It’s hard to accurately locate those who are lonely because they’re, by their very nature, a self-identifying group. But people who don’t feel like they have friends or family they can talk to and may not be comfortable with meeting others in an in-person setting are much more likely to be okay responding to a survey or questionnaire to determine how they feel about their connection with those around them. Dear Tomorrow offers a fascinating and intimate look at Japan’s loneliness epidemic and the steps taken to officially address and curb it.
The facts used to frame this documentary’s presentation are staggering: Tokyo, Japan is currently the most populous city in the world, and forty percent of its residents live alone. This film chooses two people in their forties to use as the test case for its argument, which is that they’re aware that they feel lonely but don’t have the right tools to do something to change it. Enter A Place for You, an NPO (non-profit organization) that serves as a twenty-four-hour chat hotline for those who need someone to talk to so that they can have some connection.
What’s somewhat interesting about this documentary is that its subjects inherently do have some sort of companionship just from the cameras rolling on them and following them as they look for ways to find purpose in their lives and begin chatting with representatives from A Place for You. It’s possible that could feel disingenuous to some audiences because they are literally surrounded by other people, but perhaps that’s this film’s very point: being around others isn’t necessarily enough to feel as if you’re part of something, and they may feel just as alone even when they’re the center of attention. Their desire to participate in this film isn’t a way to force human interaction and relevance but instead a desperate call to be seen and understood as they search for, in non-hyperbolic terms, a reason to keep living.
It’s affirming to see Japan taking productive steps to identify and combat this crisis, in stark contrast to other countries like the United States where some current government figureheads show no ability to relate to those who don’t have access to have the same resources and comforts as their wealthiest constituents. Appointing a Minister of Loneliness and Isolation is an extraordinary move, one that doesn’t solve all problems in a sweeping manner but instead demonstrates that it’s a matter to be taken seriously and which requires considerable research and action to figure out a way to offer the right kind of support and undertake an appropriate outreach effort to truly reach people.
Focusing on just two people is an effective way to show examples of how people self-report on their isolation and the way in which they seek some comfort. There are many scenes of typing shown on-screen, with representatives from A Place for You answering back, beginning with an apology for the wait time and an affirmation of their place in this world. Users also note if they’ve used the chat hotline before, which could be yet another reminder of their desperation but instead may be seen as a way to assure themselves that engaging in this kind of conversation has worked before to provide them something positive and tangible. While it can be hard to watch these stories, it’s uplifting to know that, however they feel, these people are not alone, and one country is working hard to figure out a way to reverse a troubling trend and really help its population. This film can’t provide firm answers on its success, but even just these two cases seem like they’re headed in a positive direction.
Grade: B+
Check out more of Abe Friedtanzer’s articles.
Dear Tomorrow makes its world premiere in the Documentary Spotlight section at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival.