Movie 'Wash' Starts Streaming Today! Naoko Ken, Currently in Morning Drama 'Kaze, Kaoru', Plays a Grandmother with Dementia!? A Highly Anticipated Release of the Masterpiece that Made Celebrities Cry; Video Comment from Naoko Ken Arrives!
The movie 'Wash', starring Naoko Ken and Yuka Nakao, begins streaming on multiple platforms on April 15, 2026. It is a moving story about the bond between a grandmother with dementia and her granddaughter who works in the sex industry.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 21:33
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 13:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 07:01 (89h 59m after Collected)
"After watching, you will definitely want to see your family—"
Naoko Ken, who is also generating buzz for her first appearance in a morning drama, plays a "grandmother receiving care." Will the grandmother with dementia, who repeatedly says "nice to meet you," be able to remember her granddaughter? A moving work depicting family bonds.
The movie "Wash", which garnered attention for its unconventional scale of release for a story about "a soapland worker caring for her grandmother," expanding to over 100 theaters nationwide including Shinjuku Piccadilly during Golden Week 2025, finally starts its highly anticipated streaming distribution today.
This work depicts a week in the life of the protagonist Kana, who unexpectedly finds herself balancing day care for her grandmother with night work at a soapland, and her grandmother, Norie. Kana, who continues to wash people's bodies day and night, thought that both her grandmother with dementia and her soapland customers had completely forgotten about her. However, she realizes that perhaps she was the one who had forgotten about her grandmother all along—. It's an exceptionally warm entertainment piece portraying human connections that makes you want to meet that special someone.
Naoko Ken, who plays the lead role of Norie, is currently appearing as Maji and serving as the narrator in the NHK morning drama "Kaze, Kaoru" broadcasting in the first half of 2026. Her flavorful narration has evoked a massive response. This season's morning drama, which depicts protagonists who graduated from a nurses' training school during the turbulent Meiji period, revolves around the theme of "nursing." Ken, who played the side "receiving care" in this movie, has thus been cast in quick succession as someone watching over the history of "nursing" in Japan.
Receiving an eager offer for her first morning drama appearance, focusing "more on Naoko Ken herself than 'singer Naoko Ken'," she is drawing tremendous attention as an actor in her 55th year in show business.
Planning, screenwriting, and directing were handled by Ikunosuke Okazaki, the grandson of Rokusuke Ei and a young newcomer director at just 32. Skyrocketing in reputation with the massive hit of this film, his second directorial work, Okazaki was featured in Weekly Bunshun CINEMA's '5 Directors to Watch'. He was exceptionally selected as the director for the Off-Broadway play 'Loved by Ernest Shackleton', to be performed at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Theater East in June 2026, marking his first experience in theater production and handling its Japan premiere. Endorsed by Ken as 'one of those who will carry the Japanese film industry,' he is an up-and-coming director currently flooded with requests.
This film, which received much acclaim after its theatrical release and broadened the respective fields of activity for those involved, is finally available for viewing on online platforms.
The movie "Wash" starts streaming on April 15, 2026 (Wed) on Prime Video, U-NEXT, Hulu, FOD, YouTube, Apple TV, and more! Exclusive unlimited viewing available on Prime Video's subscription channel My Theater Plus.
A video comment celebrating the start of streaming by lead actor Naoko Ken and director Ikunosuke Okazaki has also been released.
Following the announcement of the streaming release the other day, fans who had been eagerly waiting flooded SNS with comments like "I've been waiting for this stream!" and "I can meet Grandma Norie again!" The video similarly celebrates the release and joyfully discusses the highlights of the film.
▼ Video comment from lead actor Naoko Ken arrives!
Lead Actor / Role of Norie: Naoko Ken Comment
"It's a movie that can be watched by families, groups of friends, or elderly people, regardless of gender or age. I also frequently watch things via streaming normally, so I am very happy that 'Wash' can now be watched at home. Please do take a look."
Director Ikunosuke Okazaki Comment
"Since the planning stage, we have kept moving with the principle of 'having as many people watch it as possible.' I am truly delighted that it will be streamed on so many platforms this time. As a bright, fun, and colorful popcorn movie, please watch it while gathering at home. If watching it becomes the catalyst for you to leave that home and go see your family, I feel it was worth making this film."
"Even if you forget, I want to remember you forever."
Because the time you can spend with your family is only a fleeting moment, you just have to enjoy the present to the fullest so you won't regret that moment! Human kindness turns the surroundings into smiles, and your own life begins to move—. Positivity at all times, an overflow of energy for living!
One of the double lead actors, playing the soapland worker and granddaughter Kana, is Yuka Nakao, a rising star actor bringing a new breeze to the film industry, having appeared in the movie "By the Window" and the drama "Elpis - Hope, or Disaster -". And playing the role of the grandmother with dementia, Norie, is Naoko Ken in her first movie starring role in 9 years. Furthermore, comedy duo New York's Kazuya Shimasa and TikToker...
Naoko Ken, who is also generating buzz for her first appearance in a morning drama, plays a "grandmother receiving care." Will the grandmother with dementia, who repeatedly says "nice to meet you," be able to remember her granddaughter? A moving work depicting family bonds.
The movie "Wash", which garnered attention for its unconventional scale of release for a story about "a soapland worker caring for her grandmother," expanding to over 100 theaters nationwide including Shinjuku Piccadilly during Golden Week 2025, finally starts its highly anticipated streaming distribution today.
This work depicts a week in the life of the protagonist Kana, who unexpectedly finds herself balancing day care for her grandmother with night work at a soapland, and her grandmother, Norie. Kana, who continues to wash people's bodies day and night, thought that both her grandmother with dementia and her soapland customers had completely forgotten about her. However, she realizes that perhaps she was the one who had forgotten about her grandmother all along—. It's an exceptionally warm entertainment piece portraying human connections that makes you want to meet that special someone.
Naoko Ken, who plays the lead role of Norie, is currently appearing as Maji and serving as the narrator in the NHK morning drama "Kaze, Kaoru" broadcasting in the first half of 2026. Her flavorful narration has evoked a massive response. This season's morning drama, which depicts protagonists who graduated from a nurses' training school during the turbulent Meiji period, revolves around the theme of "nursing." Ken, who played the side "receiving care" in this movie, has thus been cast in quick succession as someone watching over the history of "nursing" in Japan.
Receiving an eager offer for her first morning drama appearance, focusing "more on Naoko Ken herself than 'singer Naoko Ken'," she is drawing tremendous attention as an actor in her 55th year in show business.
Planning, screenwriting, and directing were handled by Ikunosuke Okazaki, the grandson of Rokusuke Ei and a young newcomer director at just 32. Skyrocketing in reputation with the massive hit of this film, his second directorial work, Okazaki was featured in Weekly Bunshun CINEMA's '5 Directors to Watch'. He was exceptionally selected as the director for the Off-Broadway play 'Loved by Ernest Shackleton', to be performed at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Theater East in June 2026, marking his first experience in theater production and handling its Japan premiere. Endorsed by Ken as 'one of those who will carry the Japanese film industry,' he is an up-and-coming director currently flooded with requests.
This film, which received much acclaim after its theatrical release and broadened the respective fields of activity for those involved, is finally available for viewing on online platforms.
The movie "Wash" starts streaming on April 15, 2026 (Wed) on Prime Video, U-NEXT, Hulu, FOD, YouTube, Apple TV, and more! Exclusive unlimited viewing available on Prime Video's subscription channel My Theater Plus.
A video comment celebrating the start of streaming by lead actor Naoko Ken and director Ikunosuke Okazaki has also been released.
Following the announcement of the streaming release the other day, fans who had been eagerly waiting flooded SNS with comments like "I've been waiting for this stream!" and "I can meet Grandma Norie again!" The video similarly celebrates the release and joyfully discusses the highlights of the film.
▼ Video comment from lead actor Naoko Ken arrives!
Lead Actor / Role of Norie: Naoko Ken Comment
"It's a movie that can be watched by families, groups of friends, or elderly people, regardless of gender or age. I also frequently watch things via streaming normally, so I am very happy that 'Wash' can now be watched at home. Please do take a look."
Director Ikunosuke Okazaki Comment
"Since the planning stage, we have kept moving with the principle of 'having as many people watch it as possible.' I am truly delighted that it will be streamed on so many platforms this time. As a bright, fun, and colorful popcorn movie, please watch it while gathering at home. If watching it becomes the catalyst for you to leave that home and go see your family, I feel it was worth making this film."
"Even if you forget, I want to remember you forever."
Because the time you can spend with your family is only a fleeting moment, you just have to enjoy the present to the fullest so you won't regret that moment! Human kindness turns the surroundings into smiles, and your own life begins to move—. Positivity at all times, an overflow of energy for living!
One of the double lead actors, playing the soapland worker and granddaughter Kana, is Yuka Nakao, a rising star actor bringing a new breeze to the film industry, having appeared in the movie "By the Window" and the drama "Elpis - Hope, or Disaster -". And playing the role of the grandmother with dementia, Norie, is Naoko Ken in her first movie starring role in 9 years. Furthermore, comedy duo New York's Kazuya Shimasa and TikToker...