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252: Signal of Life
Feature Films
Running time
132 min
Screen Size
1:1.85
Japanese Theatrical Release
December 6th, 2008
Cast
Hideaki Ito, Masaaki Uchino
Staff
Director: Nobuo Mizuta
Original Story: Yoichi Komori
Screenplay: Yoichi Komori, Hiroshi Saito, Nobuo Mizuta
Music: Taro Iwashiro

The largest typhoon ever in history destroys Tokyo city!!
The ferocity of natural disasters has been visualized in an unprecedented scale through real scenes and CG. This is the story of rescuers in an extreme situation, endangering their lives to save the survivors…

Introduction :
The movie depicts the endeavors of humans in the extreme conditions in the aftermath of a disaster. Another focus of the movie is the Hyper Rescue, the fire department's special rescue unit. This is the first movie ever to depict the specialists in action.
For authenticity, the Tokyo Fire Department 8th Division Hyper Rescue Unit helped in the principal photography. With their cooperation, the movie features realistic and detailed rescue operations.
For the Tokyo flood sequence, exterior sets of a train terminal and subway station were constructed. Tremendous amounts of water were poured onto the sets to create a flash flood, achieving the horror of a flood that can't be depicted with the CG. CG was used in the scenes of tidal waves swallowing up the Tokyo bay area to actualize the awesome force of nature. You’ll see the devastated Tokyo city created by the surprising CG techniques.

Story :
A few weeks after a gigantic earthquake struck Tokyo. Metropolitan Tokyo is slowly beginning to function again. But the temperature of the Pacific Ocean suddenly increases after the earthquake, causing a tremendous typhoon.
The largest typhoon ever in Japan heads towards Tokyo with devastating force. The tidal wave generated by the typhoon covers the coastal city area with water.
The Tokyo Fire Department dispatches its elite rescue unit, Hyper Rescue, and their sonar picks up a signal from underwater. Beneath the ground, in one devastated subway station, there is someone sending out a code which is known to rescuers only…

“252… 252…” – “We have survivors!”

"252" is the rescue code that means "There are survivors."
Somebody who knows the rescue protocol is trapped underground! The rescuers, the survivors and their families all pray for their loved ones' safe return.
In the extreme situation, a rescue party tries to save the survivors at the risk of their own lives. In the face of death, a daring rescue operation is to be carried out, intersecting with many dramas of family, love, pride, and human life…