This Is I (2026) Review: The True Story Of Ai Haruna: Finding “I” In A World That Said No

source: tv.lk21

Synopsis:

This Is I (2026) is a drama, biography, music film with a transgender theme from Japan, produced by Netflix Japan. Directed by Yusaku Matsumoto with a runtime of 130 minutes, the film was released on February 10, 2026, streaming worldwide on Netflix. The film is based on the true story of Ai Haruna and adapted from her autobiography “Subarashiki, Kono Jinsei” (素晴らしきこの人生) + Dr. Koji Wada’s non-fiction book “Penis Cutter”. The film received a MyDramaList rating: Story 9.5, Acting 9.5.

Based on the true story of Ai Haruna, a Japanese transgender icon. The film tells the journey of Kenji Onishi, a young boy who dreams of becoming an idol but faces difficulties with his gender identity and social pressure. He is bullied at school and cannot confide in his family. Then Kenji meets Dr. Koji Wada, a doctor who helps Kenji understand his true self and supports him in undergoing gender-affirming surgery. Their relationship develops into a strong bond, built from the experience of facing isolation and social judgment.

Kenji eventually finds his place in a cabaret bar full of dancers, and works in secret without his parents’ knowledge. On stage he debuts with a new identity: Ai. His life changes when he meets Dr. Koji Wada, a doctor haunted by guilt because he could not save a patient in the past. Dr. Wada empathizes with Ai’s suffering and decides to challenge taboos by researching gender confirmation surgery. Eventually Dr. Wada helps Ai understand his true self and supports him in undergoing gender-affirming surgery. Despite social prejudice and doubt, Dr. Wada chooses Ai as his first patient for the surgery.

In 2008, Ai Haruna rose to fame in Japan for her lip-sync performance imitating pop singer Aya Matsuura. The film shows Kenji’s long journey until he finally dares to be himself, accompanied by Japanese hit songs from the 80s to the 2000s. This is a heavy but warm film. It’s not about "going viral", but about "having the courage to be yourself".

Positive reviews flooded the film. Starting with the story itself, being based on a true story, the film dares to discuss transgender issues in Japanese society which is still very conservative. In Japan, LGBT people still face difficulties, have no rights, cannot adopt, etc. So this film feels very important. Then there is the Music and atmosphere. The film is music-driven, using classic Japanese songs from Seiko Matsuda, Akina Nakamori, Aya Matsuura, etc. The director said this film combines laughter, tears, dance, and music to show that courage can bring rebirth. The film is also said to have a strong human message. A reviewer said: "No matter what you think about the subject, if you would watch this with an open mind and heart, you might understand what transgender people go through". The film wants to open people’s eyes. One more thing is Haruki Mochizuki’s acting. Although he was very young (18 years old at the time), his performance was called "stupendous". He captures Ai’s fear, pain, and the beauty of the transformation process with so much empathy. The chemistry with Takumi Saitoh as Dr. Wada is also deep.

However, this beautiful film is not free from criticism. Many say that this is a film with a very sensitive topic. For some viewers it might be heavy because it discusses gender dysphoria, social rejection, and surgery. Then the 130-minute runtime is considered quite long, but because this is a biography it’s understandable that the exploration is deep.

This film stars: Haruki Mochizuki, Tae Kimura, Seiji Chihara, Ataru Nakamura and more.

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In my opinion:

I want to inform you that there are LGBTQ elements in this film. So, I hope you handle it wisely. If it weren’t for this film, I would not have known Ai Haruna at all. She is a transgender person from Japan whose name is even on Wikipedia. Ai Haruna is the winner of the Miss International Queen 2009 contest.

To be honest, I am not an LGBTQ supporter. However, I do not reject their existence. Living in this world is the right of every human being, so as long as that person does not cause destruction on earth, we must not judge them.

From this film I came to feel what transgender people actually feel. The film truly presents the perspective of a transgender person who fights for what they believe in. I’m sure there are many pros and cons to this, but only God is allowed to judge us, right?

In terms of the film, I really like everything. The visuals, audio, and cinematography are nearly perfect. I never doubt the quality of Japanese artists, they are truly natural. I prefer to call this a biography combined with drama and musical.

So beautiful and sweet. Not to mention Dr. Koji Wada’s struggle in helping ‘them’ who are in need. It may be wrong, but Dr. Wada chose humanity and did not want to destroy his patient’s dreams and spirit. This film is a story about survival, losing the people who believed in you, but still choosing to stand up and move forward.

This Is I is a delicately-told biographical film. The story of a young person who does not give up on becoming who they truly are. This film is suitable for fans of biographical films, Japanese drama, and those who want to understand more deeply about the transgender struggle. However, it is less suitable for those looking for a light film or who are uncomfortable with topics about gender identity.

For me this one is 9/10.