It was announced on June 16th that "The Man Who Carries the Voice of August," a drama commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II that aired on NHK in August 2025 and stars actor Masahiro Motoki, will be released in theaters on August 21st. A trailer was also released at the same time.
"The Man Who Carries the Voices of August" is based on the true story of Akihiko Ito, a journalist who lived in Nagasaki and traveled throughout Japan collecting the voices of atomic bomb survivors. The story depicts the extraordinary encounters brought about by the atomic bomb, and was written by Shunsaku Ikehata, a screenwriter from Hiroshima Prefecture known for his work on the historical dramas "Taiheiki" (1991) and "Kirin ga Kuru" (2020). It was broadcast on NHK General on August 13 last year as part of NHK's 80th anniversary of the end of the war.
Produced as WOWOW's first domestic production project, the series has garnered significant attention, winning numerous awards including the 34th (2025) Hashida Award, the Broadcast Critics Association's August 2025 Galaxy Award Monthly Prize, the 76th (2025) Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award in the Broadcasting Category of the Arts Selection Awards for Takeshi Shibata, the 52nd Broadcast Culture Foundation Award for Drama "Encouragement Award," and the recently announced Grand Prize in the Television Category at the 63rd Galaxy Awards.
The cast includes Sadao Abe as Kazuhei Kuno, who recounts an unforgettable atomic bomb survivor experience to journalist Yasushi Tsujihara, played by Motoki; Aoi Ito as Kuno's sister; Shizuka Ishibashi as Miyako Tachibana; Machiko Ono Ono as Yukie Egi; and Tetsushi Tanaka as Mitsuru Kagawa.
The story is set in Japan in 1972, a time of rapid economic growth. The postwar era was over. Every Japanese person was striving for prosperity. As if going against the trend of the times, Yasushi Tsujihara (played by Motoki), a journalist from a Nagasaki broadcasting station, begins to collect the voices of atomic bomb survivors. However, at that time, the effects of the atomic bomb were still very vivid, and the experiences of atomic bomb survivors were not something that should be spoken about. Recording the experiences of atomic bomb survivors in such an era was a lonely and arduous task that was not understood by those around him.
During this time, Tsujihara has a fateful encounter with a survivor of the atomic bombing, Kazuhei Kuno (played by Abe). Tsujihara is deeply moved by the "voice" that Kuno speaks. He wants to pass on this "voice." However, that "voice" is also shrouded in many mysteries...
For the theatrical release, scenes not shown in the broadcast version have been added, resulting in a film version that portrays the inner lives of the characters in greater depth and complexity. It can be experienced on the big screen and in the superb 5.1ch surround sound environment of a theater. Produced and distributed by WOWOW, it will be released nationwide at TOHO Cinemas from August 21st (excluding some theaters).
The following is a comment from the lead actor, Motoki.
◇Comment from Masahiro Motoki Motoki
I am very pleased that "The Man Who Carries the Voice of August" will now take flight with a new set of wings in the form of a movie.
Looking up at the twinkling starry sky, Ito resolved to gather the voices of the soul, and he pondered the "reality of the atomic bombing," which cannot be quantified.
The reason why anonymous poems still resonate today is that even though the poet is unknown, the very breath of the person who wrote them moves our hearts. Similarly, Ms. Ito's quiet ambition is to crystallize these authentic voices, making them a shared treasure of humanity, and to preserve the experiences of atomic bomb survivors.
I felt a similar ambition in Mr. Ikehata's understated yet profound script, and I performed with all my might to create a powerful impact.
If as many people as possible gather at the theater and share their hearts with the light of our heartfelt wishes, perhaps Mr. Ito, who is watching over us from heaven, will smile a little...that's what I hope.
