Great Japanese Movies

Have you ever seen a Japanese movie?

If you are interested in Japan, you will enjoy Japanese movies.

It is a good summation of Japanese culture, or it may represent Japan in a very eccentric way. 

Either way, they should give you a clue about the Japanese culture and history.

I should mention up front that the Japanese films are not characterized by the so-called Hollywood style of cinema. Of course, there are those types of films, but many Japanese films have their own unique form of expression, and they are not the only ones. 

You may feel that many Japanese films are redundant. That is true of older films especially. Each cut or scene is shot slowly, giving the viewer time to think. It's feels like the filmmaker asking you to walk with him.

That said, Japanese cinema has diversified in the modern era. There are some early films that don't fit into the category I mentioned, such as bullet train. But there are also films that are simply for entertainment purposes.

There are three main types of films I'm going to mention here. The first four films are unassailable masterpieces that have established an international reputation. Each of them should be seen at least once.

The next four are relatively new Japanese films from the 2000s onwards, and they are all fine films. They won't waste your time either.

The last four films are my personal recommendations. I have chosen them in order to let you know the depth of Japanese films. I'm sure you'll have a lot to think about.

1. Seven Samurai : 1954

World-famous director Kurosawa's masterpiece. A perfect script and exciting action film. Dramatic developments that will grip the audience throughout the film. An inspiration to many creators, his reputation will never fade.

2. Tokyo Story : 1953

This film is another masterpiece that has not faded and continues to be viewed around the world. This is a landscape of Japan as seen through an elderly Japanese couple after World War II. The director's warmth of vision brings the characters into sharp relief and draws the viewer's attention to the details.

3. Godzilla: 1954

This is the origin of the monster movie, which has been remade in Hollywood. The setting of Godzilla's birth as a result of the effects of radiation has been brought to life. The message of the human-created monsters tormenting humanity is still a wake-up call to the world, and this film is a remake of the original Godzilla film. It continues.

4. Ikiru : 1952

Ikiru means living. This is an excellent piece of work that shows another side of the master Kurosawa. And he was praised by the world for it. It deals with a very small society and with personal events. Nevertheless, we are violently moved by universal human themes.

These are just a few of the many excellent Japanese films of the 50s and 60s. The following is a list of movie titles that are available in the United States and Europe. Here is a list of movie titles that are also available in the US.

"Last Spring", "Sansho The Bailiff", "Harakiri", "Woman in The Dune", "Rashomon", 

"The Burmese Harp" .

The following four films are representative of Japanese films from the 2000s onwards. The following four films have received positive reviews from foreign film critics. There is a large time gap between these films and I presented earlier 4’s. You will wonder about that. But I'll talk about that next time.

5. Departures : 2008

This film is a story about a Japanese funeral. It may seem very strange at first. But then you start to think about the dignity of the dead in this style. There is a Japanese sense of beauty in this modest comedy.

6. The Twilight Samurai : 2002

The film uses photorealistic camerawork to depict the end of the samurai era. The main character, the samurai, subverts the crude, rugged warrior image of the old movies. The delicate emotions of humanity are quietly portrayed in the film's beautiful climax.

7. Battle royale : 2000

This is a very controversial and topical film in Japan. The setting is very radical, with students killing each other under the guidance of the nation. Nonetheless, the film was a big hit because of the underlying story behind the brutal scenes. This is because the themes of betrayal and trust behind the brutal scenes are profound.

8. Shoplifters : 2018

This is the story of a family of poor people who repeatedly steal on the street. When a little girl joins this family, the thieving family reaches a turning point. The film conveys the joy and sorrow of people living at the bottom of the social divide.

9. Nobody knows : 2004

After watching this movie once, I could never watch it again. It depicts a very sad reality about parental abandonment. The deeds of innocent children are very sad, and every time I remember them, I cry.

10. Hana-bi : 1997

I don't know of any film dealing with gangs that has such a sad ending.  The main character's inorganic actions, which are portrayed unflinchingly throughout the film, are very impressive. That's why the end is so heartbreaking.

11. 13 Assassins : 2010

This is a remake of the 1963 film of the same title. It is an action epic about a samurai who is recruited to defeat a villain. Back in the day, a large number of movies of this type were made in Japan, but this is one of the most popular of them. 

12. The Taste of Tea : 2004

The last one is another aspect of Japanese cinema. In this comedy film about life in rural Japan, a fantasy suddenly emerges. The humor is hard to describe or analyze.

It will melt your brain.

These are just a few of the many Japanese films that have been made. 

All of which are available in the United States. If you are interested in them, please seek them out. Fortunately, you don't have to go to a store to find a DVD.

We watch Japanese movies online these days. I recommend starting with 13 Assassins, which is available for streaming.

I hope you will find a Japanese film that you will like. 

Thank you.