Shiranuhi

Set against the fading days of summer in 1996, Shiranuhi unfolds in a quiet coastal town in Kumamoto Prefecture. Ten-year-old Minato endures a fragile and unstable existence alongside his alcoholic father. His sole refuge is Ben-chan, a divine entity who takes the appearance of a young girl and resides on Benten Island. The moments Minato shares with her provide his only true comfort, offering him a rare sense of peace and allowing him to feel entirely like himself. This delicate sanctuary is threatened when circumstances force Minato into a children’s home, tearing him away from the one companion who understands him. Facing an agonizing separation, the boy turns his desperate gaze toward the sea, praying to the Shiranuhi—an enigmatic, glowing light that drifts across the water—to grant him a single wish. Driven by deep-seated resentment toward his neglectful father, Minato’s plea carries a heavy burden of hatred. What begins as a child's anguished prayer ultimately transforms into something far darker, twisting his heartfelt desire into a devastating curse.