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New Documentary Confronts Japan’s Growing Youth Suicide Crisis

The Ones Left Behind: When Tomorrow Feels Impossible begins international film festival campaign ahead of planned 2027 cinema release

TOKYO, JAPAN, August 10, 2026

A new feature documentary examining the growing crisis of youth suicide in Japan will begin its international film festival campaign in 2026, ahead of a planned cinema release in 2027.

The Ones Left Behind: When Tomorrow Feels Impossible
『取り残された人々：生きるのが辛い子どもたち』

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Rionne McAvoy, the documentary asks why so many children in one of the world’s safest and most prosperous countries feel that they can no longer continue living.

Behind every statistic is a young person carrying a story that may never have been fully heard.

Through deeply personal testimony from young people, bereaved families, educators, support workers, researchers and politicians, the film explores the many pressures affecting children in Japan. These include bullying, family difficulties, school refusal, social isolation, mental health struggles, social media, academic pressure and anxiety about the future.

Rather than reducing youth suicide to a single cause, the documentary examines the complex circumstances that can leave children feeling trapped, invisible or unable to ask for help.

“Children are often told to speak up, but we rarely ask whether the adults around them are truly prepared to listen,” said director Rionne McAvoy. “This film is not only about the children we have lost. It is about the children who are still here, what they are trying to tell us, and what must change if we want them to believe that tomorrow is possible.”

The film is the second instalment in The Ones Left Behind, a documentary series examining overlooked realities and social issues in Japan that can be difficult to recognise from within the country. Told from the perspective of non-Japanese director Rionne McAvoy, each film focuses on the lives of the people experiencing these issues.

The first film, The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan, was officially selected by 41 film festivals and won 17 Best Documentary awards. It was also selected by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for educational use.

The new film will continue its festival campaign across Japan and internationally throughout the remainder of 2026, ahead of its planned theatrical release in 2027. Schools, community organisations and independent groups interested in organising a screening are invited to contact the production team.

The film is directed, filmed, and edited by Rionne McAvoy, produced by Ayuri Oikawa and executive produced by Ivan Kovac. F.J. Fox and Charlie Sato serve as consulting producers.

Official trailer:
Watch the official trailer on YouTube

Film information
English title: The Ones Left Behind: When Tomorrow Feels Impossible
Japanese title: 『取り残された人々：生きるのが辛い子どもたち』
Format: Feature documentary
Runtime: 93 minutes
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese with English subtitles
Festival campaign: 2026
Planned cinema release: 2027

Content warning
This documentary contains discussions of suicide, suicidal thoughts, self-harm and bullying. Some viewers may find this material distressing. Please consider whether this is the right time for you to watch. If you need support, contact a trusted person, a mental health professional or a crisis support service in your country.

About Japan Media Services
Japan Media Services Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based production company creating documentaries, films and media projects that bring overlooked social issues and human experiences to wider audiences. For more information, visit japanmediaservices.com.

Media enquiries, interview requests and screening opportunities
Rionne McAvoy
President & CEO
Japan Media Services Co., Ltd.
Email: press [@] japanmediaservices.com