NEWS
- August 22, 2025
- 2025 KOBELCO 120th Anniversary Animation introduction page released.
STORY
“Ever since that day...I lost hope for the future.”
In 2021, Asumi, a salesperson at Kobe Steel, was having a difficult time finding meaning in her job while she felt helpless in the face of the company’s numerous issues.
Just as Asumi was about to tell her boss that she wanted to quit, a mystical ray of light came out of a corporate history book and led her to Kobe in 1905. There she encountered visionary, high-spirited people from Kobe Steel's founding period. Torasuke was among them; he was a clumsy but enthusiastic young man from the Meiji era who dreamed big and believed in the potential of industrial development.
Guided by the Kobelco Group's history, two persons from different eras set out on a journey across time, from its beginning to the present.
They witness people get through tough times and continue to take on challenges with hope for a better future.
After coming into contact with the founders’ spirits, they each choose their own path for the future.
OUR THOUGHTS
Kobe Steel celebrates its 120th anniversary since its founding.
We have created this original animation to share with future generations the history of the Kobelco Group that has faced difficulties and overcome a variety of challenges.
Our hope is that this will help viewers learn our Group’s efforts to create a brighter future, inspiring them, even in a small way, to strive for a better tomorrow.
CAST
Main character / Asumi Kino
Asumi is a young salesperson at Kobe Steel.
She feels helpless in the face of the company's various challenges and is no longer able to find fulfillment in her work.
CV.Nao
Born in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture on February 10, 1995.
Debuted as an actor in 2013. Recent major appearances include “Tokyo Salad Bowl” (NHK General TV) and “I Wanna Punch that Scumbag!” (TBS) and the feature film “Arrogance and Virtue.” She also works as a photographer under the name “sunao.”
In the play “War Bride - Keiko Hearn, the Bridge Between America and Japan,” which will premiere in Tokyo, Hyogo, and Fukuoka from August 2025, she plays Keiko Hearn, a “war bride” who immigrated to America after World War II.
Also in the same month, the drama “Beauty Salon in Prison,” in which she plays the lead role, will be broadcast and streamed on WOWOW.
Torasuke
Torasuke is a young man from the Meiji era who desires to join Kobe Steel because he believes that industries are the driving force that propels the development of society.
Yone Suzuki, the owner of Suzuki & Co., Kobe Steel's predecessor company, tells him that he is very brilliant but missing something. He gets confused by her remarks.
CV.Gaku Hamada
Made his debut in the drama "Hitoribocchi no Kimi ni" in 1998.
He took the spotlight in 2004 when he appeared in the drama "Mr. Kinpachi in Class 3B," as well as in the film The Foreign Duck, the Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker" in 2007. He also appeared in the drama series "Tsuribaka Nisshi: New Employee Hamasaki Densuke," "Chef is a Great Detective," "My Family," "Haru ni Nattara (When Spring Comes)," the NHK morning drama series "Warotenka (Laugh It Up!)" and "Come Come Everybody," the NHK Taiga drama "Gunshi Kanbei (Strategist Kanbei)," and the films "The Eternal Zero," "Hero," "A Beloved Wife," and other popular works. In 2025, he starred in "Another Story: Rescue Worker Nishina Ren's Last Mission," a spin-off drama of the hit drama series "Pararescue Jumper" in which he played a key role, and received rave reviews.
ARTIST
Theme song『Call Me』
Novelbright
Novelbright is the five-piece rock band hailing from Osaka, Japan. Their powerful vocal performances, unforgettable melodies sung by vocalist Yudai Takenaka, and exquisitely arranged songs have garnered them widespread recognition. Formed in 2013 with its original members, and the current lineup came together in January 2019. Their nationwide street live tour received a lot of attention with videos going viral on social media and through word of mouth, swiftly spreading their name across the country. On August 17, 2020 at 9:00 p.m., they made their major debut with the digital song “Sunny drop” under Universal Music / Universal Sigma.
The three songs “Walking with you,” “Tsukimisou,” and “Aitoka Koi Toka” have streamed more than 400 million times.
Starting in April 2025, “Novelbright ARENA TOUR 2025 ~Winding Road~” is now taking place in seven cities around the country.
STAFF
Scriptwriter
Hiroyuki Yatsu
Born in Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture on September 1, 1971. Graduated from Nihon University College of Art.
After working as an assistant drama producer at Fuji Television, he wrote his first script “Kyosyujyo Monogatari” in 1999. His recent works include the screenplays “As the Gods Will,” “Laplace's Witch,” and “Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards,” the TV series “Hanzawa Naoki” (TBS), “Downtown Rocket” (TBS), “Mr. Housekeeper, Mitazono” Season 1 to Season 7 (EX), “Rikuoh” (TBS), the TV serial “Ochoyan” (NHK General TV), the streaming drama “The Decagon House Murders” (Hulu), and the 2026 Taiga drama “Toyotomi Kyōdai!” (NHK General TV).
Animation producer
Yoichiro Kugimiya
Born in Hadano, Kanagawa Prefecture on November 27, 1961.
After working as a promotions producer at the game maker Taito Corporation, he founded the animation production company Trash Studio, where he creates short animated films, commercials, and other promotional videos that harness the unique elements of anime. Over the past two decades, the company—which marked its 20th anniversary in 2024—has produced more than forty anime commercials. In collaboration with Yoshiharu Sato, whom he met at Taito, he dedicates to creating high-quality and heart-warming works. At Studio Ghibli, he has worked as a producer on a number of films, including “From Up on Poppy Hill” and “The Boy and the Heron,” as well as archival projects and events.
Storyboard artist (co-writer)
Akihiko Yamashita
Born in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture on February 6, 1966.
From 1992 to 1998, he worked as a character designer, storyboard artist, and animation director on the original animation video (OAV) “Giant Robo: The Animation - The Day the Earth Stood Still,” which earned acclaim for its high-quality animation. He then worked on the Hayao Miyazaki directed feature film “Spirited Away”. He played a central role as the lead animation director on Studio Ghibli's feature film “Howl's Moving Castle.” In 2018, he directed “Invisible,” an episode of Studio Ponoc's theatrical film “Modest Heroes,” for which he received the New Face Award in the Animation category of the 22nd Japan Media Arts Festival, held by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
Chief amimation director and character designer
Yoshiharu Sato
Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, on May 15, 1958.
He worked as a key staff member on numerous productions at animation studios Nippon Animation and Studio Ghibli. He worked on the World Masterpiece Theatre at Nippon Animation during and after the middle of the series. His initial work as a character designer was on “The Story of Pollyanna, Girl of Love.” He worked as an animation director on Studio Ghibli's early feature films, including Hayao Miyazaki directed “My Neighbor Totoro” and Isao Takahata directed “Only Yesterday.” After working as an art director at the game maker Taito, he returned to Nippon Animation and created a number of original animated commercials with Trash Studio. He is committed to creating heart-warming animation, especially for children.