The Imaginary Dog and the Lying Cat
The Imaginary Dog and the Lying Cat (Japanese: 架空の犬と嘘をつく猫, Romaji: Kakuu no Inu to Uso wo Tsuku Neko) is a 2026 Japanese drama film directed by Yukihiro Morigaki. The screenplay, written by Tomoe Kanno, is based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Haruna Terachi.
Plot
The story centers on the Haneko family, who struggle to cope with the aftermath of a tragic loss. Following the accidental death of his younger brother, Yamabuki (Mahiro Takasugi) attempts to shield his mother, Yukino (Yuko Ando), from the reality of the situation. He writes letters to her, pretending to be the deceased brother, which leads his mother to retreat into a fantasy world.
The family dynamic is further strained by the father, Jungo (Ken Yasuda), who avoids the household to stay with his mistress. Meanwhile, the grandfather, Shogo (Akira Emoto), remains preoccupied with a dream of building an amusement park, and the grandmother, Sumie (Kimiko Yo), operates an antique shop where she deals in lies. The eldest daughter, Beni (Yuka Kouri), serves as a point of friction within the family, openly expressing her disdain for the deceptions maintained by her relatives.
Cast
The film features an ensemble cast portraying the members of the Haneko family and their associates:
- Mahiro Takasugi as Yamabuki Haneko
- Marika Ito as Rai Sato
- Mai Fukagawa as Kanako Toyama
- Kimiko Yo as Sumie Haneko
- Akira Emoto as Shogo Haneko
- Ken Yasuda as Jungo Haneko
- Yuko Ando as Yukino Haneko
- Yuka Kouri as Beni Haneko
- Hiccorohee as Itsuki Ogata
- Hanawa as the manager
Production
The film was produced by Hitoshi Nunokawa, Kenji Akazawa, and Muneo Miyagawa, with cinematography by Yutaka Yamazaki. It was distributed by Pony Canyon and released in Japan on January 9, 2026, with a runtime of 125 minutes.