Sign in

One Bowl of Kakesoba

1992·Movie
1h 38min
75
GreatGoodWatch score

Watch

Not streaming in any country yet.

One Bowl of Kakesoba fingerprint

Deeply emotional, strong craft, calm.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Fast Pace2
  • Tension1
  • Spectacle1

Heart

Deeply moving and heartwarming

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos10
  • Family Dynamics10
  • Wholesome9

Humor

Serious throughout

  • Wit & Wordplay1
  • Situational Comedy0
  • Physical Comedy0

World

Family, everyday modern life, and history

Holds up on a rewatch.

  • Rewatchability8
  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality7

Craft

Standout characters, performances, and storytelling

  • Character Depth9
  • Acting8
  • Narrative Structure8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Music Composition7
  • Music Centrality7
  • Cinematography6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightParty VibeIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want something to laugh atYou want fast pacing

Find more like it

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Set in Sapporo during the oil crisis of the early '70s, the film centers on the Hokkaitei soba stand run by a stoic patriarch and his perky wife. One New Year's day, a haggard-looking mother and her two adorable moppets poke their heads into the restaurant and ask for a single bowl of kakesoba. Noticing that the trio is looking a little low in the heels, she puts in an extra scoop of noodles. The youngest boy declares that the soba is delicious. The next year, the same threesome appears again asking for one bowl of kakesoba. This time the old man dumps in two helpings. He is struck by how much the youngest looks like their own son who was hit by a truck three years previous. The following year, the three return and this time the mother tells her story...
Heartwarming DramaFamily ResilienceQuiet CompassionJapanese CultureEmotional StorytellingHuman ConnectionGenerosity & PovertySlice of LifeMelancholy & HopeNew Year's Tradition

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about One Bowl of Kakesoba

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream One Bowl of Kakesoba legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for One Bowl of Kakesoba in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is One Bowl of Kakesoba worth watching?

75
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 76/100 (IMDb 7.1). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

How long is One Bowl of Kakesoba?

1 h 38 min

One Bowl of Kakesoba runs 1 h 38 min.

What language is One Bowl of Kakesoba in?

Japanese

It was made in Japanese. Produced in Japan.