Earthquake Worms

A teenage girl finds she alone can protect Japan from a series of devastating earthquakes in 2022's Suzume (すずめの戸締まり). It's a bold idea to create a fantasy around Japan's infamously devastating, chronic natural disasters, one of which just recently struck Ishikawa. On that score, unfortunately I think director Shinkai Makoto strikes a too trivial tone, but setting that aside, the film is a cute romantic adventure.

On the way to school one day, Suzume (Nanoka Hara) meets a handsome young man (Hokuto Matsumura) who asks her the way to the nearest ruin.

Overcome with curiosity, she skips school to follow him. She soon discovers the young man, Souta, is a kind of wizard whose sacred duty is to fight sinister cloud worms who cause Japan's earthquakes when he's unable to shut the interdimensional doors they come through. Her curiosity leads to misfortune when the young man is transformed into a three legged chair after she sets loose a cat-like "keystone". Intended or not, there are definite shades of Eve eating the apple.

It's a very well animated movie with beautiful, detailed backgrounds. I don't remember another anime that so painstakingly captured a Japan I recognise as the one I live in. When Suzume was in Kobe or Tokyo I was able to recognise places I've actually been to. Director Shinkai Makoto pays tribute to some surprising anime by using music from their soundtracks--I noticed Kiki's Delivery Service and, of all things, Kare Kano.

Ultimately, I don't think the film's mythology is any comfort to the victims of earthquakes, which is a good example of why using kid gloves to talk about disasters in art is often a mistake. The film also doesn't have the emotional impact of Shinkai's Your Name or Garden of Words, but it's not a bad movie.

Suzume is available on CrunchyRoll outside Japan.

X Sonnet #1808

As globs of batter change to muffin shapes,
A timid foot has fallen late on ice.
Discordant thoughts arise from sour grapes
To chill affections guessed forever twice.
The blanket clutched a dusty chair for ghosts
To rest their dogs or drink to early light.
The sparrow lamps will make for nervous hosts
And shifty guests will start a secret fight.
Conditions shift as yolks traverse the shells
Of aging helmets, naught to show for mines.
But certain dreams were ringing copper bells
Upon the brink of matins, witness signs.
As triple eyes delivered late arrive,
A quiet force announced herself alive.