DVD: Minoru Kawasaki's THE WORLD SINKS EXCEPT JAPAN (NIHON IGAI ZENBU CHINBOTSU)

FOR TRAILER, SEE THE BOTTOM OF THIS ARTICLE

Thanks to ScreenAnarchy's own logboy for bringing the following to my attention: Panorama Distributions Co. Ltd. is scheduled to release Minoru Kawasaki's The World Sinks Except Japan (Nihon igai zenbu chinbotsu) on DVD (PANDVD520538; NTSC, region 3, Japanese w/ Chinese & English subtitles) in Hong Kong on January 11th. KlockWorx Co. Ltd. (K.K. KurokkuWâkusu) and Tornado Film K.K. (K.K. Torunêdo Firumu) released the movie theatrically in Japan on September 2nd of last year. Kadokawa Herald Pictures Inc. (Kadokawa Herarudo Eiga K.K.) released it on sale DVD (DABA-0317; NTSC, region 2, no subtitles) in Japan on January 1st; that release is being distributed by Kadokawa Entertainment Inc. (K.K. Kadokawa Entateinmento).

The screenplay for The World Sinks Except Japan (Nihon igai zenbu chinbotsu) was written by Kawasaki and Masakazu Migita, based on the eponymous novella Nihon igai zenbu chinbotsu by Yasutaka Tsutsui - which itself was a parody of the science-fiction books Nippon chinbotsu (ue) and Nippon chinbotsu (shita) by Sakyô Komatsu. (Shinji Higuchi's 2006 movie Sinking of Japan (Nihon chinbotsu) is based on the two books by Komatsu, as was Shirô Moritani's 1973 movie Submersion of Japan (Nippon chinbotsu).) The movie's principal cast is as follows: Kenji Kohashi, Shûji Kashiwabara, Masatoshi Matsuo, Takenori Murano, Hiroshi Fujioka, Mio Dohi, Blake Crawford (Bureiku Kurofôdo), Kira Raichevskaya (Kira Raichebusukaya), Delcea Mihaela Gabriela (Derucha Mihaera Gaburiera), Ricaya Spooner (Rikaya Supunâ), Yôichi Okamura, Ijirî Okada, Shirô Tsubuyaki, Zico Uchiyama (Jîko Uchiyama - PDF file), Takashi Matsuo, Dave Spector (Dêbu Supekutâ), Tsutsui (see above), Arthur Kuroda (Kuroda Âsâ), Hirohisa Nakata, and Minori Terada. It was supervised by the late Akio Jissôji (March 29, 1937 - November 29, 2006).

Here's a description of The World Sinks Except Japan from the website of the Leeds International Film Festival (LIFF): "What would happen if all the continents in the world sank, leaving only Japan above water? With its tongue stuck firmly in its cheek that's exactly what this film explores. Now the only superpower in the world, Japan is able to dictate the law. English as the global language? Not any more. Whale meat back on the menu? You bet. This is a world where 12.5 million non-Japanese refugees are homeless and Schwarzenegger is reduced to performing tricks in bars for money. This hilarious satire pokes fun at global superpowers, western traditions and foreign immigrants. And remember, it could happen!"

For more information on The World Sinks Except Japan, see ScreenAnarchy's fourth, third, second, and first articles on it.

Those who are interested in The World Sinks Except Japan may also wish to read the most recent ScreenAnarchy article on Higuchi's Sinking of Japan.

Kawasaki's other directing credits include The Rug Cop (Zura Deka), Kani Goalkeeper (Kani gôrukîpâ), Jissha-ban: Maicchingu Machiko sensei: Tôdai o-juken daisakusen!!, Executive Koala (Koara kachô), Kabuto-O Beetle (Kabuto-Ô Bîtoru) - a.k.a. "Beetle, the Horn King" - and The Calamari Wrestler (Ika resurâ).

The World Sinks Except Japan large trailer (streaming Windows Media)
The World Sinks Except Japan medium trailer (streaming Windows Media)
The World Sinks Except Japan small trailer (streaming RealMedia)
The World Sinks Except Japan official website
GOMORRAHY.com: Trailer Park subsite (w/ trailers for 5 movies directed by Kawasaki)