A Timeless Tale: “Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni” Commemorative Talk Show Reflects on War and Life

The acclaimed animated feature film, Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni, directed and written by Katabuchi Sunao, is currently enjoying a revival screening across Japan. This special re-release marks 80 years since the end of the war and coincides with protagonist Suzu’s theoretical 100th birthday, bringing the film back to theaters nine years after its initial debut. To commemorate this significant occasion, a special talk show was held on August 7, 2025, at 109 Cinemas Premium Shinjuku in Tokyo, featuring the director Katabuchi Sunao himself, alongside Hosoya Yoshimasa, the voice actor for Suzu’s husband, Houjou Shuusaku.

About the Film: Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni

Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni unfolds in Hiroshima and Kure during wartime, beautifully depicting the everyday life of Suzu as she navigates through unimaginable hardships, loses cherished aspects of her world, yet continues to face life with resilience. Based on the manga of the same name by Hiroshima-born manga artist Kouno Fumiyo, Director Katabuchi Sunao dedicated approximately seven years to its creation, meticulously researching and animating the film for its release in 2016.

Initially, the film premiered in just 63 theaters, but its profound impact quickly resonated with audiences nationwide. It eventually screened in a cumulative 484 theaters, drawing over 2.1 million viewers and generating more than 2.7 billion JPY in box office revenue, becoming a true social phenomenon.

Reflections from the Stage: Director and Voice Actor Reunited

This commemorative event marked the first time Hosoya Yoshimasa and Director Katabuchi Sunao had stood together before an audience since the film’s theatrical release in 2016. Their exchange was filled with deep affection for the work, creating a sense that Suzu and Shuusaku continue to live on through time. Hosoya Yoshimasa commented, “It feels like yesterday, yet I also genuinely feel that time has passed.”

Hosoya-kun opened the talk by touching upon his own origins, sharing, “As someone from Onomichi, Hiroshima, I had the experience of watching war films during peace studies in elementary school.” He continued, “I performed with the hope that this film would serve as an aid in peace education. It’s truly moving that nine years later, at the 80-year mark since the end of the war, the film is being screened in theaters again. It feels as if the future I envisioned back then has become a reality.”

Director Katabuchi Sunao responded in kind, stating, “As the era of war continues to recede further into the past, this work embodies the desire to somehow preserve those memories.” He added, “We strived to depict, as faithfully as possible, what daily life was like in the towns of Kure and Hiroshima at that time. It’s truly gratifying that the film remains ‘relevant’ even after nine years.”

Behind the Scenes: Voice Acting Insights

The talk show also revealed fascinating anecdotes about the voice recording process. The *Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni* recording sessions began in May 2016. Hosoya Yoshimasa, as Shuusaku, and Ushiyama Shigeru, as Entarou, were the first to step up to the microphone. Interestingly, Non, who voiced Suzu, recorded her lines approximately three months later, in August. This meant there was a considerable three-month gap in the recording schedules for the on-screen couple.

Hosoya-kun chuckled as he recalled, “Around the time I was doing the voice work, I was a bit of an impudent young man…,” reflecting on his mindset back then. “I remember telling them, ‘I want to deliver a performance where the character feels naturally present.'” He continued earnestly, “Suzu-san’s role hadn’t been decided yet, but I assumed an actress would be cast. I didn’t want my voice acting, which sometimes gets a reputation for being ‘a bit exaggerated’ compared to an actress’s natural performance, to fall short. I had a young actor’s pride, and while imagining Suzu-san, whom I hadn’t met yet, I consciously aimed for ‘normal, everyday conversation’.”

Director Katabuchi Sunao praised Hosoya-kun’s approach, saying, “It was Hosoya-kun’s foundation of performing as a ‘person naturally present’ that allowed the other cast members to inherit that atmospheric feeling.” He emphasized that “Hosoya-kun’s voice became a major anchor supporting the overall realism of the film.” The director also revealed that they used boom microphones during recording to capture the actors’ “breathing,” a technique unusual for standard voice actor recordings. Hosoya-kun himself affirmed this, saying that performing in a situation where he couldn’t see the microphone, acting ‘as if truly present in that space,’ made him feel trusted and supported in an environment that ‘understood every subtle nuance’.”

Reflecting on Emotional Moments

When the conversation shifted to impactful scenes, Hosoya Yoshimasa shared that he has noticed many new things as he’s aged, experiencing different emotions compared to nine years ago. He revealed that he was particularly moved by Suzu’s line to Shuusaku near the end of the film: “Arigatou. Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni, uchi wo mitsukete kurete.” (Thank you. For finding me in this corner of the world.)

“The moment I heard that, I couldn’t stop my tears…” Hosoya-kun recounted, his voice choking up. “In that era, education was very rigid, and I don’t think women had the freedom to choose their lives as they do today. They were married off as told, lived as they were swept along, and then were wounded by the war, losing precious things. To see that final scene after all that, there must have been confusion about ‘what is right and how should one live,’ but amidst that, she found a definitive truth. Meeting Shuusaku and saying that line is truly precious.”

Director Katabuchi Sunao quietly nodded in agreement, adding, “It feels like Suzu-san, for the very first time, found her place to live and the path she would walk from that moment on.” Hosoya-kun admitted, “I’m still getting a little choked up right now; it’s dangerous remembering it.” His words conveyed his sincere dedication and how deeply the film still resonates with him after all this time.

A Glimpse into “What If” and Future Hopes

Towards the end, the audience was delighted by a hypothetical “what if” scenario. Nine years have passed since the film’s release, so what if Suzu and Shuusaku had spent those same nine years together within the story? Hosoya-kun referenced a comment made by Non at a previous stage greeting, answering with a laugh, “Since Suzu-san and I are a married couple, it’s certainly true that our child, now 16, would ‘start speaking their mind’.” Director Katabuchi Sunao mused, “Shuusaku is probably henpecked by Suzu-san now,” eliciting warm laughter from the venue.

In his concluding remarks, Hosoya Yoshimasa passionately stated, “In today’s information-overloaded world, where new things are constantly emerging, this film feels less like something to be ‘consumed’ and more like a ‘work that remains in one’s heart.’ I am truly honored to have been involved with such a piece. It’s a film I strongly wish many people would see in theaters.”

Director Katabuchi Sunao wrapped up the event by saying, “We created this world with the desire for it to feel like ‘people are truly living there.’ The breathing of Suzu-san and Shuusaku-san in the towns of Kure and Hiroshima, the sound of rice cooking, the sound of airplanes flying—all of these daily details overlap to form a single ‘world.’ I feel that this was made possible by the efforts of many people, including Hosoya-san. Even after nine years, I sincerely believe this is a film that should be seen in cinemas. If this work can be watched decades from now, that would be our greatest joy. Suzu-san and Shuusaku-san will surely continue to live happily together in that world.”

Film Details

Cast

[End of War 80th Anniversary Screening] Film “Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni” Commemorative Talk Show
Date: August 7 (Thursday) 20:55～21:15 *Stage greeting after screening
Venue: 109 Cinemas Premium Shinjuku (Tokyu Kabukicho Tower 9F, 10F, 1-29-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)
Attendees: Hosoya Yoshimasa, Director Katabuchi Sunao

(C)2019 Kouno Fumiyo・Coamix / “Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni” Production Committee

《Nakase Koutarou》

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