Five Years After COVID-19: Why “Sunset Sunrise” Touches Hearts

Remote Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic Led to Minamisanriku Town

In February 2020, a mass outbreak of COVID-19 occurred on the large cruise ship “Diamond Princess,” which was docked at Yokohama Port’s Daikoku Pier. Over the following year, Japan experienced three separate declarations of a state of emergency, leading to the suspension or postponement of many film and television productions.

Now, five years since the start of the pandemic, the fear of COVID-19 is fading from public memory. However, two films currently in theaters offer a rare opportunity to reflect once more on the impact of the pandemic.

One of these is “Sunset Sunrise,” a film written by Kankuro Kudo (54) and starring Masaki Suda (31).

The film is a bittersweet comedy that follows Shinsaku (played by Suda), a salaryman who relocates to Minamisanriku for remote work during the pandemic. As he navigates social issues such as disaster recovery, the story also explores the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

“The protagonist, forced into remote work by the pandemic, is drawn to a ‘dream property’—a 4LDK home with a rent of just 60,000 yen. His decision to try living in Minamisanriku stems from something as simple as his love for fishing. Because the story begins with such a lighthearted premise, the seemingly casual conversations Shinsaku has with the local residents unexpectedly carry a deep emotional weight for those of us who were not directly affected by the disaster.

Kankuro Kudo has tackled the theme of the earthquake multiple times, including in the morning drama ‘Amachan’ and ‘A Town Without Seasons.’ His perspective on the subject is truly unique,” says a producer from the film’s production company.

The film’s most powerful scene takes place during an imoh-ni-kai (a traditional hot pot gathering), where Shinsaku and his fellow “city folk” confront Momoka (Mao Inoue) and the members of “Momo-chan’s Happiness Prayer Group” about their feelings. Overwhelmed by his emotions toward Minamisanriku and his love for Momoka, Shinsaku cries out:

“I was just born in a different town, so why does it hurt this much?”

“People from outside don’t know what to do.”

Having likely lost many acquaintances in the disaster himself, Kudo pours his heartfelt emotions into this scene. It captures the struggle of those who wish to understand the pain of disaster victims but feel powerless in doing so—resonating deeply with audiences.

 

A masterpiece no less than the hit drama “JIN”

This film carries a powerful message: in the post-COVID era, we must not allow the memories of the pandemic to fade.

If “Sunset Sunrise” serves as a message to those who did not experience the Great East Japan Earthquake firsthand, then the film “Yuki no Hana – Tomoni Arite-,” starring Tori Matsuzaka (36), allows audiences to relive the fear of an unknown virus through a masterpiece of period drama.

Set in the late Edo period, the story follows Ryosaku (played by Matsuzaka), a kampo (traditional Japanese medicine) doctor who feels powerless as smallpox—a deadly disease—ravages the population. As he studies Western medicine, he learns of a foreign treatment called “vaccination,” which can prevent smallpox.

Despite the near-impossible odds, Ryosaku refuses to give up, and his unwavering determination eventually influences not only his domain but also the shogunate itself. For those of us who have lived through the COVID-19 pandemic, this film resonates on a profound level.

“Director Takashi Koizumi has previously portrayed protagonists who live by their ideals, such as in ‘A Samurai Chronicle’ and ‘The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai.’ In this film as well, I was captivated by Ryosaku’s strong convictions and unyielding spirit. Some viewers were even reminded of the drama ‘JIN’ (TBS), which was rebroadcast during the pandemic,” says the same producer.

The acclaimed drama “JIN” depicted a neurosurgeon, Jin Minakata (Takao Osawa), who is transported to the late Edo period and, after many hardships, successfully develops penicillin, saving countless lives. There is no doubt that “Yuki no Hana – Tomoni Arite-” stands as a masterpiece on par with “JIN.”

Now, five years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, these two films strike a deep chord with audiences, compelling them to reflect on the past and what lies ahead.