Bubble Fiction: Boom or Bust
Encyclopedia
is a 2007
Japan
ese science fiction
comedy film
directed by Yasuo Baba available with English sub-titles. The plot centers on traveling in time from 2007 to 1990 and in the process compares some everyday things between 1990 and 2007 (e.g. cell phones) in a humorous way.
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When inventor Mariko Tanaka (Hiroko Yakushimaru
), who works for Hitachi
appliances, accidentally re-engineers a washing machine for time travel
, the Japanese government then convinces her to go back in time to prevent the passage of a fictitious law that would prevent the usage of real estate as collateral for loans, which was a major cause of the bursting of the Japanese asset price bubble
. However, when contact is lost after she goes back in time, the government then sends Isao Shimokawaji (Hiroshi Abe
), who works for the Finance Ministry's Emergency Response Bureau to convince Mariko's estranged daughter Mayumi (Ryoko Hirosue
), to go back in time to investigate (other ministry officials tried to use the time machine but all they ended up with were faded socks).
Some knowledge of such things as the presence of electronic turnstiles in the Tokyo subway is helpful with some sight-gags.
The film is also notable for the cameo appearances
of celebrities who rose to prominence in Japan in the early 90s, including actresses Ai Iijima and Naoko Iijima, announcer Akiko Yagi, and soccer star Ruy Ramos
. Each actor portrays a younger version of themselves.
2007 in film
This is a list of major films released in 2007.-Top grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2007...
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese science fiction
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by Yasuo Baba available with English sub-titles. The plot centers on traveling in time from 2007 to 1990 and in the process compares some everyday things between 1990 and 2007 (e.g. cell phones) in a humorous way.
Plot
Hiroko Yakushimaru
is a Japanese actress and vocalist.After passing the audition for the film produced by Haruki Kadokawa, she began her acting career. Along with teen idols Tomoyo Harada and Noriko Watanabe who made debut after a similar process, she was often described as one of "Kadokawa Sannimusume" in her early...
), who works for Hitachi
Hitachi, Ltd.
is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The company is the parent of the Hitachi Group as part of the larger DKB Group companies...
appliances, accidentally re-engineers a washing machine for time travel
Time travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
, the Japanese government then convinces her to go back in time to prevent the passage of a fictitious law that would prevent the usage of real estate as collateral for loans, which was a major cause of the bursting of the Japanese asset price bubble
Japanese asset price bubble
The was an economic bubble in Japan from 1986 to 1991, in which real estate and stock prices were greatly inflated. The bubble's collapse lasted for more than a decade with stock prices initially bottoming in 2003, although they would descend even further amidst the global crisis in 2008. The...
. However, when contact is lost after she goes back in time, the government then sends Isao Shimokawaji (Hiroshi Abe
Hiroshi Abe (actor)
is a Japanese model and actor.He began his career as a model, but he successfully made the transition to acting, becoming one of the most regularly visible presences in Japanese media. He is a 1988 graduate of Chuo University.-Career:...
), who works for the Finance Ministry's Emergency Response Bureau to convince Mariko's estranged daughter Mayumi (Ryoko Hirosue
Ryoko Hirosue
is a Japanese actress and pop star, best known in the West for her roles in the Luc Besson-produced Wasabi and the Academy Award-winning Japanese film Departures. She also starred in a comedy series Yasuko to Kenji in 2008.- Early life :...
), to go back in time to investigate (other ministry officials tried to use the time machine but all they ended up with were faded socks).
Some knowledge of such things as the presence of electronic turnstiles in the Tokyo subway is helpful with some sight-gags.
The film is also notable for the cameo appearances
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
of celebrities who rose to prominence in Japan in the early 90s, including actresses Ai Iijima and Naoko Iijima, announcer Akiko Yagi, and soccer star Ruy Ramos
Ruy Ramos
, formerly Ruy Gonçalves Ramos Sobrinho , is a Brazilian-born football player, who became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 1989. He was one of the first foreign players in Japanese professional soccer, joining Yomiuri in 1977 at the age of 20...
. Each actor portrays a younger version of themselves.