'Suzume no Mondonso' Japanese Anime Surpasses 3 Million Consecutive Viewers

Director Shinkai "Returning to Korea as Promised"

The Japanese animated film 'Suzume no Tojimari' surpassed 3 million viewers on its 20th day since release. It is the second film to achieve this milestone this year, following 'The First Slam Dunk.'

According to the Korea Film Council's integrated box office data on the 28th, 'Suzume no Tojimari' (director Makoto Shinkai) attracted 57,384 viewers on the 27th, securing the number one spot at the box office. Since its release on the 8th, it has recorded a cumulative audience of 3,022,210.

Director Makoto Shinkai [Photo by Yonhap News]

The film reached 1 million viewers on its 6th day, surpassed 2 million on the 13th day, and hit the 3 million mark at 4:30 PM on the 27th, its 20th day. This is the second record this year after 'The First Slam Dunk' (director Takehiko Inoue), which was released on January 4th and was the first to exceed 3 million viewers. Unusually, two Japanese animated films are currently leading the year's box office.

'Suzume no Tojimari' is an animated film about a girl named Suzume who accidentally opens a door that brings disaster and desperately closes doors to prevent disasters occurring across Japan. Directed by Makoto Shinkai, who also directed 'Your Name.' (2017) and 'Weathering with You' (2019), this film marks his third consecutive work in Japan to attract over 10 million viewers. All three of the director’s films are based on the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Director Shinkai, who led the Japanese animation craze in Korea, held the record for the highest-grossing Japanese film in Korea for six years with 'Your Name.' (3.8 million viewers), but this was recently surpassed by 'The First Slam Dunk,' which recorded a cumulative audience of 4,287,564 on the 27th.

Still from Suzume's Locking Up
Photo by Media Castle

Director Shinkai, who visited Korea earlier this month ahead of the release, promised to return if the film surpassed 3 million viewers domestically. Accordingly, he will visit Korea again from the 27th to the 30th of next month.

Through the distributor, Director Shinkai said, "I feel happy every day realizing that Korean audiences are enjoying the film well." He added, "Since it has exceeded 3 million viewers, I have decided to come back to Korea as promised. I look forward to visiting Korea again soon and meeting everyone."