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The Taste of Tea (Cha No Aji)

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Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Katsuhito Ishii

Producer:

Hilo Iizumi, Kazuto Takida, Kazutoshi Wadakura

Writer:

Katsuhito Ishii

Runtime:

2hr 23m

Synopsis

A spell of time of a rural family's slightly surreal life.

Cast

  • Maya Banno
  • Takahiro Satô
  • Tadanobu Asano
  • Satomi Tezuka
  • Tatsuya Gashûin
  • Tomoko Nakajima
  • Ikki Todoroki
  • Tomokazu Miura
  • Anna Tsuchiya
  • Saki Aibu

Letterboxd User Reviews

4.2
39.2K
22.8K
18.3K
RATINGS 2.0K FANS
4.2
  • Mar 19, 2020

    The taste of tea: Bitter, dry, and most importantly, acquired. A variety of leaves provides for a range of flavors, allowing you to pick and choose one to steer towards depending on mood (though ultimately it's best to warm up to all kinds so as to grow your palette).…

    603 Likes
    reibureibu
    reibureibu
    Jun 29, 2020

    It's a fantasy film. It's a drama film. It's a philosophical film. It's a self-discovery film. It's a slice-of-life film. It's a coming-of-age film. IT'S A MASTERPIECE FILM - Without a doubt unlike anything else I've seen. A masterpiece and an immediate favorite.…

    463 Likes
    Vedant Bansal
    Vedant Bansal
    Sep 29, 2021

    Great Tea. Quite rich, a really lovely color. Touch of Ozu on the nose with Ōbayashi overtones. Hints of Kore-eda on the palate and a whole lotta of mushrooms.

    420 Likes
    CinemaVoid 🏴‍☠️
    CinemaVoid 🏴‍☠️
  •
    Apr 6, 2019

    probably one of the most free-spirited films I've seen in a long while

    389 Likes
    willow
    willow
    Aug 8, 2026

    it’s the kind of film that left me with a newfound gratitude for life, making me cherish even the most ordinary moments. if i had to describe it, it felt like sitting on the porch, surrounded by the quiet rustle of trees and birdsong, while my mom brought out a warm cup of…

    179 Likes
    eul
    eul
    May 7, 2023

    Magic is what you feel when your heart leaps. Magic looks like giants and mud men through the eyes of a child. Magic is the reacclimation, finally—when you can actually feel something click inside you, like a warm hug—to the place your soul will always belong. Art is magic:…

    297 Likes
    Jerry
    Jerry
  •
    Jan 22, 2020

    “it was my dream to play Go with you like this” “then let’s play everyday” i felt every scene of this movie ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!

    271 Likes
    megaloom
    megaloom
    Nov 19, 2025

    "𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙚𝙖" was definitely 1 of the most strange movies I've seen this year, but I was amazing! The cinematography was incredible, a slow-paced film about the daily life of a rural family in Japan is very original and unique! Highly recommend it! And…

    228 Likes
    𝔻𝕚𝕖𝕘𝕠
    𝔻𝕚𝕖𝕘𝕠
    Jan 5, 2025

    Such a comfy, wholesome, offbeat, slice of life film that so exquisitely turns the mundane into something delightfully quirky, something so refreshingly whimsical, enchanting and charmingly unique. I'm impressed by how it carries a calming cadence, soothing rhythm, a soft…

    201 Likes
    -🎭
    -🎭
See All Reviews on Letterboxd.com

Queue Community Reviews

95%
Community 378
❤️ LOVE
57%
👍 LIKE
38%
😐 MEH
5%
👎 DISLIKE
0%
Top Reviews
  • Michael Tovey
    Michael Tovey loved
    The Taste of Tea

    This will make you high. A film on acid, but still so besutiful. The use of metaphors make it so iconic and special. This will make your head spin, butbin a good way. The soundtrack and use of music is really good. 9/10

    7M
    Enzo Gorlami
    Enzo Gorlami loved
    The Taste of Tea

    Beautiful

    1M
    Wyst
    Wyst liked
    The Taste of Tea

    7/10

    1Y
  • hono0ni
    hono0ni loved
    The Taste of Tea

    cute

    1Y
View More Popular The Taste of Tea Reviews on Queue

Atom Users Reviews

No one has posted a user review yet.

Metacritic

77
metacritic
Based on 5 Critics
7.9

USER SCORE (7)

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Reviews
75

A tad too long, Tea is nevertheless touching and funny, with charming performances. You might say it's as calming as a hot cup of green tea.

View full review
Metacritic review by V.A. Musetto
V.A. Musetto
New York Post
70

A bit of patience is required to get through The Taste of Tea, but patience is often rewarded, and it certainly is by this droll and oddly touching film.

View full review
Metacritic review by Neil Genzlinger
Neil Genzlinger
The New York Times
See All Critic Reviews on Metacritic.com

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is The Taste of Tea (Cha No Aji)?
The movie is 2hr 23min long.
What's The Taste of Tea (Cha No Aji) about?
A spell of time of a rural family's slightly surreal life.
Who's the cast of The Taste of Tea (Cha No Aji)?
  • Maya Banno as Sachiko Haruno - daughter
  • Takahiro Satô as Hajime Haruno - son
  • Tadanobu Asano as Ayano Haruno - uncle
  • Satomi Tezuka as Yoshiko Haruno - mother
  • Tatsuya Gashûin as Akira Todoroki - grandpa
  • Tomoko Nakajima as Akira Terako
  • Ikki Todoroki as Himself
  • Tomokazu Miura as Nobuo Haruno - father
  • Anna Tsuchiya as Aoi Suzuishi
  • Saki Aibu as Hotaru
Who's the director behind The Taste of Tea (Cha No Aji)?
Katsuhito Ishii directed The Taste of Tea (Cha No Aji).
Who produced The Taste of Tea (Cha No Aji)?
Hilo Iizumi, Kazuto Takida and Kazutoshi Wadakura produced The Taste of Tea (Cha No Aji).