The Japanese box office saw two notable new entries this past weekend, with the anime film adaptation of “Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise” opening at sixth place and the live-action movie “Wind Breaker” securing the eighth spot. Both films premiered on December 5, 2025, amidst a competitive market that also saw Disney’s “Zootopia 2” take the top spot.
“Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise” Brings WWII History to the Big Screen
The highly anticipated anime film “Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise,” based on Kazuyoshi Takeda’s poignant manga, debuted at number six in its opening weekend. The film earned 91,950,210 yen (approximately US$589,600) in its first three days. It opened in 325 theaters nationwide. The movie also received a strong reception from critics and audiences, ranking third in Filmarks’ first-day satisfaction ranking with an average rating of 3.93/5.0 based on 945 reviews.
The Story of Peleliu
Set during World War II, the film vividly portrays the brutal Battle of Peleliu in the summer of 1944. The narrative follows Private Tamaru, a young soldier who dreams of becoming a mangaka but finds himself thrust into the heart of a terrible battlefield. The battle saw 10,000 Japanese soldiers ordered to resist the onslaught of 40,000 American soldiers, with only 34 Japanese troops surviving the conflict. The film explores the struggles of young Japanese soldiers facing immense odds.
Production Details and Cast
“Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise” is produced by Shin-Ei Animation and Fugaku, with Gorō Kuji directing. The screenplay was penned by Junji Nishimura and original manga creator Kazuyoshi Takeda. Rihito Itagaki stars as the kindhearted manga artist Hitoshi Tamaru, while Tomoya Nakamura plays his comrade-in-arms, Keisuke Yoshiki. The film’s theme song, “Kiseki no Yō na Koto” (Something Like a Miracle), is performed by Mone Kamishiraishi. The film’s release in 2025 coincides with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Live-Action “Wind Breaker” Takes #8 Spot
The live-action film adaptation of Satoru Nii’s popular delinquent manga, “Wind Breaker,” opened at number eight in the Japanese box office. The movie premiered in 351 theaters on December 5. It garnered an average rating of 3.51/5.0 on Filmarks’ first-day satisfaction ranking, based on 275 reviews, placing it fifth in that metric.
High School Delinquents Protecting Their Town
“Wind Breaker” centers on Haruka Sakura, a first-year student at Furin High School, an institution known for its strong delinquents. Sakura’s initial goal is to fight his way to the top, but he soon discovers that the school’s brawlers, known as Bofurin, act as protectors of their town. The film is expected to adapt the early major arcs of the manga, focusing on Sakura’s arrival at Furin High School and his integration into the Bofurin. The live-action adaptation aims to retell the story with a unique intensity suitable for the format, incorporating realistic locations filmed in southern Okinawa.
Creative Team and Cast
Directed by Kentaro Hagiwara, known for his work on live-action adaptations like “Tokyo Ghoul” (2017) and “Blue Period” (2024), “Wind Breaker” features a screenplay by Yosuke Masaike. Koshi Mizukami takes on the lead role of Haruka Sakura, with Taisei Kido as Akihiko Nirei and Keito Tsuna as Hayato Suo among the main cast. The original manga creator, Satoru Nii, was involved in the early script stages and visited the filming set to ensure the adaptation’s authenticity.
Other Box Office Highlights
While “Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise” and “Wind Breaker” made their debuts, Disney’s “Zootopia 2” claimed the top spot, attracting approximately 1,313,000 people and grossing about 1.891 billion yen in its opening three days. “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” also saw a resurgence, climbing from tenth to third place in its twelfth weekend, driven partly by a new bonus booklet for moviegoers.
