Japan Sinks
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Japan Sinks (Sinking of Japan, Nihon Chinbotsu (日本沈没?)) (2006) is a Tokusatsu film directed by Shinji Higuchi, known for his work on the Heisei Gamera trilogy. The film was released as Sinking of Japan in some countries.
The film is a loose remake of the earlier version (1973) based on the SFnovel by Sakyo Komatsu. The film stars Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and Kou Shibasaki. In the movie due to a collision of tectonic plates, the central plate that Japan sits on will soon break apart. As a result in 338 days Japan will break apart and collapse into the Pacific Ocean.
The theme song of this movie is "Keep Holding U" by SunMin thanX Kubota. The translate selected passages in English by Michael Gallagher (translator) is ablable.[1]
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The film starts off with an earthquake and volcano scenario. Kusanagi saves some girl and is in turn rescued by Shibasaki Kou in a helicopter. They have some dialogue every 15 or 20 minutes, which becomes fairly repetitive. There are subplots involving Shibasaki's family (who run a little restaurant in Shinagawa), the government trying to deal with the situation, and Toyokawa's scientist (who delivers the news that Japan will sink in less than a year).
Earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis continually pummel Japan throughout the movie. The government tries to evacuate the country as the death toll mounts, but many countries refuse the mass influx of Japanese refugees. This is highly ironic because of Japan's current race-fueled immigration laws. Millions hysterically try to make it to Japan's mountainous highlands. Kusanagi escapes Japan and goes to the UK. He wants to take Shibasaki and the little girl, but Shibasaki sees that as cowardice and continues rescuing as many people as possible.
Nihon Chinbotsu shows many being sucked by the earth, crushed by avalanches, or smashed by waves. Many elements of the movie are taken from Spielberg's War of the Worlds, especially the refugee-like masses.
[edit] Trivia
- There is a parody film named "Everyone But Japan Sinks" (日本以外全部沈没?) related to this title.
- Anno Hideaki, a cofounder of Gainax alongside Higuchi, had a cameo role in this movie, as did his real-life wife; in the movie, their characters were also married.
- Mayumi Shintani had a cameo role as well. Her debut as a seiyu was in a Gainax anime, Kare Kano, which was directed by Anno.
- Yoshiyuki Tomino of Mobile Suit Gundam fame also had a cameo in the movie.
[edit] References
- ^ "Japan Sinks", Kodansha International (September 1995) ISBN 4770020392
