Erased

About Erased

Erased, originally known as 'Boku dake ga Inai Machi' in Japan, is a gripping and suspenseful live-action series that released in 2016. The plot follows Satoru Fujinuma, a young man endowed with an extraordinary gift: the ability to revert back in time, particularly when a life-threatening situation occurs. This phenomenon, known as 'Revival', thrusts him back to his childhood when a devastating series of child kidnappings and murders occurred, and he is compelled to track down the killer and reverse the tragic chain of events.

Making / Production

Erased was originally a Japanese manga series, written and illustrated by Kei Sanbe and published in Young Ace magazine between June 2012 and March 2016. The manga was then adapted into this gripping television series and directed by Ten Shimoyama. The live-action series, which consists of 12 episodes, is renowned for its seamless blend of supernatural elements and detective drama.

Actors

• Yuki Furukawa as 'Satoru Fujinuma'. Furukawa delivered a convincing performance as an aspiring manga artist torn between solving the mystery and navigating his past.
• Mio Yuki as 'Airi Katagiri'. Yuki shined as Satoru's loyal friend, her character's strength and empathy serves as a vital support to Satoru throughout the series.
• Reo Uchikawa played the younger 'Satoru Fujinuma', depicting the innocence and courage of the child with striking authenticity.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series Erased is based on the manga series "Boku dake ga Inai Machi" which translates to 'The Town Without Me' in English.
• Despite being a Japanese production, the series quickly gained international popularity and acclaim.
• The suspense-filled plot and unexpected twists were upheld to the end, making it impossible for viewers to predict the true identity of the killer.

Awards

The manga series on which Erased is based was nominated for the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize 'Reader Award' as well as the Manga Taishō Awards in 2016.

Quotes

• Satoru Fujinuma: "I can’t stand this town. But it’s not like there's anywhere else promising to go."
• Airi Katagiri: "Believing in someone, means trusting them to stick with you till the very end."

Music, Soundtrack

• The spine-chilling theme song "Re:Re:" by Asian Kung-Fu Generation sets the tone for this suspenseful series.
• Composer Yuki Kajiura created a haunting and strikingly beautiful original soundtrack, which greatly accentuated the suspense and emotional intensity of the series.