If Cats Disappeared from the World (2016) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film takes place primarily in contemporary urban Japan, where the protagonist works as a postman going about his daily routines. A significant portion of the story unfolds through flashbacks to Buenos Aires, representing distant but meaningful memories from his past.

• japan
• buenos aires
• setting
• locations
• urban japan

The story is set in the present day, using modern technology like phones and clocks as part of everyday life. The contemporary setting contrasts sharply with the protagonist's reflections on mortality and past relationships.

• present day
• modern
• time period
• contemporary japan

The film explores three interconnected themes: mortality and what truly matters when facing death, the fragility and enduring power of relationships, and how ordinary objects hold emotional weight as vessels of memory and identity.

• mortality
• relationships
• value of small things
• themes
• death
• memory

The protagonist is Tsutaya, a reserved postman who receives a terminal brain cancer diagnosis. His quiet, solitary life is disrupted when a mysterious doppelgänger appears offering him a bargain, remove something from the world in exchange for one more day of life.

• tsutaya
• protagonist
• postman
• main character
• terminal illness

The devil appears as a doppelgänger of the protagonist himself, played by Takeru Satoh. He serves as a tempter and catalyst, forcing the protagonist to make daily choices about what to sacrifice for more time, ultimately revealing what the protagonist truly values.

• devil
• doppelganger
• takeru satoh
• bargain
• antagonist

The cat belongs to the protagonist's late mother and becomes a powerful symbol of memory and impermanence. The cat's fate at the end represents the protagonist's final choice regarding what matters most to him, tied to his mother and the concept of letting go.

• cat
• mother
• memory
• symbolism
• inheritance

Tomu-san is the protagonist's best friend who primarily connects with others through shared movies, demonstrating how media can bridge emotional distances. He represents a loyal, patterned form of companionship that persists even as the protagonist's life becomes uncertain.

• tomu-san
• best friend
• movies
• companion
• eita okuno

The first love, played by Aoi Miyazaki, appears in flashbacks representing a past intimate connection that prompts reflection on lost love and how early affection shapes current choices. She embodies the tenderness of unresolved feelings and the lasting impact of first love.

• first love
• aoi miyazaki
• past relationship
• flashback
• memory

Buenos Aires appears in the protagonist's memories as a symbol of distant yet meaningful connections formed across borders. It represents how past relationships transcend physical distance and continue to shape the protagonist's sense of self and identity.

• buenos aires
• argentina
• memory
• flashback
• travel
• international

The film carries a predominantly melancholic tone centered on mortality and grief, yet it avoids bleakness by emphasizing love and memory. The pacing is steady and reflective, building emotional resonance through contemplative moments rather than dramatic action.

• tone
• mood
• melancholy
• emotional
• sadness
• atmosphere

The protagonist's father represents a paternal figure who shaped his sense of duty and responsibility. Their relationship highlights enduring family ties and the ways parents influence their children's understanding of life, work, and ultimately mortality.

• father
• family
• paternal
• relationship
• eji okuda

Mika is the protagonist's ex-girlfriend whose memory surfaces throughout the story. Her character raises questions about forgiveness, closure, and whether affection can endure after time and separation, representing unresolved emotional ties.

• mika
• ex-girlfriend
• anna ishii
• past relationship
• forgiveness
• closure

The film suggests that mortality forces us to confront what truly matters, relationships and the people connected to ordinary objects rather than the objects themselves. Meaning arises from love and memory that outlive physical things, making each day precious.

• mortality message
• life and death
• acceptance
• meaning
• values
• death