Disasters Becoming Data, Scattered Memories: Japanese Movies After 3·11

The Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, caused around 23,000 casualties and spurred the rise of new media in Japan, particularly social media like Twitter, as citizens shared information amidst government-controlled narratives. This influx of disaster data led to the concept of ‘digital pollution.’ This article examines how contemporary Japanese cinema represents this disaster through four films. “Shin Godzilla” (2016) portrays the datafication of disasters, showing how government-gathered information is transformed into real-time statistics that influence national governance. “The Mole” (2012) reflects on the aftermath of the disaster, depicting an empty space that evokes the absence of people and loss. “Suzume” (2022) illustrates the government's efforts to erase tsunami traces, highlighting the community's involvement in this narrative of forgetting. Finally, “Drive My Car” (2021) explores personal disasters that remain unquantified, revealing the impact of sudden loss through interpersonal relationships rather than data. These films collectively address the multifaceted representation of disaster in a data-driven society.