FukuFuku Map brand film released

Fukushima Prefecture has put an English-subtitled version of “FukuFuku Map” on its official YouTube channel, extending the reach of an animated brand film tied to the prefecture’s fold-out guide, “Fukushima Map.” The roughly 10-minute short is directed by Sunao Katabuchi, with music by kotringo, and is positioned by the prefecture as the second brand film for the map project. (fukushimamap.jp) The release was announced on September 1 on the project’s website. The video page says the film was published two days ago. (youtube.com) The film gives Fukushima a tourism-and-identity pitch through animation rather than a conventional destination ad. On the project site, Fukushima says the work was made to deliver “Fukushima Map” to more people and was produced as a special project of the “Fukushima Map Friends Association,” launched in December 2024. (fukushimamap.jp) The prefecture says the fold-out publication has distributed more than 500,000 copies since its 2016 launch. ### What exactly did Fukushima release this week? September 1 is the date Fukushima used to announce the English-subtitled edition, titled “FukuFuku Map,” on its official YouTube channel. The YouTube listing describes it as “The Second Brand Film for ‘Fukushima Map,’ Fukushima Prefecture’s fold-out guide map,” and flags the availability of English subtitles. (fukushimamap.jp) The video itself runs about 10 minutes. That length puts it closer to a short film than a standard tourism spot, giving the prefecture room to build a story around place, movement and encounters rather than a sequence of quick promotional images. That framing is stated through the official description and the dedicated project page. (fukushimamap.jp) ### Who made the film, and why are those credits notable? Sunao Katabuchi is named by Fukushima as the film’s director. The project site also says kotringo wrote, composed, arranged and performed the theme song, “Meguru Tsumugu.” Fukushima further says character concepts were handled by Fumiyo Kono, reuniting key talent associated with “In This Corner of the World.” (fukushimamap.jp) Fukushima’s site describes the production team as creators who had previously worked with Katabuchi, and says their contribution was intended to bring a “warm” and “delicate” visual and musical treatment to the prefecture’s landscapes and daily life. That characterization comes from the project page, not from an outside reviewer. (youtube.com) ### What story does the film tell about Fukushima? The project page says the protagonist is Sophie, a French philosopher visiting Fukushima for a friend’s wedding. After losing the map she was relying on, Sophie meets a mysterious companion and begins an improvised journey across the prefecture, stopping at places and people that gradually reveal local culture. (fukushimamap.jp) Fukushima says the story was built around the worldview of “Fukushima Map,” a hand-drawn fold-out guide made up of illustrations and text. The prefecture says the map includes more than 200 landmarks, traditions, products and local voices from across Fukushima. (fukushimamap.jp) ### How closely is the animation tied to real places? In September 2025, Katabuchi and the production team conducted a three-day location research trip in Fukushima, according to the project site. Fukushima says the team visited more than 20 locations across Hamadori, Nakadori and Aizu, researching scenery, crafts including akabeko, historic buildings and local food. (fukushimamap.jp) A separate earlier YouTube video tied to the project also says the team drove to more than 20 locations in those three regions while carrying the “Fukushima Map.” That account matches the project site’s description of the research process. (fukushimamap.jp) ### Why add English subtitles now? The September 1 update gives one clear next step: wider accessibility for viewers outside Japanese-language audiences. Fukushima’s announcement states that the English-subtitled version is now available on the prefecture’s official YouTube channel. The project site also shows the campaign continuing beyond YouTube. (fukushimamap.jp) Fukushima says it created a “pilgrimage” map of locations appearing in the film, and earlier this year promoted theater tie-ins including digest screenings and branded popcorn cups at five Aeon Cinema locations. The English-subtitled version is now the most direct international-facing piece in that rollout. (youtube.com) (fukushimamap.jp)