The Garden of Sinners: Overlooking View

The events unfold in September 1998, placing the story in a late-1990s urban Japan setting. The Fujō Building suicides trigger a paranormal investigation by Garan no Dou. The timeframe anchors the blend of everyday life with otherworldly occurrences and character dynamics.

The Fujō Building is a derelict, soon-to-be-demolished tower where several suicides occur and where Shiki confronts ghostly figures. Shiki's apartment is a bare, cramped living space reflecting her taciturn lifestyle and serving as a quiet base between cases. Garan no Dou, Hollow Shrine, is the paranormal detective agency led by Touko Aozaki, where Shiki and Mikiya work to unravel the mystery and encounter supernatural phenomena.

🌙 Loneliness

Loneliness is the driving force behind Kirie Fujō's actions and a recurring undercurrent for several characters. The narrative contrasts Shiki's restrained exterior with Kirie's deep isolation, revealing how emotional solitude can influence drastic choices. The theme shows loneliness shaping motives, even within a world of supernatural intervention.

👻 Supernatural

Astral projection, possession, and spectral apparitions frame the central mystery as Kirie's powers surface and Shiki confronts the ghosts at the Fujō Building. The ghosts represent the emotional remnants of suicides and Kirie's influence over others. The investigation by Garan no Dou hinges on separating the living from these spiritual disturbances.

🪪 Identity

Identity is tested as characters confront forces beyond ordinary perception, including possession and astral projection. Shiki and Kirie intersect through supernatural mechanisms, while Mikiya's coma hints at hidden connections to the case. The film explores how selfhood shifts under extraordinary pressure and longing.