Best Japanese Movies

In postwar Japan, a new terror rises. Will the devastated people be able to survive… let alone fight back?

In 1879, Kenshin and his allies face their strongest enemy yet: his former brother-in-law Enishi Yukishiro and his minions, who’ve vowed their revenge.

War photographer W. Eugene Smith travels back to Japan where he documents the devastating effect of mercury poisoning in coastal communities.

Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, this poignant drama explores the lives of a makeshift family living on the fringes of society in Tokyo. The story delves into their daily struggles and…

Set in a dystopian future Japan, the film follows a young boy named Atari as he embarks on a quest to find his beloved dog, Spots, after all canines are…

In this visually striking film by Sion Sono, the narrative explores the complex interplay between art, sexuality, and identity through the life of a young artist named Kyoko. The story…

In this poignant family drama directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, three sisters living in the coastal town of Kamakura, Japan, welcome their teenage half-sister into their home after the death of…

In this poignant drama directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, a successful businessman and his wife face a life-altering revelation when they discover their six-year-old son was switched at birth with another…

In this gripping crime drama, the intricate power struggles within the yakuza underworld are brought to life with intense performances and a complex narrative. The film, directed by Takeshi Kitano,…

Set in the early Meiji era, this film follows the journey of a wandering swordsman, Himura Kenshin, who has vowed to protect the innocent without killing. As he navigates a…

Set in feudal Japan, this gripping samurai epic follows a group of 13 warriors on a mission to assassinate a ruthless and tyrannical lord, whose rise to power threatens the…

This Japanese film, directed by Sion Sono, is a sprawling exploration of love, sin, and redemption, blending elements of drama, comedy, and action. It follows the tumultuous journey of a…

A poignant exploration of life and death, this film follows Daigo Kobayashi, a cellist who finds himself out of work and reluctantly takes a job as a nōkanshi, a traditional…

In this 2006 Japanese thriller, a brilliant yet disillusioned student stumbles upon a mysterious notebook that grants him the power to kill anyone whose name he writes in it. As…

Set in the enchanting world of pre-World War II Japan, this film follows the journey of a young girl who transforms into one of the most celebrated geishas of her…

In this 2003 film, a blind masseur and master swordsman wanders into a small town plagued by warring gangs and corrupt officials. As he becomes embroiled in the local conflict,…

Set in the declining years of the Edo period, this film follows Seibei Iguchi, a low-ranking samurai who struggles to support his family after the death of his wife. Despite…

In this unsettling Japanese horror film directed by Sion Sono, a series of mysterious suicides across Tokyo baffles the police and the public. The narrative unfolds as detectives try to…

In a dystopian future, a group of high school students is forced into a deadly game of survival on a remote island, where they must fight each other to the…

A Japanese Yakuza gangster, whose lethal lifestyle forces him to flee his country, finds himself in Los Angeles, California. There, he is welcomed by his younger brother and his brother’s…

This heartwarming film follows the journey of a young boy named Masao, who sets out to find his estranged mother during his summer vacation. Accompanied by an unlikely companion, a…

In this 1997 film directed by Takeshi Kitano, a former police officer grapples with personal tragedy and the consequences of his actions as he navigates a world of crime and…

In this 1993 film directed by Takeshi Kitano, a seasoned yakuza enforcer named Murakawa, played by Kitano himself, is sent to Okinawa to help quell a gang dispute. As tensions…

This visually stunning film, directed by the legendary Akira Kurosawa, is a collection of eight vignettes inspired by the director’s own dreams. Each segment explores themes of nature, spirituality, and…

Tetsuaki is having difficulty completing his novel as his mother’s health declines, while Mitsuko is pressured into an unwanted engagement. The two decide to escape together to cope with their…

In the summer of 1941, tensions between the United States and Japan are at a boiling point due to ongoing embargos and unsuccessful diplomatic efforts. “Tora! Tora! Tora!”—a title derived…

Set in 19th-century Japan, this film follows the journey of a young and arrogant doctor, Noboru Yasumoto, who is assigned to a rural clinic run by the enigmatic and compassionate…

While her son, Kichi, is away at war, a woman and her daughter-in-law survive by killing samurai who stray into their swamp, then selling whatever valuables they find. Both are…

In this 1964 Japanese film, a schoolteacher and amateur entomologist finds himself trapped in a remote desert village, where he is forced to assist a woman in her endless task…

This gripping 1963 film, directed by Akira Kurosawa, masterfully blends elements of crime and drama as it explores the moral dilemmas faced by a wealthy executive, played by Toshiro Mifune,…

Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.

In this 1961 film directed by Akira Kurosawa, a wandering and scruffy samurai, played by Toshiro Mifune, finds himself entangled in a local clan’s power struggle. The samurai, known for…

In this classic 1961 film, a wandering ronin, played by the iconic Toshiro Mifune, arrives in a small town torn apart by two rival gangs. With his cunning and swordsmanship,…

In this gripping 1960 film, a young executive embarks on a quest for revenge against a corrupt corporate system that led to his father’s demise. The narrative unfolds with a…

Set against the haunting backdrop of post-war Hiroshima, this film explores the fleeting yet profound connection between a French actress, played by Emmanuelle Riva, and a Japanese architect, portrayed by…

Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this 1958 film is a captivating adventure that follows two peasants who unwittingly become involved in a daring mission to escort a princess and her general…

Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this 1956 film is a masterful adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” set in feudal Japan. The story follows a samurai, played by Toshiro Mifune, who is driven…

Japan is thrown into a panic after several ships explode and are sunk near Odo Island. An expedition to the island led by paleontologist Professor Kyohei Yemani soon discover something…

Set in 16th-century Japan, this classic film follows a group of villagers who hire seven ronin, or masterless samurai, to protect them from marauding bandits. The story intricately weaves themes…

Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, this 1954 Japanese film is a poignant tale set in the Heian period, exploring themes of family, social injustice, and the resilience of the human spirit….

An old couple visit their children and grandchildren in the city, but the children have little time for them.

Set in the tumultuous period of civil war in 16th-century Japan, this film follows the intertwined fates of two ambitious peasants, Genjuro and Tobei, who are driven by dreams of…

Set in feudal Japan, this cinematic masterpiece explores the subjective nature of truth through the recounting of a crime from multiple perspectives. The film is directed by the legendary Akira…

Directed by Yasujirō Ozu, this 1949 Japanese film is a poignant exploration of familial bonds and societal expectations. It stars Setsuko Hara and Chishū Ryū, who deliver compelling performances as…

Set in post-war Japan, this film follows the tumultuous relationship between a disillusioned alcoholic doctor and a young gangster suffering from tuberculosis. The doctor, played by Takashi Shimura, becomes determined…