Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Fly me to the Saitama (2019) movie poster

Timeline

Fly me to the Saitama (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 106 mins · Japanese
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Hideki Takeuchi
Starring
Naoto Takenaka, Akaji Maro, Yûsuke Iseya, Shotaro Mamiya, Kumiko Aso, Fumi Nikaido

People from Saitama Prefecture face discrimination and conceal their origins. In Tokyo, Momomi Hakuhodo, a high school student and the son of the city's governor, lives a complex life, as he physically appears female. His life takes a turn when he encounters Rei Asami, a mysterious transfer student. Drawn to each other, they navigate a budding connection complicated by the fact that Rei is originally from Saitama Prefecture, forcing them to confront prejudice and hidden identities.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Fly me to the Saitama
  6. 6 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

13 events in order · contains spoilers

Fly me to the Saitama Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Fly me to the Saitama (2019) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Drive to the engagement ceremony

    Aimi Sugawara and her parents drive toward her engagement ceremony in present-day Saitama. The parents are upset that Aimi plans to move to Tokyo after the marriage because Tokyo residents look down on Saitama. To keep the peace, they pass the time by listening to FM NACK5, which airs a dramatized history of Saitama's struggle for liberation.

    Where
    Saitama, Japan (en route to engagement ceremony)
  2. FM NACK5 airs a historical drama

    The FM NACK5 program introduces a historical drama about Saitama's fight against Tokyo's oppression. The family listens as the story frames regional identity and resistance as a backdrop to their own dispute. The drama primes viewers for the themes of loyalty, rebellion, and liberation that unfold in the main plot.

    Where
    Inside the car in Saitama
  3. Rei Asami arrives at Hakuhodo High

    Within the radio drama, Rei Asami arrives at Hakuhodo High School, challenging the Tokyo elites. His arrival threatens the school's hierarchy while he helps the 'Z Class' students from Saitama who live in a hut off campus. Unusually for a sophisticated Tokyo elite, Rei supports these marginalized students.

    Where
    Hakuhodo High School
  4. Rei aids the Saitama Z Class

    Rei uses his influence to assist the Z Class students living in the makeshift hut off campus and gives them hope against Tokyo's elitist system. His support deepens their solidarity and accelerates the underclass resistance. The drama portrays him as a pivotal ally to Saitama's marginalized youth.

    Where
    Hakuhodo High School and off-campus hut
  5. Momomi falls for Rei; his secret identity revealed

    Momomi Dannoura falls for Rei, drawn to his defiance and charm. The drama reveals Rei as a secret agent of the Saitama Liberation Front, sent to advance Saitama's liberation by infiltrating Tokyo. Momomi's feelings become entangled with the political intrigue surrounding Rei's mission.

    Where
    Hakuhodo High School
  6. Akutsu uncovers Rei's identity and Rei flees

    Momomi's family butler Akutsu uncovers Rei's true identity as a liberation operative. Realizing the danger, Rei flees Tokyo to return to Saitama and join the liberation movement. The escape marks a turning point from romance to political action in the tale.

    Where
    Tokyo
  7. Momomi joins Rei in Saitama

    Motivated by the revelation and a commitment to the cause, Momomi leaves Tokyo to join Rei in Saitama. She aligns with the Saitama Liberation Front, adding her influence to the resistance. Their partnership strengthens the movement's resolve.

    Where
    Saitama, Japan
  8. Akutsu's double allegiance emerges

    Across the political chessboard, Akutsu is revealed to be a member of the Chiba Liberation Front, while outwardly pandering to Tokyo. The Saitama Liberation Front and the Chiba Liberation Front confront each other across the Edogawa River near Nagareyama Bridge, symbolizing the regional power struggle. The river crossing marks a literal and ideological border between factions.

    Where
    Edogawa River near Nagareyama Bridge
  9. Gold discovery shifts momentum

    Momomi discovers a stash of gold bars on Mount Akagi in Gunma that had been illegally accumulated by past Tokyo governors. The discovery provides a potential source of funding to change the balance of power. This revelation prompts both fronts to reassess their strategies and alliances.

    Where
    Mount Akagi, Gunma Prefecture
  10. Fronts unite and attack Tokyo

    Spurred by the new resources and a shared goal, the Saitama Liberation Front and the Chiba Liberation Front join forces to attack Tokyo. They aim to topple the Tokyo elites who have oppressed Saitama for generations. The alliance marks a decisive shift toward a regional upheaval rather than isolated acts of rebellion.

    Where
    Tokyo, Japan
  11. Revelation of Momomi's father's plot

    Rei and Momomi expose Momomi's father's plot to keep Saitama under control and remove him from power. The exposure undermines the Tokyo elites' grip and accelerates the liberation movement. The revelation acts as a catalyst for broad political change in the region.

    Where
    Tokyo government
  12. Liberation of Saitama achieved

    With the elites exposed, Saitama achieves liberation from Tokyo's oppression. Rei and Momomi lead the newly liberated Saitama into a new era of autonomy. The outcome redefines the balance of power within the region and reshapes its national role.

    Where
    Saitama, Japan
  13. Japan Saitamaization Plan announced

    Momomi and Rei commence Duke Saitama's 'Japan Saitamaization Plan' to secretly spread Saitama's unremarkable culture across Japan. The plan signals a shift from military action to cultural influence as the method of national rebalancing. It sets the stage for long-term soft power changes rather than immediate conquest.

    Where
    Japan

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:06

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Fly me to the Saitama Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Fly me to the Saitama (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Momomi appear female despite being male?

Momomi Dannoura is the son of the Tokyo governor but physically appears female. This is a key aspect of his complex identity that shapes his life in Tokyo and his connection to Rei. His appearance creates both personal tension and allows him to navigate the social hierarchy in a unique way, eventually becoming a uniting figure for the Saitama resistance.

  • momomi
  • gender presentation
  • identity
  • tokyo governor
  • son
Q2

What is the Z Class at Hakuhodo High School?

The Z Class refers to students from Saitama Prefecture who live in a makeshift hut off the main campus grounds at Hakuhodo High School. These marginalized students represent the Saitama underclass within Tokyo's elite educational system. Rei Asami notably reaches out to help them, offering recognition and support that the Tokyo elites rarely provide.

Foreshadowing: The radio drama early on establishes Saitama students as an underclass, setting up the Z Class introduction.

  • z class
  • hakuhodo high
  • saitama students
  • hut
  • marginalized
Q3

Why does Tokyo look down on Saitama in the movie?

The film satirizes real-world regional prejudice by portraying deep-seated discrimination against Saitama residents. Tokyo characters view Saitama as inferior, and Saitama residents themselves internalize this bias, evident when Aimi's parents worry about her moving to Tokyo after marriage. The prejudice drives the entire liberation narrative.

  • saitama
  • tokyo
  • prejudice
  • discrimination
  • regional
Q4

How does Rei Asami become a secret agent for Saitama?

Rei Asami is revealed to be a secret agent for the Saitama Liberation Front, sent to infiltrate Tokyo's ruling circles by posing as a transfer student at Hakuhodo High School. His time in America and charming demeanor allow him to blend in with Tokyo elites while gathering intelligence and supporting the Saitama resistance movement.

Foreshadowing: Rei's unusual willingness to help the Z Class hints at his true allegiances from the start.

  • rei asami
  • secret agent
  • saitama liberation front
  • infiltration
  • spy
Q5

What causes Rei to flee Tokyo?

Rei is forced to flee Tokyo after Momomi's family butler Akutsu uncovers his true identity as a Saitama Liberation Front operative. Realizing his cover is blown and facing danger from the Tokyo elite, Rei escapes back to Saitama to join the active liberation movement rather than continue his infiltration.

Foreshadowing: Momomi's growing feelings for Rei and Akutsu's suspicious observations build toward this reveal.

  • rei flees
  • akutsu
  • discovered
  • tokyo
  • escape
Q6

What is the conflict between Saitama and Chiba liberation fronts?

The Saitama Liberation Front and Chiba Liberation Front initially clash across the Edogawa River near Nagareyama Bridge, representing different regional factions with separate agendas. Akutsu is revealed to have dual allegiance, connected to Chiba while pandering to Tokyo. This conflict symbolizes the broader regional divide before they unite against common enemies.

  • saitama liberation front
  • chiba liberation front
  • edogawa river
  • akutsu
  • alliance
Q7

How does the gold discovery on Mount Akagi help the resistance?

Momomi discovers a hidden stash of gold bars on Mount Akagi in Gunma Prefecture that were illegally amassed by past Tokyo governors. This treasure provides crucial funding to shift the power balance and enables the previously divided regional fronts to unite their forces for the assault on Tokyo.

  • gold
  • mount akagi
  • gunma
  • funding
  • tokyo governors
  • resistance
Q8

What is the Japan Saitamaization Plan?

In the finale, Rei and Momomi initiate Duke Saitama's Japan Saitamaization Plan, a strategy to quietly spread Saitama's unassuming culture across Japan. Rather than military conquest, this plan uses cultural infiltration and soft power to reshape the national cultural landscape, representing a shift from rebellion to long-term cultural influence.

  • japan saitarianism
  • culture
  • soft power
  • duke saitama
  • finale
Q9

Why does Akutsu betray the Saitama Liberation Front?

Akutsu is revealed to be a member of the Chiba Liberation Front with hidden hostility toward the Saitama movement. While peddling influence in Tokyo, he works against Saitama's interests. His dual allegiance creates tension until the regional fronts eventually unite against their common Tokyo enemies.

  • akutsu
  • betrayal
  • chiba liberation front
  • butler
  • allegiance
Q10

How does Momomi's father lose power?

Rei and Momomi expose Momomi's father's own plot to maintain Saitama under Tokyo's control. Once his scheme is revealed, he is removed from authority, marking a decisive turning point that weakens the Tokyo elite's grip and accelerates Saitama's liberation. Momomi's position within his own family becomes crucial to the political shift.

  • momomi's father
  • governor
  • exposed
  • removed
  • power
  • tokyo elite

Movie threads

More Movies Like Fly me to the Saitama, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Fly me to the Saitama tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Satirical rebellion movies like Fly me to the Saitama

Stories where quirky characters use humor and absurdity to topple ridiculous societal norms. If you enjoyed the absurdist humor and quirky social commentary of Fly me to the Saitama, you'll find more movies like it here. These films combine whimsical satire with lighthearted plots of rebellion, where characters confront societal absurdities in clever and entertaining ways.

  • satirical
  • whimsical
  • playful
  • quirky
  • absurdist
  • rebellious
  • Tone: whimsical, satirical, lighthearted
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow an underdog or group of outsiders who identify a ridiculous but entrenched societal rule or prejudice. They devise an unconventional, often absurd, plan to expose and overturn this system. The journey is filled with humorous mishaps, eccentric allies, and satirical jabs at authority, culminating in a triumphant victory that feels both satisfying and playful.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a unique blend of satirical content, a whimsical and lighthearted tone, and a core narrative of rebellion. They prioritize clever humor and entertainment while still making a thoughtful point, creating a consistently fun and upbeat viewing experience.

Movies with secret identity romance like Fly me to the Saitama

Budding romances complicated by hidden origins, secret pasts, and societal expectations. Fans of the romantic tension between Rei and Momomi in Fly me to the Saitama will enjoy these movies. Discover similar stories where hidden origins and secret identities create charming obstacles and comedic tension in developing relationships, without heavy drama.

  • romantic
  • quirky
  • confrontational
  • playful
  • secretive
  • comedic
  • Tone: romantic, lighthearted, confrontational
  • Pacing: fast, event-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves two characters drawn to each other, but a secret—such as a hidden background, a disguised persona, or a forbidden status—threatens their connection. The plot revolves around the comedic and tense moments of almost-discovery, the internal struggle of whether to reveal the truth, and the eventual confrontation that tests the strength of their bond, usually leading to a happy resolution.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are united by their focus on a romance that is intrinsically linked to a secret. They share a specific dynamic where attraction is filtered through the lens of deception and revelation, creating a mix of light tension, comedic situations, and heartfelt connection that defines their core appeal.

If you liked this

Movies Like Fly me to the Saitama

Similar movies to Fly me to the Saitama: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Fly me to the Saitama (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Fly me to the Saitama in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app