There’s probably no need to repeat that the Japanese culture is very different from the Westerners’, but how about its movies? Are they also so different that no one else would relate to them or understand them? Well, no and no! Japanese cinema, almost the same as everywhere else globally, developed in the late 19th century. Although the traditional art of kabuki heavily influenced the earliest Japanese films, it soon turned to the more universal topics and language of cinema. Of course, the movies were still heavily Japanese, saturated with their thousand-year-old culture, but that is what makes them even more interesting to our eyes. So, here we are with our list of the best Japanese movies to date!
We bet that even if you haven’t seen any of these movies, some of the titles will ring a bell. Take, for instance, Seven Samurai or Rashomon - both of them have been named as probably the best movies ever made! Then, a couple of decades later, we got a whole slew of Japanese horror movies - from The Audition to Ringu, and everything in between, all of these scary flicks are unlike anything else! Heavily based on the transitional lore of demons and paranormal entities, they will scare the heck out of anyone. Then there are movies like Battle Royal - a quite brutal flick that has influenced so many western films we couldn’t count them all! And, coming to the recent days, Japanese cinema has turned into something that always tells a heartwarming or gut-wrenching story that just leaves you speechless. Even a movie that is as slow as a snail will grip you with its beautiful cinematography and stellar acting.
So, scroll down below and check out our picks of the best Japanese movies to date! All of them are worth your time, and all of them are quite impressive pieces of cinema art. However, there still should be the one that you like the best, so give it your vote! Of course, you wouldn’t forget to share this article with your Japanophile friends, would you?
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Seven Samurai
1954 | 3 hours 27 minutes | Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Starring Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima
The second submission to our list by director Akira Kurosawa, Seven Samurai, is no less legendary than its predecessor. This epic samurai drama film follows the story of seven unemployed samurai coming to help the people of a village constantly ravaged by bandits. Not only is Seven Samurai often named one of the best films ever made, but it is also seen as the most referenced, reworked, and remade movie in the history of cinema.
I have seen this movie at least 5 times...each time I love it more
Rashomon
1950 | 1 hour 28 minutes | Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Starring Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori
Even if you haven’t seen Rashomon, the legendary jidaigeki psychological thriller/crime film, you’ve most likely heard the name. The story here goes like this - a woman is raped, and her samurai husband killed. The events then are retold through the eyes of a bandit, the bride, the samurai’s ghost, and a woodcutter. Funnily enough, upon the release of Rashomon, the Japanese critics were baffled by the Westerners’ praise - they thought the praises came purely from the film seeming exotic to them. However, soon enough, there were no more doubts left that Rashomon is one of the greatest movies ever made - magnificent, spellbinding, and unforgettable.
Spirited Away
2001 | 2h 5m | Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Voiced by (in the English version) Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Miyu Irino
Hayao Miyazaki’s classic fantasy anime movie about a young girl who gets lost in a world of spirits. Spirited Away has been the highest-grossing film in Japanese history for a long time, having earned over $395 million worldwide. It has been recently surpassed by Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, released in 2020. Spirited Away is also the only Japanese movie to win an Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Late Spring
1949 | 1 hour 48 minutes | Directed by Yasujiro Ozu
Starring Chishu Ryu, Setsuko Hara, Yumeji Tsukioka
Late Spring is a drama film based on the novel by Kazuo Hirotsu called Father and Daughter. It’s a story about a 27-year-old woman whose acquaintances are ushering her to marry, but all she truly wants is to stay with her father and take care of him in his old age. The movie has so many underlying meanings and themes that Late Spring became sort of a fable among cinema critics. So, how could anyone miss such a heavily loaded movie, right?
Harakiri
1962 | 2 hours 13 minutes | Directed by Masaki Kobayashi
Starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Ishihama, Shima Iwashita
Harakiri is a jidaigeki (period drama) film with events taking place in the 17th century during the Edo period. It tells the story of a ronin (a samurai without a lord) coming to ask to perform harakiri within the manor of a local lord in front of a samurai audience. By requesting this, he has a chance to tell the story of how he got to this point. Harakiri is a movie full of hidden meaning and subtle hints - probably the best samurai film ever made!
Battle Royale
2000 | 1 hour 54 minutes | Directed by Kinji Fukasaku
Starring Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Taro Yamamoto
Battle Royale is an action-thriller film that has inspired many filmmakers in the twenty-some years of its existence. From Tarantino’s Kill Bill to, of course, The Hunger Games series, this film has truly impacted the art of cinema. Oh boy, is it gory, unbelievable, and thrilling! And how could it not be when the primary goal of the movie’s unfortunate class of ninth-graders sent to an island is to kill each other off?
Fireworks
1997 | 1 hour 43 minutes | Directed by Takeshi Kitano
Starring Takeshi Kitano, Kayoko Kishimoto, Ren Osugi
Fireworks, also known as Hana-bi in its original language, is a crime drama film that follows the story of a police detective right after he decides to retire. His retirement isn’t of old age and not necessarily a happy one since he has to do it pressured by harrowing personal and professional difficulties. This decision leads him to depression, and in this unhinged state, he chooses to make some very questionable decisions. It’s hard to describe the essence of this movie, but it will leave its imprint on anyone watching.
Ringu
1998 | 1 hour 36 minutes | Directed by Hideo Nakata
Starring Nanako Matsushima, Miki Nakatani, Yuko Takeuchi
All Japanese horror movies should come with a warning not to be watched alone in the dark, and the same goes for the legendary psychological supernatural flick Ringu. If you’ve somehow missed this gem, it’s about a paranormal videotape which, after watching it, is followed by a call that all you have left is seven days and after the time runs out… You’re dead. Ringu is a frightening combination of folk tale demons and the scares of modern life, so expect no less than it scaring the bejesus out of you.
The Taste Of Tea
2004 | 2 hours 23 minutes | Directed by Katsuhito Ishii
Starring Maya Banno, Takahiro Sato, Tadanobu Asano
The Taste Of Tea is a surreal fantasy comedy documenting the life of a rural family and their slightly dreamlike reality. Not one member of the Haruno family is ordinary, and although seemingly nothing happens in the movie, you get thoroughly immersed into their existence and their world. We know that this description sounds a bit cryptic, but you just have to trust the 100% approval rating The Taste Of Tea has on Rotten Tomatoes and just go and watch it!
Nobody Knows
2004 | 2 hours 21 minutes | Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda
Starring Yuya Yagira, Ayu Kitaura, Hiei Kimura
Nobody Knows is a drama film based on the 1988 Sugamo child abandonment case. So here, twelve-year-old Akira is left as the sole caretaker of his siblings after their mother leaves with no signs of returning. At the time of this movie’s release, actor Yuya Yagira (Akira) became the youngest to win the Best Actor title in the history of the Cannes Film Festival. Nobody Knows is truly a tragic story told in a gripping way.
Our Little Sister
The Great Passage
Love it so much. This movie is really sweet. Also, I'll watch anything with Ryuhei Matsuda ♥️
Grave Of The Fireflies
Akira
This one brought the anime in a new level of consideration in Western countries. Before this movie, mainly people in west think anime are just like Goldorak or Astroboy: nothing serious, just for kids. When this movie came to movie theatre the critics were astonished: all in this movie is perfect, animation, plot, music, rhythm... a master piece
Kiki's Delivery Service
Paprika
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi
The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya
Wolf Children
Dolls
Beautiful, thoughtful and striking film. One of my favourites. Highly recommend.
Only Yesterday
Ichi The Killer
This isn’t a cinephile’s list of Japanese movies, this is a movie list for Japanophiles.
This isn’t a cinephile’s list of Japanese movies, this is a movie list for Japanophiles.
