Netflix’s Japanese film offerings are about to get a jolt of adrenaline with the release of Bullet Train Explosion, directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Shinji Higuchi. Known for his blockbuster hits like Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman, and the live-action Attack on Titan films, Higuchi brings his signature style to this high-stakes thriller starring Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, a former member of the popular japanese boy band SMAP, and also Kanata Hosoda, Non, Jun kaname and Machiko Ono.

A Reboot with a Blast from the Past

Bullet Train Explosion is not just another action film; it’s a modern take on the 1975 classic, The Bullet Train. The premise is simple yet terrifying: a shinkansen, Japan’s famed bullet train, speeding towards Tokyo, is rigged with bombs. If the train’s speed dips below 100 kilometers per hour (approximately 62 mph),the explosives will detonate,endangering everyone on board.This echoes the plot of the Hollywood hit Speed (1994), starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, which itself drew inspiration from the original Japanese film.

Beyond the Action: Exploring Moral Dilemmas

While the film promises pulse-pounding action sequences,Higuchi emphasizes that Bullet Train Explosion delves into deeper themes,prompting viewers to consider the value of life and the moral responsibilities that come with power. He views filmmaking as a position akin to that of a deity.

When we make a film, we can do many things,” Higuchi told deadline. “We’re like God — we can control the life of the characters and their fate. We can make them die, we can make them live. While these characters may not actually exist in real life, having their fate in our hands, we have a duty of making those decisions.

Higuchi’s Personal Journey: From Public Service to Filmmaking

These philosophical undercurrents are rooted in Higuchi’s own life experiences.He openly discusses his challenging adolescence, a period of disillusionment that ultimately fueled his desire to create stories about survival and hope. Before finding his calling in cinema, Higuchi initially worked in public service for Japan’s post services. He felt creatively stifled, having grown up in an environment that didn’t encourage artistic pursuits.

At my school, they didn’t really allow you to go on a creative path…I just gave up on those academic paths myself and decided that I would go into public service…I felt that my future was not ther. That was the first time I asked myself, ‘what is it that I want to do? The answer was, basically, to go into films.

Influences and Aspirations: Spielberg, Lucas, and Tsuburaya

Higuchi cites Eiji Tsuburaya, the visionary behind Ultraman and Godzilla, as a major influence, alongside American filmmakers George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Learning that Spielberg directed Jaws in his twenties motivated Higuchi to pursue his own filmmaking dreams. The American New Wave cinema of the 1970s left an indelible mark on his artistic sensibilities.

I read the news and it was very shocking to know that in America, you can make a film in your twenties,” Higuchi said. “So when I was in my 20s, I was quite cocky, in a way. The American films from the 1970s still have a big impact on me.

A 20-Year Journey to the screen

Higuchi reveals that Bullet Train Explosion has been a passion project nearly two decades in the making. Casting Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, a star with a complex history in the Japanese entertainment industry, proved to be a significant hurdle. Kusanagi’s departure from his former management agency created obstacles due to the agency’s extensive influence. According to industry reports, talent agencies wield considerable power in Japan, often dictating which actors can work on specific projects.This can create a challenging environment for filmmakers seeking to cast actors who may have fallen out of favor with powerful agencies.

Netflix’s impact on Japanese Filmmaking

The arrival of Netflix in Japan provided a crucial prospect. Higuchi credits Netflix with circumventing the established power dynamics of the Japanese entertainment industry.

When you’re making film in Japan, there are limitations and rules that you have to follow…Netflix was kind of able to leap over that big political game that we had here in the entertainment business. So although we’re not an independent film, we were able to cast him in this big-budget film because it was Netflix.

Netflix,with its deep pockets and global reach,presents an choice avenue for filmmakers to realise their visions,free from the constraints of traditional Japanese production companies.

Looking Ahead: Original Stories and Future Visions

Higuchi expresses a strong desire to create films based on original screenplays but admits that securing funding for such projects remains a challenge.investors in Japan often prefer adaptations of established intellectual property (IP), which carry less risk.

What’s very challenging about making films here in Japan is not just funding and production companies, but the audiences too, who want something reassuring, something that they know is going to be good,” Higuchi said.“I really want to create an original story, but to be honest, a lot of the things I want to make are going to be high-budget. You need to convince the people who have the money that this is worth the money and investment, and I haven’t been able to do that yet.

He notes the success of Japanese playwrights transitioning to film, attributing their success to their focus on character advancement, which resonates deeply with audiences.His goal is to foster an environment—or become the catalyst himself—that empowers creators to realize their unique visions in Japanese cinema.