Niko. These interactions provide glimpses into a complex past and the conscious choices he has made to live in the present.

The core of Perfect Days is a celebration of presence and the dignity of labor. Director Wim Wenders suggests that a meaningful life is not found in grand ambitions or material wealth, but in the intentional appreciation of the here and now. The film posits that true freedom comes from accepting life's limitations and finding 'perfection' in the subtle, fleeting moments of harmony between humanity and nature, encapsulated in the Japanese concept of komorebi.

Critics and audiences have debated whether Hirayama is truly happy or if his routine is a coping mechanism for profound trauma.

• The Buddhist Reading: Hirayama has reached a state of enlightenment, having shed his ego and past attachments.
• The Melancholic Reading: The final scene, where Hirayama cries while smiling, suggests he is desperately trying to hold onto his peace against a tide of deep-seated sadness and regret over his estranged family.
• The Social Critique: Some see the film as a romanticization of low-wage labor, while others view it as a critique of a society that renders essential workers like Hirayama invisible.

Perfect Days had a significant impact on both international cinema and local tourism. It won the Best Actor award at Cannes for Koji Yakusho and was nominated for an Academy Award. In Japan, it sparked a 'toilet tourism' trend where visitors traveled to Shibuya to see the architectural toilets featured in the film. Critically, it was hailed as a return to form for Wim Wenders, blending his European sensibilities with Japanese aesthetics. Culturally, it became a touchstone for the 'slow living' movement, encouraging audiences to find beauty in the 'boring' parts of life.

The film received universal acclaim from critics, holding a very high fresh rating on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were particularly moved by Koji Yakusho's nearly wordless performance. While a small minority of viewers found the pacing too slow or the plot 'uneventful,' the majority described it as a 'soul-cleansing' and 'profoundly moving' experience that lingered in the mind long after viewing.