Drama Digest
It is 2023 in Tokyo, and the Prime Minister advocates for COMS, a method of liquefying pollutants and storing them in a seafloor crack. Yusuke Tadokoro, a journalist, publishes a piece predicting that the Kanto region will sink into the sea. It incites people to protest. Will the government ease the situation? Will the Kanto region sink? Watch to find out!
The Feel-Good Part
The narrative is the most gripping aspect of this show. The screenwriter gives us a detailed explanation of geopolitical problems so that we would not be confused at any point in the drama.
The Disappointing Factor
The special effects are not that impressive due to their constraint budget. This drama might make some people get bored quickly as it is a heavily politically led narrative.
In-Depth Analysis
This drama is an adaptation of the 1973 award-winning disaster novel Japan Sinks by Sakyo Komatsu. This drama is not the first adaptation of the novel. The concept becomes much more believable when put in Japan, located on the Ring of Fire, a destructive plate boundary including three subduction zones. The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami caused villages like Ishinomaki to sink, making this drama an exaggerated rendition of a realistic event. Rather than beginning the show with a dystopian backdrop and witnessing how the protagonists survive the tragedy, Japan Sinks: People Of Hope starts by developing a grave tone and attitude about climate change, a major environmental problem today. It takes the audience on a trip from skepticism to the stunning realization that it may be too late. The drama is an interesting commentary on the state of the world today. Unlike other TV shows and movies centered on some form of catastrophic environmental scenario, this drama focuses on the government’s slow acceptance of Japan’s fate and the political response from behind the scenes.
Star Power
The cast of this drama is fantastic. Oguri Shun as Amami, Matsuyama Kenichi as Tokiwa, and Watanabe Anne as Shiina gave compelling performances which elevated the viewing experience.
Overall Opinion
It is a good drama that gives us a piece of reality and what the future might be. If you enjoy political and geographical-themed drams, this is for you!
