by “Summer Wars,” directed by Studio Chizu and directed by Hosoda Mamoru, will be broadcast on Nippon Television’s Friday Road Show from 9:00 pm on Friday, August 1, 2025. The film was released 16 years ago on August 1, 2009, and will be broadcast on “Summer Wars Day,” which falls on August 1 every year, in honor of the birthday of Grandma Sakae, one of the key characters in the story.
This article provides a summary of the plot, synopsis, and related information. Summary: What is “Summer Wars”? A large rural family confronts a global crisis! “Summer Wars” is an original science fiction anime, the next project by director Hosoda, who has received acclaim both domestically and internationally, including his previous work, “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time,” released in 2006, which won the Special Prize in the Feature Film category at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival.
The story follows timid and reserved high school student Kenji Koiso, who visits the family home of a senior student he admires during summer vacation, as he confronts a global crisis with his large family of 27 members. The story is set in the beautiful natural surroundings of Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture, as well as the virtual world of “OZ.” Events in “OZ,” where avatars live lives similar to those in the real world, have a profound impact on the real world, triggering the events in the story.
The film has become a popular Japanese summer tradition, brimming with refreshing summer vibes as Kenji and his friends face off against enemies lurking in OZ under the command of Grandma Sakae, head of the prestigious Jinnouchi family.
This family dates back to the Warring States period. Celebrations were held for the 10th anniversary of the film’s release in 2019 and the 15th anniversary in 2024. For high school sophomore Kenji Koiso, who missed out on competing in the International Mathematical Olympiad, his only summer plans are to work part-time as a maintenance technician in “OZ,” a virtual world where students can do everything from shopping to administrative procedures.
One day, Kenji is asked by his senior, Natsuki, to visit her family home in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. Kenji is excited about the trip with his idol. Still, when a group of relatives gathers to celebrate the birthday of Natsuki’s great-grandmother, Sakae, he is suddenly introduced as her fiancé. Meanwhile, a terrible event occurs in the world of “OZ.” Kenji’s account is hacked, causing system problems. Kenji is suspected, and the obstacle threatens to bring a global crisis…! About the Awards and Staff: This masterpiece made Mamoru Hosoda, one of Japan’s leading animation film directors, famous both at home and abroad! Hosoda, who directed this film, made his directorial debut with “Digimon Adventure: The Movie” (1999). After going freelance, he directed “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time,” which won acclaim both at home and abroad, including the Japan Academy Prize for Best Animated Feature. His 2018 film “Mirai” was the only film outside of Studio Ghibli to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, making him one of Japan’s leading animation film directors.
This film won the Gertie Award for Best Animated Feature at the Sitges International Film Festival of Catalonia and the Seiun Award for Media. The screenplay was written by Satoko Okudera, who later won the Japan Academy Award for Best Screenplay for “The Eighth Day Cicada” (2011). Character design was handled by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto of the “Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time” series, and art direction was handled by Yoji Takeshige, who has worked on numerous Studio Ghibli films, including “Princess Mononoke” and “Spirited Away.”
Cast: “Thank you very much!!” Starring Ryunosuke Kamiki, a highly acclaimed voice actor! The voice of the film’s protagonist, Kenji Koiso, is provided by Ryunosuke Kamiki, also a highly acclaimed voice actor. Kamiki is known as an actor who has remained at the forefront of the industry since his breakthrough as a child actor. Anime fans will also be familiar with him as a voice actor, having breathed life into the role of Bo in “Spirited Away.” He starred in “A Certain Magical Index” as Charles Karino and in “Your Name.”
He has appeared in many animated films, including the role of Taki Tachibana in “The Crocodile Who Lived for 100 Days,” the role of Crocodile in “The Crocodile Who Lived for 100 Days,” Markl in “Howl’s Moving Castle,” Pisuke in “Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Dinosaur 2006,” Shuhei Amemiya in “The Piano Forest,” Sho in “The Secret World of Arrietty,” Peter in “Mary and the Witch’s Flower,” and Tomoya Serizawa in “The Sparrow’s Door Lock.” Anime! Anime! Interviewed him on “Your Name,” held a roundtable discussion with Kamiki on “The Crocodile Who Lived for 100 Days,” and touched on his voice acting career in conjunction with the release of “The Crocodile Who Will Die in 100 Days.”
Kamiki plays Koiso Kenji in this film, a second-year student at Kuonji High School in Tokyo. He is a timid, withdrawn, and science-oriented boy who is a member of the physics club. During his summer vacation, he planned to work part-time as an internet maintenance technician with a friend. Still, by chance, he was invited by his admired senior, Shinohara Natsuki, to visit Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. His specialty is mathematics, but he regrets not being selected to represent Japan in the International Mathematical Olympiad.
However, his special skill will eventually become his trump card in facing the world’s crisis. Kamiki’s timeless performance, not to mention his famous line at the climax of the series, “Thank you very much!!” is one of the film’s highlights. Additionally, the voice of the heroine, Shinohara Natsuki, is provided by actress Miyauchi Hitomi (formerly known as Sakuraba Nanami), who made her voice acting debut in this work. Furthermore, the voice of Jinnai Sakae, Natsuki’s great-grandmother and key member of the Jinnai family, is provided by actress Fuji Junko, and the voice of the wandering Jinnai Wabisuke is provided by actor Saito Ayumu, who sadly passed away this June.
Furthermore, the voice actress Sumire Morohoshi plays the role of Jinnai Mao, the eldest daughter of Jinnai Yorihiko, who is 4 years old. She is known for her roles as Ichigo Hoshimiya in “Aikatsu!”, Kyoka Izumi in “Bungo Stray Dogs”, and the anime “Haikyu!!”She is a popular voice actress known for her role as Yachi Nika in “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.” Her performance at the time (around age 10) is also worth taking a look at.
This film overturns the image of Studio Chizu and director Hosoda’s work! Also, be sure to check out the TV premiere of their latest work, “Endless Scarlet.” Don’t miss the second half of this Friday’s Road Show broadcast, which will feature the TV premiere of Hosoda’s latest film, “Endless Scarlet,” which opens on November 21. “Endless Scarlet,” centered around the theme of “life,” was inspired by director Hosoda’s desire to “create a powerful, bold film that asks the question: what is the purpose of human life? I want to engage the audience in this moment and consider this important theme.”
The film follows the protagonist, Princess Scarlet, who fails to avenge her father, but returns to the “Land of the Dead” to seek revenge against her nemesis. Nineteen years after “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time,” this shocking new work overturns the image of Studio Chizu and director Hosoda’s previous works. It has been revealed that Mana Ashida will play Scarlett, a medieval princess burning with revenge, and Masaki Okada will play Hijiri, a modern-day Japanese nurse who travels with her.
As much of the story is still unknown, be sure to watch the first broadcast footage in preparation for the film’s release this winter. Studio Chizu and director Mamoru Hosoda’s “Summer Wars” will be broadcast on Nippon Television’s “Friday Road Show” from 9:00 pm on Friday, August 1. [Broadcast date and time/production information] Friday, August 1, 9:00 pm – 10:54 pm “Summer Wars” (2009) Director / Original story: Mamoru Hosoda Screenplay: Satoko Okudera Character design: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto Animation director: Hiroyuki Aoyama Art director: Yoji Takeshige CG director: Ryo Horibe Color design: Chikako Kamata Voice cast: Kenji Koiso: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Natsuki Shinohara: Hitomi Miyauchi (formerly known as Nanami Sakuraba), Wabisuke Jinnai: Ayumu Saito, Yoshikazu Ikezawa: Mizuki Tanimura, Sakae Jinnai: Junko Fuji (C) 2009 SW FP
