Toshinari Shinohe is a Japanese creator, communication director, and storyteller known primarily as the original creator behind the animated film Child of Kamiari Month. Born in 1980 in Chiba Prefecture, his career in the entertainment industry began in communications. He worked for an agency called cretica universal, where he spent over a decade leading promotional projects for major film releases, manga, and theme parks in Japan. His work in this field included organizing Japanese premieres for films such as Godzilla in 2014 and Cinderella in 2015, as well as managing promotional campaigns for Star Wars, Minions, Spider-Man, and Beauty and the Beast. He also contributed to merchandise creation for The Little Prince in Toyota, collaborated with the city of Kurashiki on promotions for the film Napping Princess, and oversaw the launch of the Toyota Anime Cinema Festival.

Shinohe is best recognized as the creator of the Kamiari Project, which culminated in the 2021 anime film Child of Kamiari Month, known in Japanese as Kamiarizuki no Kodomo. He is credited with the film’s original work and planning, while the original concept is attributed to Takana Shirai, who also served as animation director. The film was a unique undertaking, supported by three crowdfunding campaigns conducted between 2019 and 2020. It was initially scheduled for release in 2020 but was delayed and eventually premiered in Japanese theaters on October 8, 2021, before being released internationally on Netflix in February 2022. In addition to his work on Child of Kamiari Month, Shinohe received a special thanks credit in the production of the 2017 animated film Napping Princess.

The story of Child of Kamiari Month reflects Shinohe’s focus on narratives that blend Japanese mythology with intimate, emotional journeys. The film follows a young girl named Kanna who, a year after her mother’s death, discovers she must travel to Izumo for the annual gathering of gods, a reference to the legend that gives the Kamiari Month its name. The narrative uses the structure of a road movie to explore themes of grief, legacy, and the preservation of familial bonds through memory. The incorporation of various Shinto deities and regional traditions highlights a recurring interest in Japan’s cultural and spiritual heritage.

Shinohe’s significance in the anime industry lies in his unconventional path from a background in marketing and communications to becoming an original creator and producer. His approach to developing Child of Kamiari Month, which involved direct engagement with audiences through crowdfunding and a focus on cultural tourism through its depiction of real locations, demonstrates a method of project development that leverages promotional expertise and community support.