The Drifting Post (2018)
A tender Japanese short film about grief, memory, and the healing power of words left unspoken for too long.
The Drifting Post - Movie Information
- Original Title: 漂流ポスト
- Release Year: 2018
- Directed by: Kento Shimizu
- Type: Movie
- Runtime: 30m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): May 12, 2018 (Japan)
The Drifting Post - Plot
Since the Great Tohoku (East Japan) Earthquake deprived Sonomi of her best friend Kyoko, she has lived without accepting the friend's death. One day, a time capsule is found; It contains letters they wrote to each other to be read in the future. With the discovery, never-fading beautiful memories come back. At the same time, an irreparable mistake that Sonomi cannot regret enough comes back as well. Agonizing over the past, she learns about the Drifting Post, a mailbox that receives letters containing undelivered messages and pent-up feelings to those deceased in the earthquake. To convey her feelings to Kyoko and move on from the painful past, Sonomi makes up her mind to deliver her letter and she sets out for the Drifting Post.
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The Drifting Post - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Kento Shimizu
Main Cast
- Rise Yukinaka
- Miki Kamioka
- Yurine Nakao
- Daisuke Nagakura
Writers
- Kento Shimizu
The Drifting Post - FAQs
What is The Drifting Post about?
The Drifting Post follows Sonomi, a young woman who never came to terms with losing her best friend Kyoko in the Great Tohoku Earthquake. When a time capsule resurfaces old letters, she discovers a special mailbox that receives messages meant for those lost in the disaster, and sets out to finally say goodbye.
What is the Drifting Post mailbox in the film?
The Drifting Post is a real mailbox located in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Placed in a hilltop garden overlooking the sea, it has received over 10,000 letters from people seeking to communicate with loved ones lost in the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and tsunami.
Is The Drifting Post based on a true story?
The film is inspired by a real place and a real phenomenon. The Drifting Post mailbox genuinely exists in Otsuchi, Japan, and thousands of people have written letters there to loved ones lost in the 2011 disaster. The story of Sonomi and Kyoko is fictional but deeply rooted in this real-world tradition of grief and remembrance.
Who directed The Drifting Post?
The Drifting Post was written and directed by Kento Shimizu. The film reflects a deeply personal and compassionate approach to storytelling, centering on themes of loss, guilt, and the human need for closure in the aftermath of one of Japan's most devastating natural disasters.
Who are the main actors in The Drifting Post?
The film features Rise Yukinaka, Miki Kamioka, Yurine Nakao, and Daisuke Nagakura. Rise Yukinaka leads the cast as Sonomi, the young woman at the heart of the story, navigating grief, guilt, and the long road toward accepting her best friend's death.
How long is The Drifting Post?
The Drifting Post runs just 30 minutes, making it a short film. Despite its brief runtime, it delivers a quietly powerful emotional experience, using every minute to explore themes of unresolved grief, friendship, and the healing power of finally letting go.
What are similar films to The Drifting Post?
If The Drifting Post moved you, you might also love Love Letter (1995), Ocean Waves (1993), Her Blue Sky (2019), Orange (2015), and When Marnie Was There (2014). These films share similar themes of memory, longing, and emotional connection across time and loss.
When was The Drifting Post released?
The Drifting Post premiered in Japan on May 12, 2018. The film was released as part of a wave of Japanese cinema reflecting on the legacy of the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, offering a quiet, intimate perspective on grief and remembrance seven years after the disaster.
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