Following Mitsuha from "your name.'' and Hodaka from "Weathering With You", the main character of this new movie, also encounters many struggles and has to run. It was very moving to watch the way she kept going forward without giving up.

Director Shinkai Makoto's first new movie in three years, "Suzume no Tojimari (lit.: Suzume closing doors)" was released in Japan on November 11th (Friday)! Different ruins all over Japan make up the stage for this movie. It is an adventure film showing the courageous journey of a highschool girl, Suzume, who is destined to close the door that leads to disaster. The film depicts the growth and liberation of her mind.

The story begins in Kyushu, showing familiar scenery, trains, houses with kawara tile roofs, mountains on the seaside and other typical Japanese images. All these images are depicted in rich colors drawing you into "Shinkai's world" in a blink of an eye.

While watching this ordinary daily life in Japan, the audience gets introduced to Suzume meeting "the door closer" Souta who closes and seals the door that causes disastrous earthquakes. Right after they met, the doors kept opening up one after another in various parts of Japan! Guided by a mysterious cat Daijin, Suzume embarks on a trip to "close doors" to Kyushu, Shikoku, Kansai and Tokyo...

For a lot of people in Japan, who have experienced numerous major earthquakes, such as the great Tohoku earthquake in 2011, this new work may have an additional emotional reality.

Suzume and Souta continue their journey together, even though they struggle each step of the way, they keep going forward. The cast of this beautiful animation, especially Hara Nanoka who played the emotionally rich Suzume and Matsumura Hokuto who played the role of Souta, who was praised highly by the director Shinkai, but also the timing of the music by RADWIMPS, all this is so exquisite that you might feel overwhelmed with emotions, in short it is an amazing movie experience. After watching it, you will have heartfelt emotions and think to yourself "Japanese animation is amazing!". At the same time it will encourage you to face your struggles and move forward and live life. If you have a chance, please experience it at the movie theatre! (Editorial Dept.: Nika)