The Silent Service
The Silent Service is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kaiji Kawaguchi. It was published in Kodansha's Weekly Morning manga magazine from 1988 to 1996 and collected in 32 volumes.
The series was adapted into an anime television special and original video animation series by Sunrise. The special was released in North America by Central Park Media. A live-action film adaptation premiered in Japanese theaters in September 2023 and a sequel, titled The Silent Service: The Battle of Arctic Ocean, premiered in September 2025.
In 1990, The Silent Service won the 14th Kodansha Manga Award for the general manga category. It has over 25 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series.
Plot
Following the Cold War, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has jointly and secretly with the United States Navy developed the most modern and powerful nuclear submarine, Seabat. Chosen as co-captain is Shiro Kaieda, while Seabats crew is composed entirely of Kaieda's crew from his previous command. On Seabats maiden voyage, Kaieda abruptly takes control of the submarine, renames it Yamato and declares it to be an independent state. Kaieda and his crew intend to sail to Tokyo to form a formal alliance with Japan, and the United States Navy musters the entire 7th and 3rd Pacific fleets to stop him. With the United States resolved to recover or sink Yamato by any means, the Japanese government divided as to how the events surrounding Yamato will determine Japan's fate, and both governments unsure as to whether or not Yamato is actually armed with nuclear missiles, Kaieda must use his submarining skills and unorthodox strategies to counter the sheer numbers and military might of the American Pacific fleets.In the OVA episode "Voyage 2", Yamato enters Tokyo Bay and, despite initial unease about whether or not Yamato has nuclear capabilities, a special meeting is arranged between Kaieda and the Japanese government. Despite attempted interference by American ships trying to blockade the bay, the Southern Cross, a secret refitting ship disguised as an oil tanker, also enters Tokyo Bay under Japanese escort. At the meeting, which is attended by the world press and televised live, a formal Treaty of Mutual Assistance is eventually concluded between Japan and Yamato. Additionally, Takegami proposes, and Kaieda agrees, to place both the Japanese forces and Yamato under the aegis of the United Nations and that Yamato should present itself at a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council. However, while Yamato is being repaired and reprovisioned inside the Southern Cross, President Bennett orders the American fleet to launch an attack on the Southern Cross before Yamato can depart, and refuses to halt the attack when Takegami protests. Fukamachi, who has been unsure of Kaieda's plans/motives and whose sub Tatsunami is part of the Japanese escort fleet, must now protect Kaieda and Yamato.
In the OVA episode "Voyage 3", after escaping from the Tokyo Bay attack, Yamato begins its journey to New York, planning to travel underneath the Arctic Circle. However, President Bennett orders the implementation of "Operation Aurora", with Seawolf, a newly constructed nuclear submarine with the same capabilities as Yamato commanded by John Alexander Bates, ordered to intercept and sink Yamato. Bennett persuades Russian President Malenkov to withdraw all Russian submarines from the area, with the U.S. doing the same, believing that Seawolfs destroying Yamato will restore America's prestige and show its military/political superiority to the world. Following a period of cat-and-mouse, Yamato heads for a narrow underwater crevice; Seawolf fires torpedoes after her, but Yamato successfully passes through. When Yamatos sonar detects a signature similar to Seawolf ahead of them, Kaieda deduces that there is a second Seawolf - King, which is commanded by Bates' older brother Norman. Deducing that King is the greater threat, Kaieda orders an attack on Seawolf and eventually tricks Seawolf into firing a torpedo that hits and destroys King. Yamato engages in a game of "chicken" with Seawolf and wins with Seawolf suffering serious damage, and Kaieda sends a message to the world announcing the attack on Yamato by the U.S. before continuing on to New York.
Characters
;Shiro Kaieda;Hiroshi Fukamachi
;Eiji Yamanaka
;Utsumi
;Takuo Migoguchi
;Captain David Ryan
;Prime Minister Takegami
;Admiral Steiger
;President Nicholas J. Bennett
Media
Manga
The Silent Service is written and illustrated by Kaiji Kawaguchi. It was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Weekly Morning from 1988 to 1996. Kodansha compiled its individual chapters into thirty-two volumes, published from December 15, 1989, to June 19, 1996.Anime
The manga was first adapted as an anime television special by Sunrise, first released on video on December 18, 1995, and later broadcast on TBS on March 3, 1996. Two original video animation episodes produced by Sunrise were released from September 25, 1997, to January 25, 1998.In North America, Central Park Media's US Manga Corps dubbed the special, and released it on VHS on July 7, 1998. It was later released on DVD on January 9, 2001.
Video games
;PlayStation;Windows
Live-action films
A live-action film adaptation was announced on January 25, 2023. The film is directed by Kohei Yoshino, with scripts written by Hikaru Takai, and Shinzō Matsuhashi and Takao Osawa serving as producers. Osawa played the lead role as Shiro Kaieda. The film was released by Toho and premiered in Japanese theaters on September 29, 2023, and began streaming on Amazon Prime Video as eight-part web series on February 9, 2024.A second film, The Silent Service: The Battle of Arctic Ocean, premiered in Japanese theaters on September 26, 2025.
Reception
The Silent Service won the 14th Kodansha Manga Award in the General manga category in 1990. The first 29 volumes sold over 22 million copies. It has sold over 25 million copies.Some international readers and viewers were uncomfortable with the storyline. There were many arguments among international critics that the series promoted the idea of militarism. The manga was discussed in the Japanese Diet and was popular with the Self-Defense Force.