Haruki Murakami's Masterpiece Short Stories Adapted: 'After the Earthquake' Drama Blu-ray and DVD Release!
NHK Enterprise will release the Blu-ray and DVD of the drama 'After the Earthquake', based on Haruki Murakami's short story series, on May 22, 2026. This omnibus features a star-studded cast including Masaki Okada and Koichi Sato.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 13:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 02:33 (13h 1m after Collected)
NHK Enterprise is pleased to announce the release of the drama 'After the Earthquake' on Blu-ray and DVD on May 22, 2026.
Key Highlights:
- Features a stellar cast led by Masaki Okada, Yui Narumi, Daichi Watanabe, and Koichi Sato across four episodes.
- Depicts a strange and beautiful world of loss experienced by those who felt the impact of the disaster from afar rather than at the epicenter.
- Includes new scenes and re-edited sequences seen in the film version 'After the Quake' released in Autumn 2025.
- Includes a behind-the-scenes making-of video produced specifically for this release.
[Synopsis]
#1: January 1995, Tokyo. Since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, Mina (Ai Hashimoto) has been fixated on the news. She leaves home with a note saying, 'I have no intention of ever coming back.' Her husband Komura (Masaki Okada), left behind without knowing why, travels to Kushiro to deliver a package requested by a colleague, where he is led on a strange journey by women he meets.
#2: 2011, Ibaraki. Junko (Yui Narumi), who ran away after failing to get along with her father, lives with Keisuke (Koudai Kurosaki) in a seaside town. At the convenience store where she works, she meets Miyake (Shinichi Tsutsumi), a man from Kansai who enjoys gathering driftwood for bonfires. Junko becomes drawn to Miyake and eventually joins him. One night, during their largest bonfire yet, Miyake's past is revealed.
#3: Yoshiya (Soya Kurokawa) has lived without a father since birth. His mother (Haruka Igawa) told him, 'You are a child of God,' and he grew up in a devout religious group. However, after the Great East Japan Earthquake, he lost hope for the future and left the faith. Ten years later, Yoshiya (Daichi Watanabe) spots a man with a missing ear on the subway—a characteristic his father might have. He decides to follow him.
#4: 2025, Tokyo. Katagiri (Koichi Sato), a security guard living in an internet cafe, is suddenly visited by 'Frog-kun' (voiced by Non). A giant frog-like being, Frog-kun claims he and Katagiri saved Tokyo from an earthquake 30 years ago, though Katagiri has no memory of it. Frog-kun invites him to join a battle against 'Worm-kun' to prevent another disaster. Can they save Tokyo again?
Cast: Masaki Okada, Ai Hashimoto, Erika Karata, Kana Kita, Yuki Izumisawa, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Yui Narumi, Koudai Kurosaki, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Daichi Watanabe, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Soya Kurokawa, Mai Kiryu, Haruka Igawa, Koichi Sato, Ryo Nishikido, Kanji Tsuda, Non (voice), and others.
Original Work: Based on 'All God's Children Can Dance' by Haruki Murakami.
Screenplay: Takaaki Ohira ('Drive My Car')
Music: Yoshihide Otomo ('Amachan')
Release Specs:
Blu-ray: 10,560 yen (inc. tax) / 2 discs / 176 min + 20 min bonus.
DVD: 9,460 yen (inc. tax) / 2 discs / 176 min + 20 min bonus.
Publisher/Distributor: NHK Enterprise
Key Highlights:
- Features a stellar cast led by Masaki Okada, Yui Narumi, Daichi Watanabe, and Koichi Sato across four episodes.
- Depicts a strange and beautiful world of loss experienced by those who felt the impact of the disaster from afar rather than at the epicenter.
- Includes new scenes and re-edited sequences seen in the film version 'After the Quake' released in Autumn 2025.
- Includes a behind-the-scenes making-of video produced specifically for this release.
[Synopsis]
#1: January 1995, Tokyo. Since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, Mina (Ai Hashimoto) has been fixated on the news. She leaves home with a note saying, 'I have no intention of ever coming back.' Her husband Komura (Masaki Okada), left behind without knowing why, travels to Kushiro to deliver a package requested by a colleague, where he is led on a strange journey by women he meets.
#2: 2011, Ibaraki. Junko (Yui Narumi), who ran away after failing to get along with her father, lives with Keisuke (Koudai Kurosaki) in a seaside town. At the convenience store where she works, she meets Miyake (Shinichi Tsutsumi), a man from Kansai who enjoys gathering driftwood for bonfires. Junko becomes drawn to Miyake and eventually joins him. One night, during their largest bonfire yet, Miyake's past is revealed.
#3: Yoshiya (Soya Kurokawa) has lived without a father since birth. His mother (Haruka Igawa) told him, 'You are a child of God,' and he grew up in a devout religious group. However, after the Great East Japan Earthquake, he lost hope for the future and left the faith. Ten years later, Yoshiya (Daichi Watanabe) spots a man with a missing ear on the subway—a characteristic his father might have. He decides to follow him.
#4: 2025, Tokyo. Katagiri (Koichi Sato), a security guard living in an internet cafe, is suddenly visited by 'Frog-kun' (voiced by Non). A giant frog-like being, Frog-kun claims he and Katagiri saved Tokyo from an earthquake 30 years ago, though Katagiri has no memory of it. Frog-kun invites him to join a battle against 'Worm-kun' to prevent another disaster. Can they save Tokyo again?
Cast: Masaki Okada, Ai Hashimoto, Erika Karata, Kana Kita, Yuki Izumisawa, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Yui Narumi, Koudai Kurosaki, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Daichi Watanabe, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Soya Kurokawa, Mai Kiryu, Haruka Igawa, Koichi Sato, Ryo Nishikido, Kanji Tsuda, Non (voice), and others.
Original Work: Based on 'All God's Children Can Dance' by Haruki Murakami.
Screenplay: Takaaki Ohira ('Drive My Car')
Music: Yoshihide Otomo ('Amachan')
Release Specs:
Blu-ray: 10,560 yen (inc. tax) / 2 discs / 176 min + 20 min bonus.
DVD: 9,460 yen (inc. tax) / 2 discs / 176 min + 20 min bonus.
Publisher/Distributor: NHK Enterprise