New TV Anime 'Natsunagu!' Remembers 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes [Update 11/21]

by Kineta
Nov 18, 2019 1:08 PM | 19 Comments

A 12-episode TV anime series titled Natsunagu! was announced on Monday. The anime has been produced entirely by Kumamoto's local government, as a part of the ongoing reconstruction efforts following the 2016 earthquakes. Three main staff and one main cast member were announced, all from Kumamoto Prefecture. The broadcast will begin in January 2020, with a free application to watch the episodes also in planning.

Synopsis
Natsuna Kunugi, a university student in Tokyo, visits Kumamoto in search of friends who she could not contact following the Kumamoto earthquakes. There, she meets local people who are full of compassion and uniqueness, including the energetic junior high school student, Izumi. A heartfelt coming-of-age story begins.

Cast
Izumi Chiba: Yoshino Aoyama (Wake Up, Girls!)

Staff
Director: Yasuyuki Honda (episode director of Kamisama Hajimemashita, Naruto)
Screenplay: Domeshi (Otona no Bouguya-san)
Producer: Shun Fukudome

Kumamoto was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on April 16, 2016, two days after a foreshock earthquake of magnitude 6.2. Numerous aftershock earthquakes were also recorded, reaching over 4.5 in magnitude. The disaster killed 50 people and injured at least 3,000, caused wide-spread damage, and forced multiple evacuations. Kumamoto Prefecture Tokyo Office Director stated that even though 3 years and 7 months have passed, there are still scars remaining today.

Official Twitter: @NatsunaguPR

Source: Comic Natalie

Natsunagu! on MAL

Update November 21
The official website announced two cast members on Thursday.

Cast
Natsuna Keyaki: Ai Hashimoto (Blood-C: The Last Dark)
Shige Chiba: Shigeru Chiba (3-gatsu no Lion)

Source: Comic Natalie

New Anime Winter 2020

19 Comments Recent Comments

Airing on Mondays at 25:35 (Tuesdays at 1:35 a.m.) via Tokyo MX, followed by RKK starting January 6, 2020 for 5 min. duration.
Tokyo MX: https://twitter.com/NatsunaguPR/status/1202841923595038720
RKK: https://twitter.com/NatsunaguPR/status/1202840958804484096

First ep. pres-screening event at Kumamoto at December 26 and Ikebukuro at December 27
https://moca-news.net/article/20191214/2019121414000a_/01/

Dec 6, 2019 2:06 AM by tsubasalover

Even if we don't get a simuldub, I would be really happy if Crunchyroll, Funimation, or Sentai gives this a weekly simulcast! The very premise is beautiful and it is like an anime activism series of sorts.

So, this is a political anime in the sense the prefectural government is funding this. However, the premise does sound very well-intended. I do hope this series sells well on DVD and that the project increase tourism and people to help the recovery efforts.

Nov 21, 2019 9:22 PM by Kadmos1

News Update
The official website announced two cast members on Thursday.

Cast
Natsuna Keyaki: Ai Hashimoto (Blood-C: The Last Dark)
Shige Chiba: Shigeru Chiba (3-gatsu no Lion)

Source: Comic Natalie

Nov 21, 2019 2:56 PM by Sakana-san

tsubasalover said:
2 additional casts
https://natalie.mu/comic/news/356332

Both natives of Kumamoto. Maybe they can get Rie Kugemiya in this.

Nov 21, 2019 8:39 AM by Haneken2086

ei.....Fukushima.

Nov 21, 2019 6:32 AM by Guastha

Wow! It's awesome!!

Nov 19, 2019 12:15 PM by removed-user

This has my curiousity. I hope it's something enjoyable and instructive.

Nov 19, 2019 4:49 AM by Haneken2086

Phlaryx said:
I might be mistaken but wasn’t Masaki Yuuasa also doing an anime about earthquakes sometime next year?

Yes, about Tokyo Earthquake.

Nov 19, 2019 2:42 AM by tsubasalover

looking forward to this, look interesting

Nov 19, 2019 1:17 AM by Cateye0609

Definitely looking forward to this!

It’s a nice change of pace to see the local government behind this project. I’m hoping to see this project prevail!

Nov 18, 2019 10:36 PM by _MushiRock11_

This sounds interesting. Very much looking forward to it.

Nov 18, 2019 6:25 PM by FMmatron

Definitely will be watching it. At least, I can see it from another perspective other than Tokyo M8.0.

Nov 18, 2019 5:24 PM by Nainu_

KuuhakuDesu said:
This seems really nice. It'll probably a very heartwarming (and possibly tearjerking) show.

It's surprising to see Yoppi in this, since she was already in WUG.
I'm glad to see her in a new project.

Yoppi's a Kumamoto native after all.

I'm gonna say this before the shows starts, but I hope her friends is okay.

Nov 18, 2019 5:14 PM by Antagonized

I might be mistaken but wasn’t Masaki Yuuasa also doing an anime about earthquakes sometime next year?

Nov 18, 2019 4:38 PM by Phlaryx

I can already feel a good cry coming on uuuugggh I can’t wait

Nov 18, 2019 4:23 PM by Oddish

Looking forward to this one! I'll getting tissues ready already cause i expect there will be tears.

Nov 18, 2019 3:09 PM by Chibi-Alice

This could be good, since its actually being funded by the local government I am more inclined to believe this isnt tastelessly taking a tragedy for profit but rather trying to get the word out there about the effect of it.

Nov 18, 2019 2:51 PM by JizzyHitler

I'm in, shut and take my yen(I don't have any yen)

Nov 18, 2019 2:17 PM by NG_Chloe

wow I will watch it for sure. I happy they do such good thing which is create an anime to remember the tragedy from back then

Nov 18, 2019 2:02 PM by elior1