‘Weathering With You’ is Now One of Japan’s Biggest Movie Hits Ever

Makoto Shinkai’s “Weathering With You” is Japan’s entry for next year’s International Feature Film Awards at the Oscars as the movie reached the 10 billion Japanese yen ($94 million) mark.

Japanese distributor Toho announced the achievement in August as “Weathering With You” became the country’s 10th highest-grossing movie of all time, according to Business Insider.

In addition, the Japan Motion Picture Producers Association selected the film as the country’s entry at the Oscars in February.

The 46-year-old director, who also directed “Your Name,” a movie regarded as Japan’s highest-grossing animated film ever with $235 million at the box office, was surprised when he found out he had been chosen to represent his home country at the Oscars.

“I didn’t even know beforehand that I was going to be selected to represent Japan,” Shinkai said via IndieWire. “I found out about it on the news like everybody else, so I was surprised but also worried because I don’t know if I’m ready to take on that responsibility.”

“I always feel like my responsibility is only to entertain the audience. And I really want to leave all the other Oscar stuff to the producers.”

“Weathering With You” follows the story of Hodaka, a high school student who ran away from his remote island home to Tokyo, where he met Hina, a bright and strong-willed girl who possesses the ability to stop the rain and clear the sky, as described by American distributor Gkids.

“Weathering With You” is set to make its North American debut in early 2020.

Featured Image Screenshot via YouTube / Gkids Films

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