I Want to Be a Shellfish
私は貝になりたい
We checked 8 streaming services in India on 06 Jun 2026 at 16:59 IST
About
Television production of I Want to Be a Shellfish. On a post-war peaceful day in Japan, Toyomatsu Shimizu, a barber as well as a good father and husband, is suddenly arrested by the Prefectural Police as a war criminal and sued for murder. According to the accusation by GHQ, Toyomatsu "attemped to kill a US prisoner", which was nothing but an order by his superior and failed after all with hurting the prisoner by weak Toyomatsu. Also, Toyomatsu was driven to corner at the trial by the fact that he fed the US prisoner some burdock roots to nourish him. Toyomatsu believes nothing but being not guilty, but he is sentenced to death by hanging. Prior to the execution, Toyomatsu writes a long farewell letter to his family, the wife and the only son: "If I ever incarnate, I hate to be a human being any more.... Oh yes, I would like to be...a shellfish living on the rock-bottom of the sea."
Cast
Frankie Sakai
as Shimizu Toyomatsu
Mutsuko Sakura
as Shimizu Fusae
Toshie Takada
as Toshiko
Shin Saburi
as Lieutenant-General Yano
Yoshio Ōmori
as Staff Officer
Yasumi Hara
as
Kōji Nanbara
as
Koji Kiyomura
as
Kazuo Kumakura
as
Hōsei Komatsu
as
Taketoshi Naitō
as
Seijirô Onda
as
Shinjirō Asano
as
Junji Masuda
as
Takeshi Sakamoto
as
Hisao Toake
as
Gorō Tarumi
as
Akitake Kōno
as
Akio Tanaka
as
George Furness
as
Where does I Want to Be a Shellfish rank today?
I Want to Be a Shellfish is #10000 on the Bowood.TV Daily Streaming Charts today.
- Highest: #10000
- Top 10: 0 days
- Top 100: 0 days
Watch I Want to Be a Shellfish Online Free in HD
If you've been searching for I Want to Be a Shellfish full movie in HD, Bowood.TV has you covered. This highly acclaimed Japanese movie title from 1958 is available to stream instantly — no ads to fight through, no paid subscriptions, no annoying redirects.
About I Want to Be a Shellfish
Television production of I Want to Be a Shellfish. On a post-war peaceful day in Japan, Toyomatsu Shimizu, a barber as well as a good father and husband, is suddenly arrested by the Prefectural Police as a war criminal and sued for murder. According to the accusation by GHQ, Toyomatsu "attemped to kill a US prisoner", which was nothing but an order by his superior and failed after all with hurting the prisoner by weak Toyomatsu. Also, Toyomatsu was driven to corner at the trial by the fact that he fed the US prisoner some burdock roots to nourish him. Toyomatsu believes nothing but being not guilty, but he is sentenced to death by hanging. Prior to the execution, Toyomatsu writes a long farewell letter to his family, the wife and the only son: "If I ever incarnate, I hate to be a human being any more.... Oh yes, I would like to be...a shellfish living on the rock-bottom of the sea." Running 100 minutes.
I Want to Be a Shellfish Cast and Characters
The cast features Frankie Sakai (as Shimizu Toyomatsu), Mutsuko Sakura (as Shimizu Fusae), Toshie Takada (as Toshiko), Shin Saburi (as Lieutenant-General Yano), and Yoshio Ōmori (as Staff Officer). Their performances are a major reason I Want to Be a Shellfish has built such a passionate audience.
Where to Watch I Want to Be a Shellfish Online
Want to watch I Want to Be a Shellfish online without paying? Bowood.TV is the easiest way. Click play and the film starts in seconds. No popups, no "5 day trial that auto-charges" — just the show.
▶ Watch I Want to Be a Shellfish NowWhy People Are Watching I Want to Be a Shellfish
There's a reason I Want to Be a Shellfish keeps showing up on "must-watch" lists. What makes it work is a tone and style that's hard to find elsewhere. If you enjoy Japanese storytelling that doesn't follow the same tired beats, this is the kind of film you'll end up recommending to friends.
Frequently Asked Questions about I Want to Be a Shellfish
Where can I watch I Want to Be a Shellfish online for free?
You can watch I Want to Be a Shellfish online free on Bowood.TV. Just open the page and hit play — no signup, no subscription, full HD streaming on phone, tablet, or desktop.
How long is I Want to Be a Shellfish?
I Want to Be a Shellfish runs for 100 minutes (about 1.7 hours).
Is I Want to Be a Shellfish good? What's the rating?
I Want to Be a Shellfish holds a 10.0/10 rating based on 2 reviews — genuinely excellent.
Who is in the cast of I Want to Be a Shellfish?
The main cast includes Frankie Sakai, Mutsuko Sakura, Toshie Takada, and Shin Saburi, plus a strong supporting ensemble.
Is I Want to Be a Shellfish available in Japanese?
Yes — I Want to Be a Shellfish was originally produced in Japanese and that's the version you'll stream here on Bowood.TV. English subtitles are provided when available.
When was I Want to Be a Shellfish released?
I Want to Be a Shellfish was released in 1958.
Do I need an account to watch I Want to Be a Shellfish on Bowood.TV?
No. Bowood.TV is free and you can watch I Want to Be a Shellfish without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.
💬 Comments
Join the conversation
Share your thoughts, rate episodes, and connect with other fans
Hey everyone! 👋 Welcome to the discussion.
Feel free to share your thoughts about this series — what did you love, what surprised you, which episodes are your favorites? 🎬
Got ideas for what we should add to Bowood.TV? Want to suggest a series? Drop it here! We read every comment ✨
Recommended for You
Based on this movie
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about I Want to Be a Shellfish
Where can I watch I Want to Be a Shellfish for free?
You can watch I Want to Be a Shellfish (1958) online for free on Bowood.TV. Just click "Watch Free" on this page to start streaming instantly — no account, subscription, or downloads required.
What is I Want to Be a Shellfish about?
I Want to Be a Shellfish is film. Television production of I Want to Be a Shellfish. On a post-war peaceful day in Japan, Toyomatsu Shimizu, a barber as well as a good father and husband, is suddenly arrested by the Prefectural Police as a war criminal and sued for murder. According to the accusation by GHQ, Toyomatsu "attemped to kill a US prisoner", which was nothing but an order by his superior and failed after all with hurting the prisoner by weak Toyomatsu. Also, Toyomatsu was driven to corner at the trial by the fact that he fed the US prisoner some burdock roots to nourish him. Toyomatsu believes nothing but being not guilty, but he is sentenced to death by hanging. Prior to the execution, Toyomatsu writes a long farewell letter to his family, the wife and the only son: "If I ever incarnate, I hate to be a human being any more.... Oh yes, I would like to be...a shellfish living on the rock-bottom of the sea."
When was I Want to Be a Shellfish released?
I Want to Be a Shellfish was released on October 31, 1958. It has a runtime of 1h 40m. The film was produced by TBS.
Who stars in I Want to Be a Shellfish?
I Want to Be a Shellfish stars Frankie Sakai, Mutsuko Sakura, Toshie Takada and Shin Saburi. The full cast list is available in the Cast section above.
Is I Want to Be a Shellfish available in HD?
Yes, I Want to Be a Shellfish is available to stream in high definition (HD) on Bowood.TV. Our players automatically deliver the best quality your connection supports — no extra setup needed.