It's 2007 and the Japanese Ministry of Finance have calculated that the economy will collapse in two years' time. They intend to prevent this by sending home appliance designer Mariko back in time 17 years using a time machine she accidentally invented. However, things don't go as planned and Mariko's daughter, Mayumi, is also sent back to find her mother and save Japan's economy.
Acting
Hirosue Ryoko's frantic energy vs Abe's deadpan bureaucrat
Production
Gloriously tacky recreation of 1990 bubble-era excess
Writing
Explaining monetary policy through appliance design metaphors
Director
Yasuo Baba
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 'Lost Decade' references aren't jokes to Japanese audiences who lived through the 1990 economic crash—it plays like national trauma processed through farce.
Director Yasuo Baba allegedly cast Hiroshi Abe specifically because his blank expression could make 'fiscal policy explanation' scenes watchable. It worked.
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