Top 20 Japanese Movies of All Time
There's something unique about Japanese cinema; it's progressive, engaging, out-of-the-box, and distinctive. You may appreciate their culture or sensibilities, but it seems the Japanese have a delightful talent for building enjoyable interactions with audiences across various art forms. Japanese films are considered a class apart, and the viewing experience tends to appeal to discerning tastes. Once you watch a film, you'll feel like watching it again to fully appreciate its quality. In this article, we present a list of the top 20 Japanese films worth watching any time of the year.
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20 Top Japanese Films of All Time
1. Nobody Knows / Dare mo Shiranai
Hirokazu Koreeda directed the film, and its story is inspired by real events since the plot covers the relationship of four half-siblings living with their mother in a small apartment, with each child having a different biological father. The film draws our attention to the claustrophobic lives of the four children, making the drama heartbreaking and gripping.
2. The Taste of Tea / Cha no Aji
This film, directed by Katsuhito Ishii, depicts the lives of different individuals in unusual circumstances. Much of the movie is shot in rural Japan, and it features outstanding direction and performances. This film deserves a five-star rating.
3. Seven Samurai
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, the plot is based on a village in Japan attacked by bandits. The village then recruits seven unemployed samurai who are tasked with defending it from the bandits. The film was a box office blockbuster and highly praised by critics.
4. Rashomon
Also directed by Akira Kurosawa, this film is considered the first Japanese production to gain wide international recognition as one of the greatest films of all time. The story centers on the rape and murder of a woman and the conflicting retellings by different witnesses about the events.
5. Battle Royale
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku, the film is set in a dystopian future where there is a high level of violence among students. The government lines up a group of students on a remote island with the sole aim of creating a battle royale—that is, to fight until only one remains.
6. Harakiri
This is a period drama directed by Masaki Kobayashi. Set in the feudal era, the story revolves around a disgraced samurai who arrives at the lord's house to request an honorable place where he can carry out ritual suicide. The film's performances and direction are brilliant, and it is not meant for impatient viewers. It leaves a great deal of reflection.
7. Tokyo Sonata
Kiyoshi Kurosawa produced the film. This drama tells the story of the slow, gradual disintegration of an ordinary family in Tokyo when the head of the household loses his job.
8. Tokyo Story
Directed by Yasujiro Ozu, this film will surely bring you to tears as it tells the story of elderly parents who visit their children in the big city. The movie portrays how the children have little time for their parents, which leads to a series of heartbreaks. The film's plot and story have become a cheap reference point for the Hindi film Baghban.
9. Like Father, Like Son
The film's plot centers on a loving father who is desperate when he discovers that another child he raised has replaced his biological son. The film is directed by Hirokazu Koreeda.
10. Departures
Directed by Yojiro Takita, this film tells the story of a cellist. The plot revolves around a cellist who loses his job and applies to a company called Departures because of its name, mistakenly thinking it has something to do with traveling.
11. Zatoichi
Directed by Takeshi Kitano, the film happens to be an action-comedy following an old, blind masseur who travels through towns only to land in a village controlled by rival gangs.
12. Princess Mononoke
This animated film is a fantasy adventure directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. It follows the story of Princess Mononoke, who is caught between war and an unexpected encounter with a man seeking to end her curse.
13. Grave of the Fireflies
This is also an animated film directed by Isao Takahata. If you like wartime animated dramas, this film is undoubtedly your cup of tea. Critics consider it one of the best films ever produced in the Japanese film industry.
14. Woman in the Dunes
The film is a thriller drama directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara. It exemplifies disturbing and uncomfortable topics with a touch of poignancy. The plot tells of an entomologist forced by villagers to stay with a woman whose sole duty is to shovel sand for the village.
15. Spirited Away
This fantasy animated film is directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The plot follows a ten-year-old girl who wanders into a world ruled by witches, spirits, and gods.
16. Audition
This film is a horror mystery directed by Takashi Miike. The plot centers on a widower's friend and the strange idea of organizing auditions to find him a new wife.
17. High and Low
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, the plot revolves around the harrowing ordeal of an executive who is blackmailed, followed by the kidnapping of his driver's child.
18. Ikiru
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this film is regarded as a source of modern stories with existentialist essence. The film portrays a man's journey to find meaning in life after learning he has terminal cancer.
19. Cold Fish
Directed by Sion Sono, the film is a cold-blooded horror drama. It is not intended for the faint of heart.
20. Yojimbo
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this comedic drama follows a rogue samurai who decides to save townspeople caught in ongoing warfare between two rival gangs.