今, ふたりの道

"Ima, Futari no Michi" (The Path of Two) is a short animation planned and produced by Miyagi Prefecture to convey reconstruction information. The story revolves around two young men, Jun Wagatsuma and Kohei Sato, and the challenges they face and their growth during the Great East Japan Earthquake. Jun is studying at medical school, unsure whether to follow in his father’s footsteps as a doctor, while Kohei naturally plans to become a fisherman like his family. The earthquake drastically changes the course of their lives, leading them to re-examine their futures and dreams. The approximately 5 minutes and 20 seconds short film concisely depicts the youths' confusion, the horrors of the earthquake, and the process of reconstruction, while expressing gratitude for reconstruction aid and a desire to prevent the fading of memories of the disaster. The animation is directed and written by Susumu Nishizawa, with character designs by Kohei Hashimoto, music by Nobuhiko Aoki, and animation production by Asahi Production and Miyagi Shiraishi Studio. It was broadcast on BS11 on March 8, 2015, and subsequently made available for free on Niconico and Bandai Channel for one month.