Lee Jun Young Makes Surprise Entry into Japanese Cinema with Takuya Kimura’s ‘Tokyo Taxi’

Lee Jun Young Tokyo Taxi
Lee Jun Young Tokyo Taxi
Credit: “Tokyo Taxi” Production Company

Lee Jun Young is making his Japanese film debut in a major way—starring in Tokyo Taxi, the 91st film from legendary director Yoji Yamada.

On July 8, BILLIONS confirmed, “Lee Jun Young will appear in legendary Japanese filmmaker Yoji Yamada’s 91st work ‘Tokyo Taxi,’ marking his Japanese screen debut.”

Tokyo Taxi is a Japanese adaptation of the French film Paris Taxi. Set in Tokyo, the story captures themes of reflection, reconciliation, and unexpected miracles at the twilight of life. The film boasts a star-studded Japanese cast including Takuya Kimura, Chieko Baisho, Yû Aoi, and Takaya Sakoda—with Lee Jun Young taking on a key role among them.

His casting and filming were kept strictly under wraps, with the announcement only made after he had already completed shooting. Lee plays Kim Young Gi, the first love of lead character Sumire (Chieko Baisho) during her youth. He’s expected to deliver emotionally charged scenes alongside Aoi.

Lee shared, “Thanks to Director Yamada’s emotionally driven style, I was able to immerse myself naturally in the role. Though the shoot was short, it was an incredibly deep and memorable experience.” He added, “It was an honor to work with such amazing actors for my first Japanese film. I hope the audience feels the warmth of human connection through this story.”

Director Yamada is often referred to as a living legend in modern Japanese cinema. His acclaimed works include It’s Tough Being a Man, The Twilight Samurai, The Hidden Blade, and the What a Wonderful Family! series. Tokyo Taxi also marks his reunion with Kimura—19 years after they last worked together on The Hidden Blade—a pairing that has drawn major attention in Japan.

Tokyo Taxi is set to premiere in theaters across Japan on November 21st, 2026.

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