Erased, known in Japan as Boku dake ga Inai Machi (, "The Town Where Only I Am Missing"; abbr. , BokuMachi), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kei Sanbe. It was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace magazine from June 2012 to March 2016, and is licensed in English by Yen Press. An anime adaptation by A-1 Pictures aired on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block from January to March 2016, and a live action film was released in March 2016. A live-action drama series was released by Netflix in December 2017. A spin-off manga was published from June to November 2016 and the spin-off novel series by Hajime Ninomae was released in Kadokawa's Bungei Kadokawa magazine from November 2015 to March 2016.
Plot
In 2006, 29-year-old Satoru Fujinuma, a man living in Chiba, possesses an ability known as "Revival" that sends his consciousness back in time moments before a life-threatening incident, enabling him to prevent it from happening again. When his mother is murdered by an unknown assailant in his own home, Satoru's ability sends him back eighteen years into the past and Satoru is given the opportunity to not only save his mother, but also prevent a kidnapping incident that took the lives of three of his childhood friends.
Characters
Played by: Tatsuya Fujiwara (adult, film), Tsubasa Nakagawa (child, film), Yuki Furukawa (adult, drama), Reo Uchikawa (child, drama) Satoru is a 29-year-old manga artist who also works part-time as a delivery man at Oasi Pizza. Many years ago while he was still a child, his father left him and his mother, for which reason he is living in a single parent home. He possesses an involuntary time-based ability he calls "Revival" which brings him back to a time before a life-threatening incident occurs and allows him to prevent it only by glimpsing a glowing bright blue butterfly, the appearance of which may symbolize the unpredictable effects the unique supernatural ability has not only on himself, but those around him.
Played by: Rio Suzuki (film), Rinka Kakihara (drama) Kayo is one of Satoru's primary school classmates and is one of the original victims of the serial kidnapping case that occurred 18 years ago.
Played by: Kasumi Arimura (film), Mio Yūki (drama) Airi is a high school student and Satoru's friendly co-worker at Oasi Pizza. She becomes involved with him when she witnesses oddities such as when he manages to save people from certain life-threatening situations.
Played by: Yuriko Ishida (film); Tomoka Kurotani (drama) Sachiko is Satoru's mother and a former news announcer. Her husband left the family many years ago, causing her to raise Satoru on her own. She possesses a sharp eye and is quick to observe any irregularities.
Played by Kento Hayashi (film); Masato Yano (drama) Jun is a stuttering food delivery worker who lives in Satoru's hometown and often approaches lone students around his house. He and Satoru play with paper airplanes. Because he advises lonely children to be more "courageous" and make more friends, he is nicknamed "Yuuki", which means courage.
Played by Seiji Fukushi (film); Jin Shirasu (drama) Kenya is one of Satoru's primary school classmates who has a strong sense of justice and is very mature for his age with his intelligent choices. He is an aspiring lawyer who has a keen eye.
Played by Shigeyuki Totsugi
Gaku is Satoru's homeroom teacher during his youth and the closest thing he has to a father figure.
Played by Kairi Jyo
Hiromi is one of Satoru's primary school classmates who appears feminine even though he is a boy. He is one of the original victims of the serial kidnapping case.
Osamu is one of Satoru's primary school classmates.
Kazu is one of Satoru's primary school classmates. He is much taller and heavier than the rest of Satoru's friends and goes out of his way to appear "masculine".
Aya is a student who attends Izumi Primary and is one of the original victims of the serial kidnapping case.
Misato is another classmate of Satoru's. She has a strong dislike for Kayo and she often likes to pick on her.
Played by Tamae Ando (film); Noriko Eguchi (drama) Akemi is Kayo's abusive mother, whose abusive nature was exposed to the public.
Played by Miyu Ando
Kumi is a nine-year-old patient who suffers from leukemia.