I Want to Be a Shellfish
2008, Japanese. Directed by Katsuo Fukuzawa.
1944, in the depths of World War II. Toyomatsu Shimizu is a completely typical barber from a remote sea-side town who lives frugally but happily with his wife Fusae and their five-year-old son. Eventually, though, the army beckons and he is drafted. One day an officer on the battle-field orders him to kill a captive U.S. soldier. Although Toyomatsu lacks the spirit to kill the man, and only wounds him in the arm, the victorious U.S. soldiers will not accept this, and Toyomatsu is arrested and tried as a war-criminal. And he receives the cruelest sentence possible...
- Runtime
- 2h 19m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- Japanese
- Rated
- Check local
Start now and it ends at ….
Too new to call
Not enough people have rated it yet for a verdict.
Seen it? Give your verdict.
Saved privately on this device.
Where to watch I Want to Be a Shellfish
I Want to Be a Shellfish isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 22 September 2008.
No streaming listings yet. Search JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Katsuo FukuzawaDirector
- Masahiro NakaiToyomatsu Shimizu
- Yukie NakamaFusae Shimizu
- Yuki ShibamotoToshiko
- Masahiko NishimuraNemoto
- MagiShokichi Sakai
- Tsubasa KatôKenichi
- Tetsuya TakedaTakeuchi
- Ainosuke KataokaCaptain Hidaka
- Tatsuo NadakaMajor Adachi
- Isao TakenoSergeant Kimura
- Naomasa MusakaPrivate Tateishi
- Yoshiyoshi ArakawaPrivate Takita
Details
- Released
- 22 September 2008
- Original title
- 私は貝になりたい
- Country
- Japan
- Written by
- Shinobu Hashimoto
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
If you liked I Want to Be a Shellfish
The Scarlet and the Black
1983 · 7.1/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Escape from Sobibor
1987 · 7.2/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Danny Boy
2021 · 6.8/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
To End All Wars
2001 · 6.4/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
The One That Got Away
1957 · 6.8/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Waiting for Anya
2020 · 6.3/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Wife of a Spy
2020 · 6.7/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Battleground
1949 · 6.7/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
1959 · 8.2/10
Absolute CinemaRecommended by TMDB viewers
Walking with the Enemy
2014 · 6.3/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
I Want to Be a Shellfish: quick answers
Is I Want to Be a Shellfish worth watching?
I Want to Be a Shellfish doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is I Want to Be a Shellfish?
I Want to Be a Shellfish runs 139 minutes (2h 19m).
Does I Want to Be a Shellfish have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for I Want to Be a Shellfish. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
I Want to Be a Shellfish parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for I Want to Be a Shellfish yet.
Which OTT platform is I Want to Be a Shellfish on?
I Want to Be a Shellfish isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 22 September 2008. (Checked 11 November 2026.)
What movies are like I Want to Be a Shellfish?
If you liked I Want to Be a Shellfish, try The Scarlet and the Black, Escape from Sobibor, Danny Boy.
Who directed I Want to Be a Shellfish?
I Want to Be a Shellfish (2008) was directed by Katsuo Fukuzawa and stars Masahiro Nakai, Yukie Nakama, Yuki Shibamoto.