Press Notes For New Movie Source: Toho Co., Ltd., Pony Canyon Official Site: survivalfamily.jp (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho Co., Ltd. has provided information and high-res photos from their upcoming release, SURVIVAL FAMILY (??????????, Sabaibaru Famirii). The highly-anticipated latest film from acclaimed director Shinobu Yaguchi (WATERBOYS, SWING GIRLS, ROBO-G) opens in Japanese cinemas on February 11. SURVIVAL FAMILY is also being offered to foreign distributors by sales agent Pony Canyon.

INTRODUCTION

One day, electricity suddenly disappears?! TVs, refrigerators, smartphones and computers... Everything requiring electricity comes to a total halt! With the incomprehensible disappearance of electricity rendering even simple batteries useless, Tokyo is on the verge of falling into ruin, but one family makes their escape! What could possibly await them?! The father and head of household, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, is played by Fumiyo Kohinata, a veteran of historical dramas who has also appeared in the 20TH CENTURY BOYS and ALWAYS -SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- films plus OUTRAGE BEYOND (?????? ????, Autoreiji Biyondo, 2012), THE KIYOSU CONFERENCE (????, Kiyosu Kaigi, 2013). The mother, Mitsue, is played by Eri Fukatsu, who is known for her ability to expertly depict both serious and comedic roles in the BAYSIDE SHAKEDOWN and PARASYTE movies and VILLAIN (??, Akunin, 2010). These iconic Japanese actors team up as husband and wife. What’s more, Yuki Izumisawa (LINGERING MEMORIES) and Wakana Aoi (ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM), two of the most recognized young actors, play brother and sister! It’s an irresistible star-studded cast! The script is also an original creation by Yaguchi. Although depicting a world the likes of which have never been seen before, it’s sure to be full of Yaguchi’s trademark humor! But this work by the famed director doesn’t just go for laughs! In a story full of sudden twists, the intense journey of a family that has lost everything is sure to emotionally move viewers. When all is switched off, people are switched on. Everyone who sees the film will remember the importance of family. It’s the highly relevant latest work by Shinobu Yaguchi, that conveys the epitome of the 21st century!

STORY One day, a sudden battle for survival begins?! The Suzukis are an average household living in Tokyo, comprised of Yoshiyuki (father, an office worker), Mitsue (mother, a housewife), Kenji (son, a college student) and Yui (daughter, a high school student). While their lives are untroubled, each member is self-centered and the family unit is dysfunctional. Even when the mother tries to make conversation, the father is focused on the TV, the son on listening to music, and the daughter on her smartphone’s SNS. They’re together but divided.

But one day, the Suzuki household encounters a crisis! When they wake up in the morning, all the electrical appliances have stopped... their alarm clock fails to go off and the TV and washing machine stops working. They assume it’s just their house, but soon find out the outage has occurred everywhere, not just in appliances, but also in trains, cars, gas, and water systems. There are no phones with which to make contact, or trains to ride to work. Yoshiyuki manages to arrive at his workplace, but with all computers and phone lines down, there is nothing for him to do. Kenji and Yui go to school, but all the classes are canceled. People are stripped of all convenience by the onset of this crisis. At first, the Suzuki household believe it’s only a temporary inconvenience they can put up with. But as days go by, two, then three, then an entire week passes, the situation remains unchanged. Soon, their food supplies begin to dwindle. What seemed to be a normal power outage is in fact, something much more... It’s then that the father, Yoshiyuki, makes the decision of a lifetime: “We’re going to escape from Tokyo!” Yoshiyuki decides to take his family to Mitsue’s hometown in Kagoshima. They head to Haneda Airport, but find out that planes have also been immobilized. With no option left, they head to Kagoshima on bicycles, but the journey brings trying times they must tackle to make it through. Is there a future for the family in this world denied all electricity?! Can a failure of a father protect his family?! The curtain rises on the survival life of the Suzuki household!

CREDITS World Premiere: Monday, December 12, 2016 (International Film Festival & Awards – Macao) Japanese Release Date: Saturday, February 11, 2017 (Nationwide Roadshow) Running Time: 117 Minutes Cast Yoshiyuki Suzuki: Fumiyo Kohinata Mitsue Suzuki: Eri Fukatsu Kenji Suzuki: Yuki Izumisawa Yui Suzuki: Aoi Wakana Daikichi Sugawara Yu Tokui Jakujaku Katsura Yoshiyuki Morishita Yoji Tanaka Masashi Arifuku Tokie Hidari Mickey Curtis Saburo Tokito (Special Appearance) Norika Fujiwara Takuro Ohno Jun Shison Eri Watanabe Shin Takuma (Special Appearance) Akira Emoto Yasuo Daichi Crew Director: Shinobu Yaguchi Screenplay: Shinobu Yaguchi Producers: Takashi Ishihara, Minami Ichikawa, Kiyoshi Nagai Executive Producer: Shuji Kisui Cinematographer: Takahito Kasai Production Designer: Katsumi Nakazawa Costume Designer: Kousuke Nimibuchi Editor: Ryuji Miyajima Art Director: Katsumi Nakazawa Sound: Osamu Takizawa, Hiromichi Kori Music: Takashi Nomura Production: Fuji Television, Toho, Dentsu, Altamira Pictures Distributor: Toho International Sales: Pony Canyon © 2017 Fuji Television, Toho, Dentsu, Altamira Pictures

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About Toho Company. Ltd.

Founded in 1932, Toho Co., Ltd. is one of the leading entertainment conglomerates in Japan. Toho is best known worldwide as the producer of the Godzilla films, as well as most of the films by the world-renowned director, Akira Kurosawa. Besides film production, Toho also distributes Japanese films (earning the highest box office receipts for decades in Japan) as well as foreign films through its subsidiary, owns first class movie theaters throughout Japan, produces legitimate plays and musicals, and has more than 100 entertainment-related subsidiaries.

About Pony Canyon Inc.

Pony Canyon has been at the forefront of Japan`s video entertainment industry. Pony Canyon also develops digital software, utilizing the latest interactive and multimedia technology. Pony Canyon is a part of the Fuji Media Holdings Inc. which is Japan`s largest and influential media conglomerate.