“Japan Sinks: 2020” Review, Because 2020 Ain’t Done Playing With Our Emotions

2020 really showed it’s behind: A global pandemic, racial unrest around the world, Terry Crews. But leave it to famed anime director Masaaki Yuasa (Devilman Crybaby, Kaiba) to remind you that things could always be worse. In the Netflix anime series Japan Sinks: 2020, Yuasa tests the limits of human will and the dangers of nationalism amidst the backdrop of horrific natural disasters.

Inspired by Sakyo Komatsu’s 1973 novel Japan Sinks, the Netflix adaptation follows the mixed-ethnicity Muto family as they try to escape Japan after a series of devastating earthquakes begin to sink the island nation. Japanese father Kōichirō (Masaki Terasoma/Keith Silverstein) and Filipina mother Mari (Yuko Sasaki/Grace Lynn Kung) fight their way through harrowing near-death experiences to find their teenage daughter Ayumi (Reina Ueda/Faye Mata) and young son Gō (Tomo Muranaka/ Ryan Bartley). But it’s through Olympic hopeful Ayumi through which we experience the horror as one of the world’s most iconic countries begins a slow descent into oblivion. But as intriguing as the premise may be, the emotional payoffs aren’t set up for success.

At a brisk half-hour apiece, the 10-episode season forces Japan Sinks: 2020 to burn a bit too quickly through the story. This break neck pace allows little time to soak in the emotional rawness of major events and character deaths (of which there are many). Someone blows up? Ah well. Someone drowns? Pass the Grey Poupon. In one episode, a character literally drops dead and it barely registers for more than a few moments before we’re off to the next thing. But even with the constant movement, Japan Sinks: 2020 still manages to simultaneously feel slow. But that might be due to expectations set up by another film genre: zombies.

Consider the hit show The Walking Dead (or just about any zombie apocalypse franchise really) and the tropes it leverages: Double-crossing group members (Shane, Nicholas), a “safe refuge” run by a tyrannical leader (Woodbury, GA and The Governor), the optimistic hopeful (Carol in early seasons) and the pragmatic leader (Rick, Michonne). But without the threat of zombies popping out of the dark or undead hordes storming the gates for a bite of the McRick, Japan Sinks: 2020 kind of drags at key points.

The show also suffers from a seeming attempt at telling a horrific story while being…child friendly? The dialogue is somewhat stilted and the tone comes off as juvenile at times, feeling like a series written more for the Paw Patrol crowd than adult anime fans. The show’s attempts at optimism, though necessary, further compound the issue. But the cheery, child-like tone is jarring when juxtaposed against gruesome scenes of death, violence, and sexual assault. It’s as if Japan Sinks: 2020 doesn’t know if it wants to be on Cartoon Network’s midday or Adult Swim/Toonami lineup.

The series hits it’s highest notes when it takes a nuanced and at times blunt look at the consequences of Japanese nationalism. Throughout the show, the Muto family is discriminated against by other survivors as resources become scarce. Mari’s Filipina ancestry and that of her Filipino/Japanese children is frequently used against them by others looking for a reason not to offer aid. It’s clear that without Kōichirō’s Japanese privilege, the Muto family might never make it out of Japan alive. That examination of nationalism, isolationism, and xenophobia proves eerily relevant given the state of the world today.

Other standout aspects of the show are its animation and music. Masaaki Yuasa and his team created dazzling imagery that captures both the beauty of Japan and the heartbreak in the series. Younger brother Gō’s fantasy gaming sequences also offer a nice break in animation styles. On the music front, Kensuke Ushio’s scoring of the series is utterly sublime. It’s honestly one of the most crucial aspects of Japan Sinks: 2020, pulling the audience into the madness, despair, and ultimately hope of the series.

So, is Japan Sinks: 2020 worth binging? While not necessarily a must-watch, it’s worth a look. Besides, we’re on lockdown. What else do you have to do?

Japan Sinks: 2020 premiered on July 9, 2020 and is now streaming on Netflix.

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