Harmful Insect

{{Infobox film | name = Harmful Insect | image = Harmful Insect film Theatrical release poster (2001).jpg | alt = | caption = | director = Akihiko Shiota | producer = | writer = Yayoi Kiyono | screenplay = | story = | based_on =  | narrator = | starring = Aoi Miyazaki<br/>Seiichi Tanabe<br/>Yu Aoi | music = | cinematography = Tokusho Kikumura | editing = Yoshio Sugano | studio = | distributor = Nikkatsu | released = {{Film date|2001|11|07|Venice Film Festival, Italy|2002|03|16|Japan}} | runtime = 92 minutes | country = Japan | language = Japanese | budget = | gross = }} {{Nihongo|'''''Harmful Insect'''''|害虫|Gaichū}} is a 2001 Japanese drama film directed by Akihiko Shiota and starring Aoi Miyazaki. Shiota credits the original story to Yayoi Kiyono, a student of his during his time teaching at the Film School of Tokyo.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Karolak |first=Nikodem |date=2020-04-22 |title=Akihiko Shiota: How did I portray juvenile characters in my early films? |url=https://asianmoviepulse.com/2020/04/akihiko-shiota-how-did-i-portray-juvenile-characters-in-my-early-films/ |access-date=2025-10-21 |website=Asian Movie Pulse |language=en-US}}</ref>

The film follows the life of junior high school student Sachiko Kita. Her father has abandoned their family and her mother attempts to commit suicide. Her former sixth grade teacher, one of the few people she can rely on, is compelled to leave due to rumors of an affair between him and Sachiko. As she becomes the subject of schoolyard gossip, Sachiko drops out and instead wanders around her town, discovering a world that has "no ideals or dreams to pursue, whatsoever."<ref name=":0" />

==Cast== * Aoi Miyazaki as Sachiko Kita * Seiichi Tanabe as Ogata * Ryo as Toshiko Kita * Yū Aoi as Natsuko Yamaoka * Tetsu Sawaki as Takao * Ryo Amamiya as Tokugawa * Koji Ishikawa as Kyuzo * Yuria Haga as Rumi * Eihi Shiina as Mano * Yusuke Iseya * Susumu Terajima * Ken Mitsuishi * Masahiro Toda * Nao Omori

== Awards == '''4th Cinemanila International Film Festival''' * Best Actress - Aoi Miyazaki * NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film - Special Mention '''27th Hochi Film Award'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cinemahochi.yomiuri.co.jp/h_award/2002/|script-title=ja:報知映画賞ヒストリー|access-date=December 12, 2010|language=Japanese|publisher=Cinema Hochi|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131131850/http://cinemahochi.yomiuri.co.jp/h_award/2002/|archive-date=January 31, 2009}}</ref> * Best Actor - Seiichi Tanabe '''24th Yokohama Film Festival'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://homepage3.nifty.com/yokohama-eigasai/24-2002/24_2002_best10.html|script-title=ja:第24回ヨコハマ映画祭日本映画ベスト10|accessdate=December 12, 2010|language=Japanese|publisher=Yokohama Film Festival|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053547/http://homepage3.nifty.com/yokohama-eigasai/24-2002/24_2002_best10.html|archive-date=September 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> *9th Best Film

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website}} {{in lang|ja}} * {{IMDb title|0297905}}

Category:2002 films Category:Films directed by Akihiko Shiota Category:Japanese drama films Category:Films about dysfunctional families Category:2002 Japanese films