This Is I (Netflix) Ending Explained: Kenji/Ai’s Journey + Final Meaning
Kenji → Ai in Netflix’s “This Is I”: What the Ending Is Really Saying (and What We Can Confirm Pre‑Release)
Last updated: February 4, 2026
Netflix’s This Is I is a true‑story-based Japanese drama that follows Kenji (who later lives and performs as Ai) and Dr. Koji Wada, the physician who becomes a pivotal part of Ai’s journey toward living authentically. If you searched for an “ending explained” article, here’s the important context first: as of February 4, 2026, the film has not premiered worldwide yet. Netflix has announced the global release date as February 10, 2026.
Quick context: what “This Is I” is about
This Is I (rated TV‑MA on Netflix) tells the story of Kenji, a young person who dreams of becoming an idol while struggling with identity and social judgment, and the moment their life changes after meeting Dr. Koji Wada. Kenji finds a sense of belonging among performers at a cabaret/show‑pub, debuts under a new name—Ai—and later becomes Dr. Wada’s first patient to undergo gender‑affirming surgery in a time when such care was treated as taboo.
The film is also described in Japanese press coverage as an “air musical,” blending music and dance with a real-life story inspired by entertainer Haruna Ai (born Kenji Ōnishi) and the doctor associated with her transition.
Official videos (Trailer + Clip)
Kenji/Ai’s journey explained: the emotional arc (what the story is building toward)
Even without the full film available yet, the official synopsis and released footage make the story’s direction pretty clear. Kenji’s journey isn’t framed as a single “big reveal,” but as a series of pressures and releases—moments where hiding becomes unbearable, and self-expression becomes survival.
- Stage 1: A dream that clashes with the world’s gaze. Kenji wants to become an idol, but bullying, shame, and isolation push them into silence.
- Stage 2: Found family at the show‑pub. Kenji discovers a place where performance and identity are not punished, and “Ai” is born as a name and a persona—more than a stage act, a first real home.
- Stage 3: The doctor who listens. Dr. Wada’s meeting with Ai is portrayed as a collision of needs: Ai needs care and recognition; Wada needs redemption after past medical guilt.
- Stage 4: Transition as a decision to live, not to disappear. The story (as described by Netflix) is fundamentally about choosing an authentic life despite backlash.
- Stage 5: Public selfhood. Because this is rooted in a performer’s life story, the narrative is naturally moving toward a “public-facing” endpoint: not just becoming Ai privately, but being seen as Ai openly—on a stage, in a spotlight, in a world that once tried to erase her.
Dr. Wada’s journey explained: why this isn’t only Ai’s story
A lot of “ending explained” coverage of identity dramas focuses only on the protagonist. But Netflix’s synopsis makes it explicit that Dr. Wada’s arc matters just as much: he begins “tormented by guilt” over patients he couldn’t save, then chooses to step into gender‑affirming care despite bias and taboo, ultimately supporting Ai unconditionally.
In other words, the film’s emotional engine is a two‑way transformation: Ai moves from fear to selfhood, while Wada moves from guilt to purpose—redefining what “healthcare” means when society refuses to recognize the patient’s dignity.
Ending explained (pre‑release version): what we can say without making things up
Because the worldwide Netflix release is on February 10, 2026, there is no official, verifiable scene-by-scene ending summary available to responsibly “explain” yet. What we can do—honestly—is explain the ending the story is aiming for, based on (1) Netflix’s own synopsis and (2) the real-life trajectory the film draws from.
So what is the “real” ending this story points to?
The title This Is I signals an endpoint that’s less about plot twists and more about identity being spoken aloud and lived out. The ending’s meaning is likely to land on a simple idea: the final victory is not “being accepted,” but refusing to stop existing as yourself—especially when institutions and public opinion try to shrink you back into secrecy.
If the film follows the public record, the final beat may echo Haruna Ai’s breakthrough
Public coverage describes the film as tracing Kenji’s path to becoming Haruna Ai, who became widely known in Japan through performance and TV appearances. That suggests the story’s “closing feeling” may be something like: Ai holding her past (Kenji) and her present together—without apology, turning what once felt like loneliness into visibility and community.
Final meaning: what “This Is I” is actually saying
The cleanest way to understand the film’s final meaning is to treat it as a statement in three layers:
- Personal layer: “I am not a mistake.” Kenji/Ai’s story rejects the idea that identity is something you must earn permission to claim.
- Medical layer: “Care means believing the patient.” Dr. Wada’s storyline frames dignity as a medical responsibility, not a political debate.
- Social layer: “Visibility has a cost, but invisibility costs more.” The story doesn’t pretend backlash disappears; it shows what it takes to live anyway.
True story context: who Haruna Ai is (and why that matters for the ending)
Haruna Ai is a Japanese transgender TV personality and singer, born Kenji Ōnishi. One widely cited milestone is her winning Miss International Queen 2009 in Pattaya, Thailand—becoming the first Japanese contestant to win that title.
Why it matters for This Is I: if the film draws from a life that moved from private struggle to public recognition, then the ending’s “meaning” is likely to feel less like a tidy wrap‑up and more like a promise: the point isn’t that pain ends—it's that life opens.
What Reddit Theories Say About the Ending (and what fans are watching for)
On Reddit, early discussion has focused less on guessing a twist ending and more on what tone the film will choose: intimate realism versus crowd‑pleasing uplift, and how it will handle prejudice without turning Ai into a symbol instead of a person.
This is I : Netflix Global Release (Feb 2026)
by u/ in r/JDorama
One recurring vibe in the thread: viewers are hoping the film keeps the focus on lived experience—dreams, isolation, and chosen family—rather than reducing the story to a “message movie.” If the ending lands, it’ll probably be because it feels earned: a final moment of self-recognition that still acknowledges the world doesn’t magically become safe.
Embedded posts (X/Twitter + Instagram)
Related content to watch after “This Is I”
If you’re here for character-driven identity stories (not just plot), Netflix itself groups This Is I alongside a mix of LGBTQ+ dramas and coming-of-age titles. A few “next clicks” that tend to scratch a similar itch:
- The Life You Wanted
- He’s Expecting
- Ride or Die
- Nuovo Olimpo
- Alex Strangelove
FAQ
When does “This Is I” release on Netflix?
Netflix and multiple entertainment outlets list the global release date as February 10, 2026.
Is “This Is I” based on a true story?
Yes. Press coverage and Netflix’s synopsis describe it as a true-story-based film centered on Haruna Ai (Kenji Ōnishi) and Dr. Koji Wada, combining drama with music and dance.
Will this post be updated with the full ending explained?
Once the film is released and the ending is verifiable, this article can be expanded into a full scene-by-scene “ending explained,” including the final choice Kenji/Ai makes, what it means for Dr. Wada, and how the last musical sequence reframes the story.