Child of Kamiari Month

The story begins in Tokyo's Sumida Ward, where Kanna lives and visits Ushijima Shrine. From there, she travels across Japan on a pilgrimage to sacred sites, including Izumo-taisha in Shimane, Suwa-taisha near Lake Suwa in Nagano, and Miho Shrine in Matsue, completing her journey through these important Shinto locations.

The movie is set in modern-day Japan during the early 2020s. The story is anchored around the October Kannazuki harvest festival, a traditional time in Japanese culture when gods gather at Izumo. The narrative spans approximately a year in Kanna's life, moving from a gloomy marathon day through typhoon season to a spring ending.

Running serves as the central metaphor for healing and personal growth. For Kanna, running connects her to her late mother Yayoi and becomes a path toward recovery from grief. The physical journey across Japan tests her speed and endurance, mirroring her internal process of overcoming loss and rediscovering purpose through the sport.

Grief is a central theme, centered on Kanna's struggle after losing her mother Yayoi. The movie explores how guilt and self-doubt consume her, but also how memories and a special bracelet become sources of strength rather than just pain. The story emphasizes forgiveness, holding onto memories, and finding the courage to move forward while honoring what was lost.

Kanna's pilgrimage doubles as both a literal and figurative test of character. As she travels between shrines, she encounters gods and mythical beings who reveal she may become an Idaten, a divine runner. The theme explores how true destiny is forged through perseverance, honesty, and courage rather than inherited power alone.

Kanna Hayama is a young girl living in Tokyo's Sumida Ward who is coping with her mother Yayoi's death. She begins the story uncertain about her future but gradually rekindles her passion for running. Her role is that of the protagonist on a mythic quest, healing from grief while potentially ascending to become an Idaten, a divine messenger runner for the gods.

Shiro is a talking white rabbit who serves as a messenger of the deities. voiced by Maaya Sakamoto, Shiro guides Kanna throughout her pilgrimage, offering wisdom and companionship. Despite the seriousness of the journey, Shiro remains hopeful and protective, helping Kanna navigate the challenges of connecting the human world with the divine.

The movie features several Shinto deities, including Ryūjin, the dragon god and son of Ōkuninushi who tests Kanna, and Kotoshironushi, a sea god who presents challenges and supplies a crucial offering at Miho Shrine. These gods represent the mythic framework of the Kannazuki festival, where they gather annually at Izumo.

The movie balances a serious exploration of childhood grief with a hopeful, whimsical framework. While processing the loss of a parent gives the film emotional weight, the supportive mythological elements and Kanna's growth create an overall hopeful tone. The presence of talking animals and divine encounters adds whimsy without diminishing the emotional core.

Kannazuki is the October harvest festival in Japan when all the gods gather at Izumo-taisha, the most important Shinto shrine. In the movie, this legendary gathering provides the framework for Kanna's quest. The timing is significant because it represents a moment when the boundary between the human and divine worlds is thinnest, making her pilgrimage possible.