Plot summary: what THE DAYS is about
THE DAYS is a Japanese drama that revisits one of the most serious industrial emergencies of the 21st century: the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. The series opens as a massive earthquake and the tsunami that follows strike the coast and cripple the plant. Inside, the people on duty must respond to a situation no training fully prepared them for.
The story moves between the control rooms on site, the headquarters of the power company and the officials trying to make sense of events from afar. Radiation cannot be seen or heard, and every decision has to be made with incomplete information and little time. The workers also face a public that is divided. Some people look for someone to blame, while others see courage in those who stay at their posts.
The series is based on true events and draws on published accounts of the disaster. It focuses on the human pressure behind the headlines rather than on spectacle. The question in the tagline, “What happened there on that day?”, sets the tone for a sober and tense look at the aftermath.
What makes THE DAYS notable: review essentials
- Cast: Koji Yakusho leads as Masao Yoshida. He is joined by Yutaka Takenouchi (Maekawa), Fumiyo Kohinata (Azuma), Kaoru Kobayashi (Furuya), Takuma Otoo (Kinoshita) and Ken Mitsuishi (Murakami). Kenichi Endo, Yuriko Ishida, Yuki Izumisawa and Tomomi Maruyama also appear across all eight episodes.
- Behind the camera: The series is directed by Hideo Nakata and Masaki Nishiura, with scripts by Jun Masumoto.
- Network and format: THE DAYS is a Netflix series with one season of 8 episodes. Each episode runs about 66 minutes.
- Release date: All 8 episodes premiered on June 1, 2023. The series has ended.
- Source material: It is based on true events and on written accounts of the Fukushima disaster.
- Genre and rating: It is a dark drama with crime elements, rated TV-14 in the US.
Who will enjoy THE DAYS
- Viewers drawn to disaster dramas based on real events
- Fans of Koji Yakusho and serious Japanese ensemble dramas
- Anyone interested in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear accident
- Audiences who prefer tense, dialogue-driven stories about decision-making under pressure
- Those who enjoy limited series with a complete story in one season
Where to watch THE DAYS in the US
THE DAYS streams legally in the United States on Netflix. It is available with a standard Netflix subscription and on the cheaper Netflix Standard with Ads plan, which is also a paid subscription. The series is in Japanese, so check Netflix for the audio and subtitle options in your region.
Trailer
Cast
Koji Yakushoas Masao Yoshida8 episodes
Yutaka Takenouchias Maekawa8 episodesSee credits →
Fumiyo Kohinataas Azuma8 episodes
Kaoru Kobayashias Furuya8 episodesSee credits →
Takuma Otooas Kinoshita8 episodesSee credits →
Ken Mitsuishias Murakami8 episodes
Kenichi Endo8 episodes
Yuriko Ishida8 episodesSee credits →
Photo: TMDB
Episode guide
| Season | Episode | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Aired | |
| 1 | 2 | Aired | |
| 1 | 3 | Aired | |
| 1 | 4 | Aired | |
| 1 | 5 | Aired | |
| 1 | 6 | Aired | |
| 1 | 7 | Aired | |
| 1 | 8 | Aired |
Dates are original broadcast dates in the country of origin (Korea/China). Official streaming platforms in your country may add episodes the same day or later.
FAQ
- How many episodes does THE DAYS have?
- THE DAYS has one season of 8 episodes, each running about 66 minutes. The series has ended.
- When was THE DAYS released?
- All 8 episodes of THE DAYS premiered on Netflix on June 1, 2023.
- Where can I watch THE DAYS legally in the US?
- In the US, THE DAYS is available on Netflix through a standard subscription or the Netflix Standard with Ads plan.
- Who is in the cast of THE DAYS?
- Koji Yakusho stars as Masao Yoshida. The cast also includes Yutaka Takenouchi, Fumiyo Kohinata, Kaoru Kobayashi, Takuma Otoo, Ken Mitsuishi, Kenichi Endo, Yuriko Ishida, Yuki Izumisawa and Tomomi Maruyama.
- Is THE DAYS based on a true story?
- Yes. THE DAYS is based on true events, the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster that followed the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, and draws on written accounts of what happened.
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