THE BOY AND THE DOG Press Notes and Photo Gallery From Toho

Source: Toho Co., Ltd
Official Site: https://shonentoinu-movie.jp/ (Japan)

Toho Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and images from THE BOY AND THE DOG (少年と犬 , Shōnen to Inu). The movie opens in Japanese cinemas this Thursday, March 20th.

The production team behind the award-winning FRAGMENTS OF THE LAST WILL (ラーゲリより愛を込めて, Rāgeri Yori ai wo Komete, 2022) has reunited to film a gem of a story about the irreplaceable bond between humans and dogs.

Published in 2020, the masterpiece The Boy and the Dog by popular noir author Seisyu Hase won the 163rd Naoki Prize and has sold over 500,000 copies to date. The book has also been released internationally, with translations in English (US, UK), Chinese, Korean, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Mongolian, Russian, Thai, Vietnamese, Romanian, Czech, Arabic, Serbian, and Bulgarian. This collection of six short stories, which depicts the interactions between people from various backgrounds and a dog named Tamon, has attracted dog lovers and non-lovers alike, with readers commenting, "It's like a modern version of The Dog of Flanders" and "I cried!" Tamon, a dog who travels from Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture to find a loved one, meets hurt, troubled, and confused people on his journey across Japan. This touching story has now been adapted into a film by adding original elements to several episodes from the original novel.

Fumiya Takahashi (KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE) plays Kazumasa, a young man who travels after Tamon, and Nanase Nishino (ICHIKEI'S CROW) plays Miwa, a woman whose life is saved by the canine. These two fresh faces have joined forces to bring the story of the bond between humans and dogs to the big screen.

The director of THE BOY AND THE DOG is Takahisa Zeze, who is renowned for his delicate and careful direction in a wide range of genres, from solid social dramas to love stories. His credits include SIX FOUR: PART 1 (64 ロクヨン前編 , 64 Rokuyon Zenpen, 2016) and SIX FOUR: PART 2 (64 ロクヨン後編, 64 Rokuyon Kohen, 2016), THE 8-YEAR ENGAGEMENT (8年越しの花嫁, 8 Nen Goshi no Hanayome, 2017), THREADS: OUR TAPESTRY OF LOVE (糸, Ito, 2020), IN THE WAKE (護られなかった者たちへ, Mamorarenakatta Monotachi e, 2021) and FRAGMENTS OF THE LAST WILL. The film was planned and produced by Takashi Hiranoi, who is known for his tear-jerking projects such as YOMIGAERI (黄泉がえり, 2002) and APRIL BRIDE (余命1ヶ月の花嫁, Yomei 1-Kagetsu no Hanayome, 2009), and won the Fujimoto Award for Outstanding Filmmakers for FRAGMENTS OF THE LAST WILL.

The screenplay was written by three talented people, including Tamio Hayashi, who co-wrote Takashi Yamazaki's (THE ETERNAL ZERO (永遠の0, Eien no Zero, 2013) which won the "Best Screenplay Award at the 38th Japan Academy Film Prize," Takashi Miike's SHIELD OF STRAW (藁の楯, Wara no Tate, 2013) which was entered in the "Competitive Film Section" at the 66th Cannes Film Festival, and DEAR FAMILY (ディア・ファミリー, Dia Famirī, 2024), a film adaptation of a true story of family love.

The powehouse team of "Takahisa Zeze x Tamio Hayashi x Takashi Hirano" is back with a touching new story.

SYNOPSIS

A dog travels all across Japan for five years—just to reunite with a boy.
This heartwarming story highlights the unbreakable bond between humans and a dog.

Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Half a year after the Great East Japan Earthquake, Kazumasa Nakagaki (Fumiya Takahashi) loses his job and struggles to support his family. One day, he finds a stray dog named Tamon, who lost his owner in the earthquake. The intelligent Tamon quickly grows attached to Kazumasa and becomes an indispensable member of the family. But, Tamon is always gazing westward.

Eventually, the desperate Kazumasa takes on a dangerous job, and soon gets caught up in an incident. In the midst of the chaos, Tamon mysteriously disappears.

Over the next five years, Tamon embarks on an incredible journey, touching the lives of everyone he meets. He eventually ends up living in Shiga Prefecture with Miwa Sugai (Nanase Nishino), a woman with a criminal history. As Miwa slowly begins to heal by spending time with Tamon, she meets Kazumasa, who has been following the dog. At first, Miwa is wary of Kazumasa, but through Tamon, the two gradually begin to connect with each other.

Thus begins a new life for the two people and the dog, but Tamon soon turns his attention back to the west. Kazumasa decides he must help the dog complete his journey, and the two set out together. What cruel fate and miracle await them?

This is a heartwarming story of loyalty, resilience, and the bond between a boy and his dog.

CREDITS

Japanese Theatrical Release: Thursday, March 20, 2025 (National Holiday)
Japanese Release Information: Roadshow at Toho Theaters Nationwide
Running Time: 128 Minutes

Cast
Kazumasa Nakagaki: Fumiya Takahashi
Miwa Sugai: Nanase Nishino
Masashi Numaguchi: Kentaro Ito
Mayumi Nakagaki: Rikka Ihara
Rina Arashi
Yuuki Kimura (child actor)
Shuntaro Yanagi
Wataru Ichinose
Hisashi Uchimura: Hitomi Miyauchi
Noriko Eguchi
Kiyohiko Shibukawa
Jun Miho
Hidekazu Mashima
Satomi Tezuka
Toru Masuoka
Yaichi Katano: Akira Emoto
Toru Uchimura: Takumi Saito

Staff
Director: Takahisa Zeze
Original Story: The Boy and the Dog by Seisyu Hase (Bunshun Bunko)
Planning and Production: Takashi Hirano
Screenplay: Tamio Hayashi
Music: Akira Ozemura
Theme Song: "Amber" by SEKAI NO OWARI (Universal Music)

Production: The Boy and the Dog Film Production Committee
Distributor (Japan): Toho
International Sales: Bitters End

About Toho Co. Ltd.

Toho Company provides high-quality entertainment to a wide range of customers through its film production, distribution, and exhibition business, which is solidly supported by its real estate business including the Shinjuku Toho Building and Hibiya Chante, animation production, DVD software production and sales, and TOHO Cinemas' efforts to expand its network of multiplex cinemas. Among these, "Godzilla," which has been around since 1954, is Toho's flagship IP that has many fans around the world and has been loved for many years.