Top 20 Japanese Movies
There is something unique about Japanese cinema; it is progressive, engaging, out-of-the-box, and distinctive. You may appreciate their culture or tastes, but the Japanese seem to have a delightful talent for creating compelling interactions with audiences across various art forms. Japanese films are considered a different class, and the viewing experience tends to appeal to people with refined tastes.
Once you watch a film, you'll want to watch it again to 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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1. Nobody Knows / Dare Mo Shirnai
Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, the film is inspired by true events as its plot follows the relationship of four step-siblings living with their mother in a small apartment, each child having a different biological father. The film draws attention to the claustrophobic lives of the four children, making this drama heartbreaking and gripping. # japanese semi film
2. The Taste of Tea/ Cha No Aji
Directed by Katsuhito Ishii, this film depicts the lives of different individuals in unusual circumstances. Mostly filmed in rural Japan, it features outstanding direction and performances. This film deserves a five-star rating.
# watch japanese semi film
3. Seven Samurai
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, the plot is based on a village in Japan that is attacked by bandits. The village then hires seven unemployed samurai to defend it from the bandits. The film was a box-office blockbuster and highly praised by critics.
# japanese romantic film
4. Rashomon
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this film is considered one of the first Japanese productions 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 of the events by different witnesses.
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5. Battle Royale
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku, the film is set in a dystopian future marked by high levels of violence among students. The government forces a group of students onto a remote island with the sole purpose of making them fight until only one remains.
# best japanese film
6. Harakiri
The film 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 to perform ritual suicide. The performances and direction are brilliant; it's not intended for impatient viewers and leaves much to ponder.
# japanese horror film
7. Tokyo Sonata
Produced by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, this drama tells 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 make you tear up as it tells the story of an elderly couple who visit their children in the big city. The film depicts how the children have little time for their parents, leading to a series of heartbreaks. The plot and themes are reminiscent of the Hindi film Baghban.
9. Like Father, Like Son
The plot centers on a loving father who is devastated when he discovers that another child has been switched with his biological son. The film is directed by Hirokazu Koreeda.
10. Departures
Directed by Yojiro Takita, this film follows a cellist. The plot centers on the situation where the cellist loses his job and applies to a company called Departures, thinking from its name that it might be related to travel.
11. Zatoichi
Directed by Takeshi Kitano, this action-comedy follows a blind, elderly masseur who travels through various towns and eventually lands in a village controlled by feuding gangs.
12. Princess Mononoke
This animated fantasy-adventure is directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. It follows the story of Princess Mononoke, who is caught in a difficult position amid war and an unexpected encounter with a man seeking to end his curse.
13. The Grave Of The Fireflies
It is also an animated film directed by Isao Takahata. If you love war drama animation, then this movie is undoubtedly your cup of tea. Critics consider it one of the best films ever produced in the Japanese film industry.
14. Woman of The Dunes
The film is a thriller drama directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara. It exemplifies disturbing and uncomfortable subjects handled with a touch of compassion. The story follows an entomologist who is forced by villagers to live with a woman whose sole duty is to shovel sand for the village.
15. Spirited Away
This is a fantasy-adventure anime 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 mystery-horror film is directed by Takashi Miike. The plot revolves around a widower's friend who comes up with the strange idea of holding auditions to find a new wife for him.
17. High and Low
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, the plot centers on the harrowing ordeal of an executive who is blackmailed, followed by the kidnapping of his chauffeur's child.
18. Ikiru
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this film is regarded as a modern source story with essential existential themes. The film depicts a man's journey to find meaning in life after learning he has terminal cancer.
19. Cold Fish
Directed by Sion Sono, the movie is a cold-blooded horror drama. It is a film not meant for the faint-hearted.
20. Yojimbo
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this comedy-drama follows a rogue samurai who decides to save the townspeople of a town ravaged by an ongoing war between two rival gangs.