a Japanese shark film project.

The film is currently in production (2023) for a global release.

Taking off across the world! It’s a Japanese shark movie project that achieved their crowdfunding goal in under five hours on a Japanese crowdfunding site. We would love to share the highly anticipated project Onsen Shark with the world!

Please help support Japanese TOKUSATSU SFX filmmaking and the creating of monsters born from the hot springs!
Please support us in our goals to seek international film distribution, international marketing and participating in international film festivals!

There have been cases of mysterious disappearances of onsen visitors in Atsumi city in S prefecture.The victims were eventually found dead with signs of severe injuries to their bodies resembling a vicious shark attack.The police chief of Atsumi city investigates and unravels the mystery behind their deaths. A vicious shark has resurrected from ancient times and has been visiting the hot springs to attack people. This becomes a battle between Atsumi and the ferocious shark.

Entry scenes of the shark will be created using special modeling to the best possible extent with tokusatsu special effects. We will of course use CG! Cameos include MACCHO and special submarine, Atsumi Maru with the hope to satisfy both shark movie fans and tokusatsu film fans. We will fabricate a full scale onsen-shark tail, dorsal fin, a controllable shark head in guignol (a large-hand puppet), and a special shark-fighting submarine.

 Scheduled to be completed in December, 2023

 Running Time : 70min       Genre : SFX Action Movie

 Sound: Japanese               Subtitles: English       Production: PLAN A inc.

 It’s a trending topic in Japan.
 We’d like to present this new concept in Japanese filmmaking to the world!!

 There are many shark movies that were smash hits all over the world, such as JAWS, DEEP BLUE SEA, The Shallows, Open Water and the summer blockbuster Meg 2: The Trench. The film is currently in production and set in well-know onsen town Atami in Shizuoka prefecture.

The idea for the film came about when the producer, Masayuki Nagata moved to the city of Atami five years ago. The production began with the desire to make a film in Atami and the cooperation of a shark movie buyer named “Shark Movie Rookie” along with director and screenwriter Morihito Inoue, a two time winner of the National Monster Movie Championship.

 The response has gone beyond shark movie fans on social media with 40,000 likes in 24 hours. The movie has also been reported on newspapers and on TV, creating buzz and high expectations even before  production is finished.

 A new era of tokusatsu SFX film is born!
 Captivate the world with authentic tokusatsu special effects!

Onsen Shark will be produced utilizing tokusatsu special effects. The full-scaled scenes with special effects will be filmed in the fall of 2023 in Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture with the cooperation of local residents. Sukagawa is also known as the hometown of director Eiji
Tsuburaya, the creator of Godzilla and Ultraman. Scenes with destruction of buildings and sharks exploding will be filmed using VFX techniques resulting in the tokusatsu effect. In addition, we will create a spectacular finish with miniature shooting!

 Onsen, one of Japan’s beloved traditions, will be in the movie!
 To normalize and spread the use of hot spring emoji ♨ across the world.

Mt. Fuji, ninja, and sushi! There are many beautiful traditions in Japan, but let’s not forget about the onsen (hot springs) and the unique bath culture that surrounds it. There is some thought that went into the title of Onsen Shark. One major influence is Amity Island, the now infamous tourist destination and setting for Steven Spielberg's breakthrough JAWS. Many fans still visit the island today as the island evokes feelings from the film which can contribute to local revitalization.

 Onsen Shark will lead to an increase in tourism and promotion of Atami City. Creating a film on the topic of onsen will lead to an increase in movies being shot at the many onsens throughout Japan. Onsens are of course popular destinations for the Japanese, but overseas tourists also enjoy them. The perfect destination for sharks to come out!

Koichi Makigami 

Vocalist,Songwriter and Producer / Born 25 January 1956, Atami-shi, Shizuoka,Japan  Koichi Makigami is leader, vocalist, thereminist, cornet and Shakuhachi player for rock band “HIKASHU", known for his virtuosic vocal range and expression as well as his unique incorporation of elements of theatre, performance, and entertainment, all of which make this Japanese band so widely acclaimed both critically and popularly. 

Susumu Hirasawa   /  (Special Sound Effects) 

Born in Tokyo, Japan, he made his debut in 1979 with P-MODEL. He became a central figure in the techno-pop/new wave movement. In 1989, he released his solo album Jikuu no Mizu (Water of Space and Time) with a stateless sound that focuses more on the track. It’s a blend of the past (mythology/folk world) and the future (science fiction/computer world) merging in the present. He established his own unique musical world. 

Since 1994, he has been holding "interactive live shows" that he devised himself, using computers and CG to interact with the audience. In 1999, he was one of the first artists in Japan to distribute his music over the internet. He has always been ahead of the time in how he approaches music and the industry and continues to influence various artists both within and outside the music industry. He has directed music for Satoshi Kon’s anime series Millennium Actress, Paranoia Agent, Paprika and the soundtrack for the film, TV series, and video games for Berserk by Kentaro Miura. The theme song for Paprika, “Byakkoya no Musume" had been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

 The funds raised through the crowdfunding campaign will be used for overseas distribution and promotion of Onsen Shark, submissions to domestic and international film festivals and software distribution in overseas markets.

There are a variety of perks listed below.

●Thank you video message 

(We will send you a video message from the cast and crew.)

●Stickers

●Temporary Tattoo Stickers

●Onsen Hand Towel

●Movie End Credits 

 (Depending on the amount of support, there are three types of credit tiers (titles) : small, medium, and large)

1.  Small: Special Thanks
2.  Medium: Associate Producer
3.  Large: Co-executive Producer

●Online Premiere (English Subtitles) 

(Delivery is scheduled for spring 2024)

●Shark-shaped Figure

 (limited quantity! Used in filming)

●Sneak Preview Screening Rights

For more details, Please click the “Select an Option” 

2020

Started thinking of ways to help young creators that had lost work due to the pandemic. Produced a short film set in Atami city. Atami Monster (dir. Mika Akizuki) The marriage of local film and genre film (two distinctly Japanese film genres) led to conceiving of the Onsen Shark project

2021

Onsen Shark was canceled due to the pandemic and landslides in Atami and Izuyama. 

Produced a superhero film to support the affected onsen areas. Bath-Diver, The Onsen Guardian (dir. Morihito Inoue) 

Produced the horror film Karakasa Umbrella (dir. Kenji Yamamoto), Japan Horror Film Awards: Occult Award Winner

 2022

Produced a local superheroine tokusatsu film. Fukushima Job Hunting Story (dir. Morihito Inoue)

2023

The project has developed significantly with the participation of Shark Movie Rookie. Establishes the start of the project.

June 4: Japanese crowdfunding campaign launch. Achieved 1 million yen in just 5 hours.

July 3: The “Next Challenge 489” funding campaign exceeds 4890,000 yen.

July 17: The “Final Goal 1000” funding campaign exceeds 10,000,000 yen.

July 17: Crowdfunding campaign ends on Marine Day, a holiday in Japan. 11,406,100 yen achieved (80,000 US dollars) Backers :1,278 people

July 26: Filming of submarine scenes

September 22-26: The tokusatsu special effects scenes were filmed in Sukagawa City 

Filming concludes / Post Production 

Scheduled to be completed in December, 2023

Following Master Yoda’s teachings, "No! Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try." We will produce a shark movie that Japan can be proud of! The setting is Atami Onsen, one of the best tourist destinations in Japan. I would like to revitalize the local community and increase its appeal through the power of film. I have a dream to make Atami the Hollywood Cannes of Japan. We decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign in order to deliver a movie that people would like to see rather than simply making it.

We are confident that by adding the essence of local films and the director's TOKUSATSU special effects to a shark movie, we will be able to create an amazing work that has never been seen before. If this film succeeds, I hope to make more films throughout the hot spring resorts in Japan.
We will surely deliver Onsen Shark as a wonderful movie to shark movie fans, TOKUSATSU SFX fans, onsen fans, and the supporters around the world. Please support us in any way you can!

Masayuki Nagata (“Onsen Shark” / Executive Producer)

Other Ways You Can Help

Please help us spread the word about our campaign, whether through WOM or by sharing our campaign page on social media. Every like, share and donation makes a difference! Share with any friends or family who would be interested in seeing the film.