Japan Sinks (Japanese: 日本沈没, Hepburn: Nippon Chinbotsu) is a disaster novel by Japanese writer Sakyo Komatsu, published in 1973.
 First English edition (Harper & Row) | |
| Author | Sakyo Komatsu |
|---|---|
| Original title | 日本沈没 |
| Translator | Michael Gallagher |
| Language | Japanese |
| Genre | Science fiction thriller |
| Publisher | Kobunsha |
Publication date | 1973 |
| Publication place | Japan |
Published in English | 1976 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 224 pp |
| ISBN | 978-4-7700-2039-0 |
| OCLC | 33045249 |
Geophysical background
Japan is on a destructive plate boundary, where the Philippine Sea Plate subducts the Eurasian Plate. It is a triple junction and three subduction zones are involved. After the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, towns like Ishinomaki subsided.
Anime adaptation
An original net animation (ONA) series adaptation of the novel was announced on October 9, 2019. The series, titled Japan Sinks: 2020, was animated by Science Saru, with Ho Pyeon-gang and Masaaki Yuasa served as directors. Toshio Yoshitaka handled series composition, Naoya Wada designed the characters, and Kensuke Ushio composed the series' music. Yuko Sasaki, Reina Ueda and Tomo Muranaka are credited with starring roles. It was released worldwide by Netflix on July 9, 2020.[3] A film compilation version of the series was subsequently released in Japanese theaters on November 13, 2020.[4]
Summary
Shortly after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a major earthquake hits Japan. Amidst the chaos, the Mutou siblings Ayumu (a 14-year-old track and field athlete) and her younger brother Gou (a 7-year-old video game enthusiast) attempt to escape the city with their family and friends. However, the sinking Japanese archipelago complicates their escape. Plunged into extreme conditions, the Mutou siblings believe in the future and acquire the strength to survive with utmost effort.
Voice cast
| Character | Japanese voice actor | English dub actor |
|---|---|---|
| Ayumu Mutō (武藤 歩) | Reina Ueda | Faye Mata |
| Gō Mutō (武藤 剛) | Tomo Muranaka | Ryan Bartley |
| Kaito / Kite | Kensho Ono | Aleks Le |
| Haruo Koga (古賀 春生) | Hiroyuki Yoshino | Billy Kametz |
| Mari Mutō (武藤 マリ) | Yuko Sasaki | Grace Lynn Kung |
| Kōichirō Mutō (武藤 航一郎) | Masaki Terasoma | Keith Silverstein |
| Osamu Asada (浅田 修) | Daiki Hamano | Jamieson Price |
| Nanami Miura (三浦 七海) | Nanako Mori | Abby Trott |
| Kanae Murota (室田 叶恵) | Tomoko Shiota | Cathy Cavadini |
| Kunio Hikita (疋田 国夫) | Umeji Sasaki | Doug Stone |
| Saburō Ōtani (大谷 三郎) | Taichi Takeda | Kim Strauss |
| Daniel | Gensho Tasaka | George Cockle |
Episode list
| No. | Title | Original release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Beginning of the End" Transliteration: "Owari no hajimari" (Japanese: オワリノハジマリ （終わりの始まり）) | July 9, 2020 |
| 2 | "Farewell, Tokyo" Transliteration: "Saraba, Tōkyō" (Japanese: さらば、東京) | July 9, 2020 |
| 3 | "A New Hope" Transliteration: "Aratana Kibō" (Japanese: 新たな希望) | July 9, 2020 |
| 4 | "An Open Door" Transliteration: "Aita Doa" (Japanese: 開いたドア) | July 9, 2020 |
| 5 | "Illusion" Transliteration: "Iryūjon" (Japanese: イリュージョン) | July 9, 2020 |
| 6 | "An Oracle" Transliteration: "Orakuru" (Japanese: オラクル) | July 9, 2020 |
| 7 | "The Dawn" Transliteration: "Yoake" (Japanese: 夜明け) | July 9, 2020 |
| 8 | "Mom's Secret" Transliteration: "Mama no Himitsu" (Japanese: ママの秘密) | July 9, 2020 |
| 9 | "Japan Sinks" Transliteration: "Japanshinku" (Japanese: ジャパンシンク) | July 9, 2020 |
| 10 | "Resurrection" Transliteration: "Fukkatsu" (Japanese: 復活) | July 9, 2020 |
Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 72% approval rating based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 6.54/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Japan Sinks: 2020's swell of tension and frenetic pace leave little room to breathe, but bursts of hope and interesting insights into humanity may help brave viewers weather its apocalyptic story."[5] The series attracted criticism within Japan for its condemnation of Japanese nationalism,[6] but also received positive attention in the West for its multiculturalism and inclusiveness,[7] and was named as one of the best anime series of 2020.[8][9]
The first episode of Japan Sinks: 2020 was awarded the 2021 Annecy Jury Prize for a Television Series,[10] and the series as a whole received two nominations at the 2021 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.[11] The compilation film version of the series was awarded a Jury Selection Prize at the 2021 Japan Media Arts Festival.[12]
| Japan Sinks: 2020 | |
 Promotional poster | |
| 日本沈没 2020 (Nihon chinbotsu ni-zero-ni-zero) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Science fiction, drama[2] |
| Original net animation | |
| Directed by | Masaaki Yuasa (chief) Ho Pyeon-gang (series) |
| Written by | Toshio Yoshitaka |
| Music by | Kensuke Ushio |
| Studio | Science SARU |
| Licensed by | Netflix |
| Released | July 9, 2020 |
| Runtime | 25–32 minutes |
| Episodes | 10 |
Parodies
A parody short story by Yasutaka Tsutsui, titled Nihon Igai Zenbu Chinbotsu (The Whole World Sinks Except Japan) was also released in 1973, and adapted into a film of the same name in 2006.
A parody visual novel by Yonago Gainax, titled Nihon Chinbotsu Desu Yo, is scheduled to be released in 2025.[13]
References
External links
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