Suzume Overtakes Your Name to Be Highest-Grossing Japanese Film in China

 

Suzume’s journey outside Japan has been a slow one, but as it ramps up around the world its most fruitful box office takings (other than Japan) have been in the neighboring country of China. In only 11 days, the Makoto Shinkai-directed film has overtaken Your Name. to be the highest-grossing Japanese film in the country ever.

 

Makoto Shinkai announced the news over on his Twitter account, where he has been updating the milestones of the film outside of Japan.

 

 

中国で『すずめの戸締まり』が公開わずか10日で興収5.7億元（約111億円）を超え、中国でそれまでの日本映画最高記録であった『君の名は。』を超えました。中国の皆さん、心から感謝いたします。異国の映画をこんなにも愛してくれてありがとう！ pic.twitter.com/kMxXJSSfy2

— 新海誠 (@shinkaimakoto) April 4, 2023

 

 

In China alone, Suzume has brought in more than 577 million yuan (US$84 million), making China the second-biggest region for Suzume other than Japan and, if the trend continues, could see the film’s Chinese gross overtake Japan’s. It is also currently the 16th highest-grossing animated film in China.

 

Thanks to China’s huge takings, Suzume is currently the sixth highest-grossing anime film of all time and will quickly move up the chart over the next weekend.

 

 

RELATED: Suzume Passes Ponyo to Become 6th Highest-Grossing Anime Film of All Time Worldwide

 

Suzume is directed by Makoto Shinkai, who also penned the screenplay for the film alongside Masayoshi Tanaka as the character designer, Kenichi Tsuchiya as the animation director and Takumi Tanji as the art director with animation production at CoMix Wave Films. 

 

Suzume was released in Japan on November 11 with Crunchyroll teaming up with Sony Pictures and Wild Bunch International to bring the feature to global audiences outside of Asia starting April 12, 2023.

 

Synopsis:

On the other side of the door, was time in its entirety—

 

“Suzume no Tojimari” is a coming-of-age story for the 17-year-old protagonist, Suzume, set in various disaster-stricken locations across Japan, where she must close the doors causing devastation. 

 

Suzume’s journey begins in a quiet town in Kyushu (located in southwestern Japan) when she encounters a young man who tells her, “I’m looking for a door.” What Suzume finds is a single weathered door standing upright in the midst of ruins as though it was shielded from whatever catastrophe struck. Seemingly drawn by its power, Suzume reaches for the knob… Doors begin to open one after another all across Japan, unleashing destruction upon any who are near. Suzume must close these portals to prevent further disaster.

 

—The stars, then sunset, and the morning sky.

 

Within that realm, it was as though all time had melted together in the sky…

 

Never-before-seen scenery, encounters and farewells… A myriad of challenges await her on her journey. Despite all the obstacles in her way, Suzume’s adventure shines a ray of hope upon our own struggles against the toughest roads of anxiety and constraints that make up everyday life. This story of closing doors that connect our past to the present and future will leave a lasting impression upon all of our hearts. 

 

Drawn in by these mysterious doors, Suzume’s journey is about to begin. 

 

Source: Makoto Shinkai on Twitter

 

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Daryl Harding is a Senior Japan Correspondent for Crunchyroll News. He also runs a YouTube channel about Japan stuff called TheDoctorDazza, tweets at @DoctorDazza, and posts photos of his travels on Instagram.