Summer Days with Coo

The main events take place in present-day Japan, following a backstory set roughly two centuries earlier during the samurai era. The urban portions are anchored in modern Tokyo, while the narrative also ventures into rural Japan and Okinawa during the course of Coo's quest.

The story unfolds in contemporary Japan, with the Uehara family's home in a Tokyo suburb serving as the central hub. A journey to the countryside and Okinawa introduces lush, natural settings as Coo searches for his origins. The film blends urban life with rural locales and yokai-inflected scenery as the mystery deepens.

💧 Identity

Coo grapples with memory loss and his status as the last known kappa, driving his journey to understand who he is. The tale explores how a being from folklore navigates human society and the pull between two worlds. His search for a real name and place in the world underscores the universal need for belonging.

🤝 Belonging

The Uehara family welcomes a mythical outsider, redefining what a family can be. Koichi and Hitomi learn to look beyond appearances, forming bonds that transcend social expectations. The story emphasizes care, friendship, and found family as forces of inclusion.

📺 Media intrusion

Paparazzi and sensational television turn Coo's presence into a public spectacle, testing privacy and ethics. The family's unity is strained as media pressure escalates, revealing the tension between curiosity and exploitation. The climax uses this chaos to heighten emotional stakes rather than sensationalism.