Japan Sinks (Japanese: 日本沈没, Hepburn: Nippon Chinbotsu) is a disaster novel by Japanese writer Sakyo Komatsu, published in 1973.
Overview
Komatsu took nine years to complete the work. It was published in two volumes, both released at the same time. The novel received the 27th Mystery Writers of Japan Award and the Seiun Award for a Japanese novel-length work. The English translation was first published in 1975. In 1995, after the Osaka-Kobe earthquake, a second English edition (ISBN4-7700-2039-2) was published. The English translation is abridged [citation needed]. In 2006, a sequel to the novel, co-authored with Kōshū Tani, was published.
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.
On review aggregatorRotten 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]
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.
