The romantic body-swap anime "Kimi No Na Wa" or "Your Name" for Western audiences passed the historic ¥20 billion mark in Japanese box office Dec. 6, as announced by the film's distributor Toho. In the 102 days since the film opened in the country in Aug. 26, it earned 20,006,188,400 yen. The last film to perform in the same way, going beyond the mark, was "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi" or "Spirited Away" which was back in 2001, some 15 years ago! These two films are the only Japanese films to have ever earned more than ¥20 billion.
Makoto Shinkai, the film director, and writer of the book on which 'Kimi No Na Wa' was based, gave a statement after the film's historic performance in the box office. Shinkai said, "I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has watched the film. I was taught that films sometimes have the power to connect with society. I will keep thinking about 'what kind of story I should make, why, and now?' together with my audiences."
"Kimi No Na Wa" has also beaten the film "Howl no Ugoku Shiro" or Howl's Moving Castle" from the celebrated Japanese film director, Hayao Miyazaki. If the animated film continues its almost unprecedented success, it is expected to also to top the fourth all-time highest grosser at the box office, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
The film is due for an IMAX screening which is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2017. It will run for two weeks.
In related news, "Kimi No Na Wa" is taking China by storm. The Makoto Shinkai blockbuster in the Japanese box office became an instant hit when it opened over the weekend Friday, Dec. 2. All eyes are now on the stats as the animated romance between two people who have never met in person is now close to breaking the box office records for Japanese films in China. On opening day alone the film made ¥1.3 billion. On Tuesday evening, the total gross earning had already gone up to ¥5.3 billion.