The Day the Earth Moved (1997): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1997, The Day the Earth Moved is a drama and animation film directed by Toshio Gotô, running about 76 minutes.

What it’s about. January 16, 1995. Tsuyoshi Takahashi, a young student at Shiokaze elementary, is driven solely to get excellent grades. Because of this he often ignores those around him in his pursuit of perfection. Miho, a young girl in his class that wishes he would appreciate the people around him. Kazu a sickly and bed ridden classmate that lives near him. January 17, the 1995 Kobe / Hyogoken-Nanbu Earthquake strikes killing more than 6000 people and leaving 300 000 more homeless. Measuring 6.9 on the Richter Scale, it was the largest Earthquake to hit Japan since the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. In the aftermath of the quake, Tsuyoshi's finds his priorities changing. Dealing with the death of one friend while helping another to cope with a very personal loss, Tsuyoshi is forced to mature into someone who can no longer ignore the suffering around him.

Who’s in it. The Day the Earth Moved stars Tetsuya Okazaki as Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Tetsuo Sakaguchi, Keiko Takeshita and Keiko Yamamoto, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Day the Earth Moved page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Day the Earth Moved tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.