Wim Wenders Finds Poetry in Routine With ‘Perfect Days’

In 2020, the Tokyo Toilet Project started its mission to redesign 17 public restrooms in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. The project’s goal was to change public opinion of restrooms by working with 16 highly renowned architects and making stylish designs, such as the famous transparent restroom by Shigeru Ban. What’s more, each toilet receives three daily cleanings, plus monthly deep cleans and maintenance. But the toilets were unveiled to the Japanese public during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the nation was closed. Project lead Koji Yanai decided to invite acclaimed German filmmaker Wim Wenders to Tokyo in hopes that these new toilets would inspire him. Indeed, Wenders was inspired to capture the moments of Tokyo returning to normal as the pandemic waned. He cast legendary Japanese actor Kōji Yakusho in the main role, and Perfect Days was born.

Hirayama (Yakusho) is a member of the maintenance team at The Tokyo Toilet. He wakes up every morning before work to water his plants, grab a coffee from the vending machine and pop a cassette tape into his van for the commute. At work he wipes down each toilet and moves on to the next one, stopping at lunchtime to enjoy a sandwich in the park, where he indulges in his hobby of taking pictures of trees. He visits his favorite restaurant after work, enjoys a nice book before bed and does it all again the next day. This is Hirayama’s daily routine. But routines don’t always unfold the same way as the days tick by. Little differences and daily challenges from co-workers and family begin to rear their heads. 

Perfect Days is all about the little things in life, and it shines in its depiction of life’s occasional simplicity. Through Hirayama’s routine, we are slowly pulled into his life and become progressively more invested in the character. It’s a strategy that pays off when the movie slows us to its meditative pace and lets the beauty of life’s small joys shine. It’s a tranquil film, due in part to both the dreamy documentary style of cinematographer Franz Lustig and minimalist sound design that captures the ambience of the parks where the toilets are located. The score consists of the contents of Hirayama’s cassette collection, including The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison and Lou Reed. 

Despite the language barrier between the director and his lead actor, Wenders and Yakusho work together brilliantly. As they explained during a press conference at Cannes, where Yakusho won the prize for Best Actor, the duo worked through a tight three-week shooting schedule without rehearsals. Yakusho improvised entire scenes and also went as far as to work with Tokyo Toilet maintenance staff while Wenders hammered out a script in only two weeks. Together they created a character that serves as an inspiration for the people who feel burnt-out in their current life to take care of all the things that we take for granted — down to the place designated for disposing of waste.

Perfect Days is a modern masterpiece and a celebration of life. It’s a movie that may inspire you to try taking your time to breathe, slow down and live in the moment. Led by Yakusho’s award-winning performance and Wenders proudly displaying his Yasujirō Ozu inspiration on his sleeve, this is a rare bright spot of happiness proving that the small moments that make life worth living can be found anywhere — even while cleaning toilets.