Kamikaze Girls Revival Screening Set! Dutch Model Ella Freya Commits to Attend for a Special Reason

Ella Freya, who was captivated by the 20-year-old film “Kamikaze Girls.”

The film “Kamikaze Girls,” featuring Kyoko Fukada as Momoko Ryugasaki, who dedicates herself to Lolita fashion, and Anna Tsuchiya as Ichigo Shirayuri, a local Yankee in a special attack uniform, is back in the spotlight 20 years after its original release in 2004.

Based on the novel of the same name by Nobara Gokumoto, the film tells the story of two girls with differing fashion styles and outlooks on life who clash but ultimately foster a friendship. It has been described as a bible for young women, capturing significant attention upon its release.

To commemorate its 20th anniversary, the film is being revived and screened at TOHO Cinemas in Shinjuku and Umeda starting October 18.

The movie had a considerable impact on the youth of that era. One notable fan is Ella Freya, a 27-year-old Dutch model and influencer with over 3.05 million followers on social media. She reflects on her early experience watching the film, saying,

“I’ve seen it over 10 times, but I first watched it when I was 13 years old at a Lolita fashion store in Utrecht, the Netherlands. I remember watching it with English subtitles at a tea party or something.

I had just started learning Japanese and only had a limited understanding of Japanese culture at the time. I didn’t even know what a pachinko parlor was for, and all I could picture of Japan were Harajuku and skyscrapers. I thought the rural landscapes of Shimotsuma, with its rice paddies and cows, were part of a movie set.”