Depicting Japan sinking after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the bonds between families, the new Netflix anime "Sinking of Japan" unveils cast and advance cutaways.

The cast and advance cuts have been released from "The Sinking of Japan," which will be adapted into an anime on Netflix in 2020.

The anime "Sinking of Japan" is based on the novel of the same title published by Sakyo Komatsu in 1973. The total number of copies of the original work sold exceeded 4.7 million. The live-action film adaptation in the same year, 1973, recorded distribution revenues of 2.82 billion yen. In 2006, it was adapted into a film starring Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and Kou Shibasaki, which was also a box-office hit, grossing 5.34 billion yen.

This film is set in the year 2020. Japan has just completed a major national project, the Tokyo Olympics, when a major earthquake suddenly strikes. Ayumu Muto and his brother Go, who live in Tokyo, attempt to escape from Tokyo with their family of four amidst the chaos, but the sinking Japanese islands are relentlessly hunting them down. ......

The anime adaptation will be directed by Masaaki Yuasa, director of "Yoru wa tanashi arukete yo otome" and "Yoake ni naru rou no uta. Music will be provided by Kensuke Ushio, who worked on "Ping Pong the Animation" and "Devilman Crybaby" before joining director Yuasa for the third time. Animation production will be handled by Science SARU, led by director Yuasa.

⇒ Director Masaaki Yuasa boldly adapted Komatsu Sakyo's masterpiece novel into an anime! Netflix original anime series "Sinking of Japan 2020" is now in production!

Cast revealed. The leading role of Ayumi Muto is played by Rena Ueda.

The cast of the film was also announced. The role of Ayumu Muto, a girl who devotes herself to athletics with the aim of competing in the Olympics, will be played by Rena Ueda ("Demon Slayer" Kanawo Kurihanari, "Darwin's Game" Shuka, etc.).

Ayumu's younger brother, Go Mutou, will be played by Satoshi Muranaka ("World Trigger" Yuma Kugan, etc.), her mother, Mari Mutou, a former swimmer who is always positive in any situation, will be played by Yuko Sasaki ("Chibimaruko-chan" Grandma, etc.), and her father, Koichiro Mutou, a strong, smart and reliable man, will be played by Masaki Terasoma ( (Ginsaburo Toyama in "Detective Conan" and others) will play the role of Koichiro Mutou, the strong, smart and reliable father.

Comments from Rena Ueda

Comments from Rena Ueda, who plays the main character, Ayumi Mutoh, are as follows.

Comments from Rena Ueda (in Japanese only)

--How did you feel when you were chosen for the role?
I was very happy, but at the same time I was very nervous. From the audition, I felt that Director Yuasa had a solid image of me in mind, and even when I read the script for the audition, I had a sense that I was gripped by the role. I was very honored to be involved in such a film, but at the same time, I felt a lot of pressure. I was very nervous, but I just felt ready to give it my all and give it my all.

--The character of Ayumi is a young woman in the midst of her adolescence who encounters an unprecedented disaster and faces up to it with her family without losing hope in spite of the difficulties she faces.
I played the role of a very clumsy, unstable walker with a lot of potential. She is a girl who has many things that I do not have. I was really worried about how I could get along with Ayumi, who is so different from me in age, personality, and environment, and I kept challenging myself in every recording. I was determined to throw away everything I had done up to that point and go completely blank and give it my best shot. I was so determined to do my best, but there are many scenes that I don't even know how they actually turned out.

--Did you feel any sympathy for Ayumi when you played her?
She is shy and withdrawn. I sympathized with the various complexes swirling around in her mind. I can understand why negative feelings are more prevalent in daily life.... In Ayumi's case, the emotional ups and downs of adolescence and communication comes into play, so while thinking back to my school days, I tried my best to somehow regain the feelings I had back then, one by one, even though I had many worries.

--Message to those who are going to see this film, which will be distributed to 190 countries around the world on Netflix
I don't want anyone to see it. I don't want anyone to see it, but I want everyone to see it. This may be the first time I have encountered a film that made me feel that way. The film was unfinished at the time of recording, and I was very nervous because I still had no idea what the film would be like. I hope you will pay attention to the end of the family and the path to the final episode because Ayumi is in the process of growing up as an adolescent. Thank you very much for your cooperation.

Advance Cutting Revealed

In addition, advance cuts were also released. The images of the bent Tokyo Tower-like tower, the city engulfed in flames, and Ayumi's anxious expression as she gazes into the distance, realistically convey the fear and tension of a Japan that has been transformed. The four family members look at the viewer with a mixture of anxiety and hope for the future: "We will survive! The expectations for how the story will be depicted are already high.

Outline of the anime
Sinking of Japan 2020

＜
10 episodes to be distributed exclusively on Netflix in 2020

Staff＞
Original Story: Sakyo Komatsu "Sinking of Japan"
Director: Masaaki Yuasa
Series Director: Hiroyasu Xu
Screenplay: Hisao Yoshitaka
Music: Kensuke Ushio
Character Design: Naoya Wada
Color Design: Ken Hashimoto
Director of Photography: Toshikazu Kuno
Sound Director: Eriko Kimura
Editor: Kiyoshi Hirose Kiyoshi
Animation Production: Science SARU
Production: "JAPAN SINKS : 2020" Project Partners

＜CAST＞
Ayumi Muto: Rena Ueda
Tsuyoshi Muto: Satoshi Muranaka
Mari Muto: Yuko Sasaki
Koichiro Muto: Masaki Terasoma

＜STORY >
In 2020, a major earthquake suddenly strikes Japan, which has just completed a major national project, the Tokyo Olympics. Ayumu Muto and his brother Go, who live in Tokyo, attempt to escape from Tokyo with their family of four amidst the chaos, but the sinking Japanese islands are relentless in their pursuit. The family is confronted with a choice between life and death, encounter and parting, in an extreme situation. In the face of the tremendous reality, Ayumi and Tsuyoshi learn the strength to believe in the future and to live on. ......

(C) "JAPAN SINKS : 2020" Project Partners