‘넥스트 일본(Next Japan)’을 그려내다* : <스즈메의 문단속>에 나타난 주체와 공동체 그리고 윤리

Abstract

In Makoto Shinkai's Suzume, Suzume, a survivor of the great East Japan earthquake, sets off on a journey to save Sota. He travels across Japan in search of doors that bring catastrophe to their surroundings. The first step of the journey is to turn Sota, who has been transformed into a three-legged chair, back into his human form. The next step is to rescue Sota, who has crossed over to the world of the dead, and bring him back to the present time and space. Through this process, Suzume and Sota's growth symbolize the end of the Heisei period and serve as role models for the next generation in Japan. These two characters demonstrate personal growth, striking a balance between the paternalism of the modern nation-state and the maternalism of the pre-modern nation-state. They also challenge the notion of sacrificing others that is associated with modern Japan's nationalist ideology, by embodying a balanced self that doesn't conform to either paternal or maternal roles. In essence, Shinkai suggests closing the door on the illusions and ruins of a "strong" Japan, and opening the door to understanding others' lives. This ethical imperative calls for Japanese audiences to explore new subjects and communities, and confront the fragility of life in our contemporary world, where it can be shattered at any moment.