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The Five Eras
July 22, 2026 at 02:50 PM
Enriched era descriptions with confirmed era-defining features (Kokura foundry, Kure naval arsenal, Minami and Shinjuku districts)
STRANGER THAN HEAVEN unfolds across five cities and five eras of modern Japan, each a distinct chapter in Makoto Daito's fifty-year journey. The story begins earlier still, in San Francisco in 1915, before Makoto departs for Japan.
Year | City | Setting |
|---|---|---|
1915 | Kokura | An industrial town in Fukuoka, home to one of the world's largest foundries |
1929 | Kure | A port in Hiroshima dominated by Japan's largest naval arsenal |
1943 | Minami, Osaka | Western Japan's largest entertainment district, as the world edges toward war |
1951 | Atami | A postwar seaside resort in Shizuoka, synonymous with tourism |
1965 | Shinjuku, Tokyo | Japan's most iconic pleasure district, and the saga's finale |
Each era reflects its moment in history, from industry and wartime to postwar recovery. The 1951 Atami chapter in particular highlights the American cultural influence sweeping postwar Japan. As the decades pass, the world and its characters change around Makoto.
The developers have said they favor a believable dramatization over strict historical accuracy. The cities are not exact replicas of their real-world counterparts, and real events from each era are generally left out unless they tie directly into Makoto's story.
The opening in 1915 San Francisco establishes Makoto's origins and the prejudice that sets him on the path to Japan. It serves as the starting point of the story rather than one of the five main Japanese chapters.
