Diamonds in the Sand

Story

Synopsis

Divorced salaryman Yoji has just buried his mother in Tokyo. With few meaningful relationships left, he comes to grips with the realization that he has nothing to live for. A chance encounter with Minerva, a Filipina migrant worker who appears to sense his sadness, urges him to see his situation in a new way. A former nightclub entertainer, Minerva now works as a caregiver to provide for her only child in the Philippines. When Yoji discovers the decomposing corpse of his neighbor, an old man whose name he does not know, the death is ruled a kodokushi, or the lonely death. Unwilling to meet the same fate, Yoji throws caution to the wind to follow Minerva to Manila, the capital city of the Philippines.

Director

Janus Victoria

Writers

Janus Victoria

Language

Japanese

Country

Japan, Malaysia, Philippines

Release date

30 October 2025

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  Lily Franky

  Yoji

• 

  Maria Isabel Lopez

  Minerva

• 

  Soliman Cruz

  Toto

• 

  Charlie Dizon

  Angel

• 

  Kazuko Yoshiyuki

  Natsuko Kimura

• 

  Stefanie Arianne

  Sheila

• 

  Vikash Paliwal

  Store Clerk

• Nukata Shinichi

  Suzuki

• 

  Reiko Kataoka

  Aiko

• 

  Sheenly Gener

  Krista

• 

  Ryo Iwamatsu

  Kawase

• Tetsu Sakuma

  Senior Cleaner