Japan Sinks People of Hope (Nihon Chinbotsu: Kibo no Hito / 日本沈没ー希望のひとー)

Due to the destruction of the environment driven by human economic activities,

The Earth now faces an unprecedented crisis.

The effect of the accelerating climate change is enormous.

At this rate, by 2030,

it's been projected that the frequency of severe natural disasters will increase.

WORLD CONFERENCE

If that is the case, what shall we do?

And so,

with the help of the renowned geophysicist Prof. Sera,

we have taken steps to reach zero carbon emissions

by the year 2050.

Specifically…

COMS.

Celstec is an energy source that does not emit CO2.

It is located nine kilometers underwater, between gaps in the seabed.

We have created a system that can extract Celstec using pipes.

The deposit is large enough to cover 120-years' worth of Japan's CO2 emissions,

which will allow us to dramatically bring down our carbon footprint.

What are you doing?

Look at this.

It's because people litter.

This little guy was about to die.

I would like to declare that Japan will strive to be

an environmentally advanced country

and contribute to the Earth's future.

2023 OCTOBER

Prime Minister, I have the Japan Future Council's proposal.

Here it is.

PROPOSAL REGARDING "CLEAN ENERGY"

Thank you, Tokiwa.

It's been a while.

Thank you for attending my father's party.

I'm glad you accepted the chairmanship.

I just keep things moving.

Amami here was the one who put that proposal together.

I'm Amami from the MOE.

So you're Amami.

I hear you did a lot for COMS.

I will continue to do so.

I sure hope so.

As environmental issues gain more attention, the MOE will be relied on more.

Nothing will change with the MOE in charge.

Hey, that's going too far.

I'm having lunch with the president of Ikushima Motors. Want to join?

Of course! Are you sure?

Must be nice having lunch with a top executive!

My father runs the Tokiwa Group after all.

They told me to bring someone interesting.

-See you! -Bye!

DON'T DESTROY THE EARTH!!

PROTECT THE EARTH!!

SAY NO TO COMS!!

PM HIGASHIYAMA SHOULD RESIGN!

Here you go.

-Here. -Oh, I'm okay.

KANTO WILL SINK

Kanto will sink. This again?

To think a fake Internet story would get this far.

"The maverick geophysicist Dr. Tadokoro raises alarm bells."

Dr. Tadokoro, huh?

They're going so far as blaming it on COMS?

COMS is a national project that we helped build.

PROTECT KANTO FROM SINKING!!

I'm not letting them put a stop to it.

FOR EARTH'S FUTURE COMS

Prof. Sera.

You're the man of the hour.

You were picked for the Japan Future Council, right?

Congrats.

Your future is now secured.

I have you to thank for recommending me to the Prime Minister.

That's why you got close to me, isn't it?

So, what is it today?

Do you know Dr. Tadokoro, the former University of Tokyo professor?

Yes.

What about Tadokoro?

There's this article online.

"TADOKORO WARNS KANTO COULD SINK!"

-Kanto could sink? -Yes.

People are holding demonstrations around the Diet because of this article.

He was a brilliant associate.

We had him leave after he made some trouble.

He could be holding a grudge.

So he's targeting COMS?

What can you do?

RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Are you Dr. Tadokoro?

I'm Amami Keishi with the Ministry of the Environment.

-You'll do. Help me. -What?

SEISMOLOGIST TADOKORO YUSUKE

Just help already.

Okay.

H-Hold on…

I've connected the signal.

Lock's in place.

Allow me to introduce myself again.

-I'm Amami Keishi with the Ministry of-- -Don't talk to me.

You'll do. Coffee.

Where's the other?

-I'm sorry. -Right away.

Something strong.

Oh, okay.

MOE AMAMI KEISHI

May we talk?

I'm aware that you were a leading geophysicist at the University of Tokyo,

who utilized GPS to improve earthquake forecast technology,

earning commendations worldwide.

Get to the point already.

I'd like you to stop creating panic with your Kanto Sinking Theory.

That's why I'm here.

How have I created panic?

You suggested that COMS would cause the sinking of Kanto.

The leading geophysicist Prof. Sera has assured

the safety of the COMS system in relation to the seabed.

Prof. Sera can't see it yet.

On a global scale,

it goes against common sense to think COMS would sink an area the size of Kanto--

Your common sense has no bearing on the Earth's activities.

Nobody predicted climate change when they started digging up oil and coal.

But in reality, human operations affect the Earth.

We're paying for ignoring the environment.

There have been 582 human-caused earthquakes in the last 100 years.

And now COMS.

In the near future,

off the Izu coast,

there will be a large earthquake and a whole island will sink.

Hinojima.

Is that a prediction?

That's right.

The sinking of that island

will be an omen of the inevitable sinking of Kanto I've feared.

Oh no…

Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

Excuse me, aren't you Mr. Amami from the Ministry of the Environment?

What?

Oh, um…

I'm Shiina from the Sunday Maicho .

I'm writing about D Plans's collusion with the Ministry of the Environment.

Collusion?

What is D Plans?

A shady company involved in everything from green business to real estate.

So, what are you doing here?

I wanted to interview Dr. Tadokoro.

D Plans owns this research center,

and they are using the scientists they keep here to run scams.

In other words, you could deduce that

Dr. Tadokoro is an academic fraud aiding in D Plans's illegal activities.

Academic fraud, huh?

You're part of it, aren't you?

What?

If you were meeting with Dr. Tadokoro here,

then it's only natural to think that you're aiding the crime.

What's your proof against Dr. Tadokoro?

Do you think I'd share my sources?

What's your goal here?

Goal?

What are you looking to get from this story?

I don't think we're close enough to share.

You're free to speculate,

just refrain from writing fake news.

I'll come for an interview.

I'm ready.

In order to speed up the implementation of environmental policies,

PM Higashiyama formed the Japan Future Council with members from each ministry.

Within a year, we will create a carbon-neutral model town.

That is my proposal to make Japan environmentally advanced.

Impressive idea from Mr. Amami.

It's so forward-thinking--

While there's nothing wrong with your idealism,

the Ministry of Finance has to consider the budget.

Besides, a stable power supply isn't realistically attainable for this town.

And the MLIT can't grant the permits for such a project.

Hold on a second.

I thought it was our mission to go beyond the ministries to forge Japan's future.

Am I wrong, Mr. Secretary?

You're absolutely right.

I support the idea of a futuristic Japan to pitch to the world,

but I feel that Mr. Amami's suggestion is a bit too demanding.

There should be other priorities for the country.

We could also consider strengthening laws to punish environmental crimes.

We should also discuss the role of agriculture.

However, since the SDGs were adopted at the UN summit,

environmental issues have been this country's top priority.

Isn't Amami's suggestion worth discussing?

I agree.

If we were scared of trying something new, COMS would not have happened.

Japan is still lagging behind in a number of future policy measures.

At this rate, we'll lose our position as an economic power.

Which is why we have to lead the world in environmental policies.

What kind of world can we leave our children?

If we don't act now, it'll be too late.

It's all in our hands.

You just went in hot from the start.

The beginning is crucial.

Read the room a bit, would you? You'll make enemies.

I have a favor to ask you.

I want to hold a hearing.

What do you mean?

We have the council, now's the opportunity to take action.

What kind of man is Dr. Tadokoro?