By Will Espero

The Last Passenger is a feature film from Japan directed by Takashi Horie. It’s a story centered around the 2011 Tokohu earthquake and tsunami which killed over 18,000 Japanese residents.  

A rumor is circulating that a young woman is being seen on Seaside Road and given a taxi ride to Beach town. Upon arrival, the young woman vanishes and some people think she is a ghost. 

A taxi driver is the focus of this film as he has unfinished business with his daughter whom he hasn’t seen since she left for Tokyo. One night, the taxi driver picks up a mysterious young woman, and they come across a young mother and her daughter in the middle of the night. The taxi stalls on the road and as the taxi driver goes for help, the three passengers remain with the vehicle. The little girl leaves the taxi, and a frantic search begins. 

Memories are unveiled as the taxi driver recalls moments of fear and panic as a natural disaster engulfed Japan’s coasts. The taxi driver and his daughter reconcile their differences when the truth is revealed as they share their thoughts and feelings.

Takashi Horie

Born in Sendai, Miyagi, Takashi Horie has been working as a director, cinematographer and editor for numerous music videos and promotional videos in the US, and received multiple international video awards. His first short film, Ordinary Days, was nominated and premiered at Artemis Film Festival in April 2017, and screened at New Hope Film Festival in July 2017. His new film, The Last Passenger was nominated and won awards in international film festivals.

On March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami hit our beautiful hometown. Unfortunately, it destroyed many towns in the coastal area in Northeastern part of Japan, and claimed almost 16,000 lives. Many people’s lives were changed forever on that fateful day. We appreciate all the kindness and love sent from all over the world during that time. Without the support, we would not have been able to recover this much from the devastating loss of families, friends, and homes. It is almost 12 years since then. People moved on, and the disaster became old news to other people now. So, I thought I need to make something to remember the day, so I made this film to hopefully people interested in this film and remember the disaster, and talk about it again to pass it down to the next generations.

Takashi Horie

The Last Passage is an Official Selection at the 2023 edition of the Global Nonviolent Film Festival, and it can be watched from September 28 to October 8 on GlobalCinema.online where the Festival is being broadcast. D!