Sarazanmai (1000) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language

1000 · 253 mins · Japanese

Directed by

Kunihiko Ikuhara, Masato Jimbo

Starring

Mamoru Miyano, Jun'ichi Suwabe, Rie Kugimiya, Ayumu Murase, Koki Uchiyama, Yoshimasa Hosoya

Middle school friends Kazuki, Toi and Enta accidentally break a guardian statue in Asakusa and are transformed into kappas by Keppi, a self‑proclaimed prince of the Kappa Kingdom. To become human again they must gather the five Dishes of Hope, battling kappa‑zombies and extracting the shirikodama— the organ that holds people’s deepest wishes. The plot is orchestrated by policemen Reo and Mabu, agents of the Otter Empire, who run “Kappazon, Inc.” to manipulate society’s desires. The trio must unite through the “Sarazanmai,” revealing their most intimate secrets to complete their mission.