Zipang

A Ripple in Time Turns the Crucial Tide of WWII.

Scheduled for routine military exercises, Commander Kadomatsu and the crew of Japan's newest and most modern Battlecruiser, The Mirai, are ready to test out the ship's state-of-the-art Aegis System. Instead, they find themselves transported back to June 4th, 1942—date of the crucial Battle of Midway, where the Japanese fleet was dealt a crippling blow. When an overzealous Kadomatsu rescues one of the battle's victims, Kusaka, from a sinking zero fighter, the Mirai's fate is sealed. The crew pledges not to do anything to alter the past further. However, they're now forced to fight a U.S. submarine in a battle that should never have occurred. Thus setting off a chain of events that may forever change the flow of history!

(Source: Geneon Entertainment USA, edited)

Kusaka, Takumi Main

Touchi, Hiroki Japanese

Kadomatsu, Yosuke Main

Inada, Tetsu Japanese

Umezu, Sabure Main

Yara, Yuusaku Japanese

Yamamoto, Isoroku Supporting

Tobayama, Bunmei Japanese

Kikuchi, Masayuki Supporting

Hoshino, Takanori Japanese

Ishiwara, Kanji Supporting

Tatsuta, Naoki Japanese

Tsuda, Kazuma Supporting

Nojima, Kenji Japanese

Taki, Eiichirou Supporting

Ishizuka, Unshou Japanese

Momoi, Sachiko Supporting

Iseki, Yoshiko Japanese

Oguri, Kouhei Supporting

Ueda, Yuuji Japanese

Iijima, Kouji Producer

Naruke, Yoshinori Producer

Furuhashi, Kazuhiro Director, Script, Storyboard, Series Composition

Hiramitsu, Takuya Sound Director

Reviews

Feb 9, 2025

Connoisseur5910

Recommended

Well.

Everyone must know what "Zipang" means. A prosperous country in the east, surrounded by the ocean. It is the name given to Japan by the great adventurer Marco Polo.

I have always had a fable for plots that involve the alternate course of history. And this anime has it. A slight change in history in the first few episodes has a huge butterfly effect.
What does a man do when he goes back in time. Or if you knew the future events, would you use that information for your gain or to change history for the better. Would you play God or the Devil? For most characters ... in this anime, the decision they are forced to make is difficult. Given the pacifist principles under which the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force was created.
Still. This anime gives us a glimpse into how other Japanese people dealt with World War 2, from supporters to critics. From university professors to ministers.
I devoured this anime in about 4 days. Because every episode has something that grabs your attention more and more.
And now I am sure. I will read the manga. I recommend this anime to anyone who is interested in the history of Japan. And to all who are interested in modern Japanese military.
Enjoy!

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Nov 4, 2021

ST63LTH

Mixed Feelings

In the 21st Century Mirai, a JSDF naval destroyer embarks on its training drill in the Pacific Ocean alongside other escort ships only to be swept up into the chaos of a storm. As the escorting ships disappear among the mist caused by the storm, the crew of Mirai discover they have been sent into the the Battle of Midway in 1942. Concerned with not interfering with the path of history, the Mirai crew maintain passive in the battles until Kadomatsu, Yosuke tries to save an Imperial Japanese Lieutenant Kusaka, Takumi and makes the riskiest decision of sharing classified information to Kusaka unintentionally changing history. ...

Story: 6/10
Although the story ends without a proper ending like the Manga, the world of Zipang is large and very detailed. It highlights many different historic figures and locations of interest during World War II. However, the story progress occurs repetitively where the crew of Mirai underestimate how people during World War II would respond to their 21st century destroyer. In the story, Mirai constantly keeps a passive stance which results in several casualties and damages of their own crew and ship - where the general consensus was to ensure safety to the crew. Also, at this point the general consensus was to prevent meddling into historic affairs yet the MC Kadomatsu went ahead and shared historic information with an axis lieutenant and let him walk free despite explicitly saying he'd need to stay on board Mirai. There are many plot holes or change of focus such as preventing historic meddling or ensuring crew safety which makes Mirai's logic redundant. As this occurred the story lost touch and spiraled into a chaotic domino effect as soon as Kusaka left the Mirai. The story is pretty interesting but it was logically challenging.

Art & Sound: 6/10
2004 art style was pretty detailed and surprisingly had nice CGI aircraft and battleship models. The animation wasn't fully there but it's to be expected of an ancient relic of a show. It still somewhat rivals current day equivalent in visuals such as GATE or Outbreak Company.

Sound was ok, I couldn't help but notice the suspenseful music play every time MC gets involved with Kusaka, it's like a foreshadow of him being a ticking time bomb risking everything to prevent war - even spilling historic and military secrets to convince the superiors.

Character: 6/10
The Mirai characters had realistic personalities as people from the 21st century, they have logical approaches but it doesn't help them on board a powerful ship in the middle of war. They are intentionally risky which leads to their demise especially MC Kodamatsu who, in order to develop the plot went against his crew to release an Imperial Japanese soldier back into Imperial Japan. The characters from the historic world are all arrogant, an intentional development as they are all in the midst of a dangerous war. This makes their personalities shallow because we know that they will call all Mirai's attacks bluffs and suffer in the end.

Overall: 6/10
I wish for the series to get a remaster. Watching it in 2021, it does have a sense of nostalgia in terms of tech and historical elements. If this were to get a remaster it could have a better chance at development. Zipang's ending hasn't been adapted but it is a controversial topic if adapted in the current day. The story and characters were pretty basic in development but the visuals was probably the main attraction of the show.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Aug 22, 2022

weeb_me_daddy

Not Recommended

Funny

Basically the movie Final Countdown but in anime and worse. Just like final countdown it's just bullshit propaganda. The anime talks about a 21st century's JSDF destroyer leaving the port for training exercises and encountering some sort of anomaly that sends them back in time to 1942 year (Yes it's a copy of the final countdown but the author didn't give the movie any credits). This was when WW2 is still on the way. when Japan were in a war against USA. Some people start saying some bullshit that the single destroyer could change the course of the war which is dumb. Only idiots ... that know jack shit about military strategy and logistics will say that. If you want to know more check out this vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=474RR1ETgyk (and if a supercarrier group struggles to do so, you could imagine what kind of weed this author is smoking thinking that the single aegis destroyer could do much impact).

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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