The Japanese Film — 父と僕の終わらない歌

From Blackburn to the Big Screen in Japan

What began as a series of car journeys with my dad, Teddy Mac, became a story that touched millions of people around the world. In May 2025, that story reached the big screen in Japan.

Inspired by my memoir, The Songs That Saved Us (originally published as The Songaminute Man), the Japanese-language film 父と僕の終わらない歌 reimagines our family's experiences through the lives of a Japanese father and son. Although the characters and setting are different, the heart of the story remains the same: the remarkable connection that music can provide in the face of dementia.

Watch the Trailer

From Our Family to the Big Screen

The filmmakers brought our story to life through the fictional Mamiya family, capturing the bond between a father, mother and son that lay at the heart of our own experiences.

The McDermott Family
Teddy with his wife Linda, and son Simon.

The Japanese Mamiya Family
ft. Keiko Matsuzaka, Akira Terao and Tori Matsuzaka.

A Story Reimagined in Japan

Directed by Norihiro Koizumi, the film stars Japanese singing icon Akira Terao as Tetsuta Mamiya, a father living with dementia, and Tori Matsuzaka as his son, Yuta. Keiko Matsuzaka plays his wife, Ritsuko.

Set in Japan, the film follows a family whose lives change when a video of their father singing captures the public's imagination. Seeing Dad's story interpreted in another language and culture has been an extraordinary experience - something neither of us could ever have imagined.

Released in Japan

父と僕の終わらない歌 was released in Japanese cinemas on 23 May 2025. The film is also listed on Netflix Japan, although streaming availability depends on your country or region.