Description
Koichiro Mutō is a 44-year-old Japanese lighting engineer employed by a stage production company, installing equipment for events in locations like stadiums. He lives in Tokyo with his wife, Mari Mutoh, their 14-year-old daughter Ayumu, and 7-year-old son Go. Physically tall and well-built, he has short black hair and typically wears construction worker clothing or a plain green shirt with jeans.
When a major earthquake hits Tokyo, Koichiro is working high on stadium scaffolding. Initial tremors cause little concern, but a powerful subsequent quake sends him falling; safety ropes prevent serious injury. He races home via scooter, narrowly avoiding a collapsing bridge. Finding his house empty, he uses his professional skills to illuminate a nearby hill with colorful lights as a signal. Ayumu arrives first, followed by Go, who suffers eye injuries from debris. Koichiro assesses the wounds are confined to the eyelids and administers first aid using a stapler. Mari soon reunites with them, and the family takes a group photograph.
As floodwaters force evacuation, Koichiro leads his family west based on information from Go's friend contradicting advice about eastern safety. He maintains optimism, reassuring Ayumu after she gives their remaining water to an elderly couple. Facing supply shortages and finding a looted store, Koichiro directs them off-road towards a river for water. In a residential area, he kills a wild boar for food, though Ayumu refuses to eat. The next day, prioritizing her nourishment, he attempts to dig yams from a garden despite warning signs about unexploded wartime ordnance. His shovel strikes a buried bomb, causing an explosion that kills him instantly as his family watches.
His name, Koichiro (航一郎), uses characters meaning "navigation/navigate," "one," and "son." The surname Mutoh (武藤) combines "military, martial" and "wisteria."
When a major earthquake hits Tokyo, Koichiro is working high on stadium scaffolding. Initial tremors cause little concern, but a powerful subsequent quake sends him falling; safety ropes prevent serious injury. He races home via scooter, narrowly avoiding a collapsing bridge. Finding his house empty, he uses his professional skills to illuminate a nearby hill with colorful lights as a signal. Ayumu arrives first, followed by Go, who suffers eye injuries from debris. Koichiro assesses the wounds are confined to the eyelids and administers first aid using a stapler. Mari soon reunites with them, and the family takes a group photograph.
As floodwaters force evacuation, Koichiro leads his family west based on information from Go's friend contradicting advice about eastern safety. He maintains optimism, reassuring Ayumu after she gives their remaining water to an elderly couple. Facing supply shortages and finding a looted store, Koichiro directs them off-road towards a river for water. In a residential area, he kills a wild boar for food, though Ayumu refuses to eat. The next day, prioritizing her nourishment, he attempts to dig yams from a garden despite warning signs about unexploded wartime ordnance. His shovel strikes a buried bomb, causing an explosion that kills him instantly as his family watches.
His name, Koichiro (航一郎), uses characters meaning "navigation/navigate," "one," and "son." The surname Mutoh (武藤) combines "military, martial" and "wisteria."