August in the Water

August in the Water

Year: 1995

Runtime: 117 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Gakuryu Ishii

DramaMysteryFantasyScience Fiction

A teenage girl gains supernatural power after an accident and comes to understand her place in the universe.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen August in the Water yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – August in the Water (1995)

Trace every key event in August in the Water (1995) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Izumi transfers to a new high school in Fukuoka

Izumi Hazuki transfers to a new high school in Fukuoka and quickly befriends two boys, Mao and Ukiya. The trio's budding friendship becomes the center of her social life, and both boys start courting her in different ways. Mao tries to be supportive while navigating his own growing feelings.

early days after transfer Fukuoka, Japan
2

Ukiya seeks a fortune-telling sign

Ukiya consults his fortune-teller friend Miki to gauge his chances with Izumi. Miki bluntly tells him that their signs are not a good match. Mao hears about it but remains wary, watching Izumi's reactions.

shortly after transfer Fortune-teller setting / Miki's place
3

Water festival foreshadows danger

During a water-throwing festival, Miki presents Ukiya with a new fortune predicting that Izumi will suffer a potentially fatal accident. Ukiya shows the warning to Mao, who is skeptical at first but notes the date aligns with Izumi's upcoming diving competition.

during the festival leading up to the competition City festival grounds
4

Drought, illness, and meteorites arrive

The city endures drought and a mysterious illness that petrifies internal organs, while two meteorites crash into the nearby mountains. Yo shares petrographs with Izumi and connects them to her husband’s research, suggesting a link to current events.

around the same period City and nearby mountains
5

Izumi competes and suffers a deadly accident

On the day of the diving competition, Izumi's dive falters as the water seems to harden briefly. Mao dives in to rescue her and she is rushed to the hospital. Doctors inform her sister that she fell into a coma and may not survive.

competition day Diving platform; hospital
6

Izumi awakens changed and introspective

Izumi regains consciousness but exhibits a heightened awareness of herself and her surroundings. She becomes preoccupied with the mountains and her sense of reality shifts. Her behavior marks a stark departure from who she was before.

shortly after recovery School and home
7

Hiking to the mountains reveals the circle

Mao and Izumi secretly hike into the mountains and discover a hidden stone circle centered on a large boulder. Petrographs carved into the stone echo Yo's husband's drawings, suggesting a deep link between the symbols and Izumi's experiences. The moment hints at a larger mythic framework behind the events.

after recovery Mountains near the city; Hazuki Circle site
8

Izumi goes missing amid a meteorite chase

Mao receives a call from Yo that Izumi has vanished. Police search for a man believed to have stolen the second meteorite and killed a scientist. Izumi's disappearance deepens the mystery of the town's strange phenomena.

shortly after mountain discovery Mountains; city
9

Found on the boulder: stone beings theory

Izumi and the man are found together on the central boulder, along with both meteorites. Izumi claims they belong to a tribe of stone beings aiming to petrify Earth, and she vows to stop them. A doctor cautions that her statements might reflect sudden schizophrenia triggered by the diving accident.

shortly after disappearance Hazuki Circle / mountains
10

Public intrigue and ancient records surfaced

News spreads as magazines claim Izumi can communicate with dolphins and plants. Miki presents a historical record describing a drought and a 'stone disease' tied to meteorite appearances, noting that an ancient ceremony on a full moon ended the crisis.

after initial events Town; global media
11

Yo's collapse and a moonlit decision

Yo collapses from petrification illness, exposing the family’s vulnerability. Izumi insists she must act and, under the light of a full moon, travels to a river with Mao to perform a final psychic act and say her goodbyes. She disappears into the river as rain clouds gather.

night of the full moon River and hospital
12

Mao's amnesia and the drought ends

The next morning Mao is found unconscious atop the central boulder with amnesia about the previous night. Rain begins to fall and the drought ends as the petrifying illness subsides for many. Scholars begin to arrive to study the Hazuki Circle.

the morning after Izumi's river departure Hazuki Circle
13

Years later, Izumi returns during rain

Mao becomes a researcher, studying special remains around the world and using Izumi's diary as a foundation. An elderly Mao returns to the Hazuki Circle, lies on the central boulder as rain falls, and Izumi reappears, unchanged by time. They embrace and then vanish together.

years later Hazuki Circle; mountains

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:29

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August in the Water Summary

Read a complete plot summary of August in the Water, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

August in the Water Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in August in the Water

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Characters, Settings & Themes in August in the Water

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