10 Must-Watch Japanese Movies 

A great way to learn another nation’s language and culture is through watching films. Watching Japanese movies will help in improving your listening skills and increasing your vocabulary. 

Through movies, you will be exposed to different forms of Japanese honorifics, colloquial words, and manners of speaking. Furthermore, this is also helpful in getting accustomed to Japanese customs which will come in handy when you travel to Japan.   

In this article, we have listed 10 Japanese films, from classics to animations, to help you further explore and discover what the Japanese language and culture could offer. 

Rashomon (1950)

Rashomon (1950) is a masterpiece directed by Akira Kurosawa that has helped in introducing the existence and beauty of Japanese cinema to the other side of the world. 

This film is based on the literary work “In a Grove” (1922) by Ryounosuke Akutagawa. It stars Toshiro Mifune as Tajomaru - the bandit, Machiko Kyo as the Samurai’s wife, Masayuki Mori as the Samurai - the husband, and Takashi Shimura as Kikori - the woodcutter. 

A year after its release, it took over the world of cinema and obtained several awards including Grand Prix at Venice in 1951, Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1952, and an Honorary Award at the 24th Academy Awards. 

The film is a psychological thriller that revolves around the search for truth and justice 

for the death of a Samurai and the rape of his other half. 

It uses a subjective flashback structure in unfolding the events, which is evident in how the four witnesses offer subjective, contradictory accounts on how the horrific acts took place – giving the film an overall presence of a serious and dark tone and mood. 

Ugetsu Monogatari (1953)

Ugetsu Monogatari (Tales of Ugetsu) is a film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi in 1953. This film is based on Akirari Ueda’s collection of Ugetsu Monogatari, specifically its stories "The House in the Thicket" and "Lust of the White Serpent". The film is set during the 16th century, where people battle for dominance and affluence through invasions and assassinations. 

The film revolves around Genjuro and Tobei, who are both potters from a small town of Omi, and whose moral values were greatly tested as they pursue their desire to be wealthy and powerful. While Genjuro chases after fortune, he meets a noblewoman named Lady Wakasa who offered him riches. Succumbing to temptation, he gladly followed her, only to find out that this refined woman is already deceased. 

Meanwhile, Tobei is blinded by his ambition to become a samurai. After achieving this goal, he returns to his town and discovers his abandoned wife working in a brothel. Appalled with what he found out, he seeks for his wife’s forgiveness and throws away his armor. 

This film impressively showcases how a person could be blinded by his desires and be fooled by his apparitions.

The Tale of Genji: A Thousand Year Enigma (2011)

The Tale of Genji: A Thousand Year Enigma (2011), or Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo, is a film based on a classic epic written by Murasaki Shikibu, “Tales of Genji” or “Genji Monogatari” – Japan's oldest novel and the first-ever novel written in the world of romantic literature. This film does not only tell us the story of Hikaru Genji and his love interest but also gives us an insight into what probably is the reason why Murasaki Shikibu wrote this epic novel. 

During the Heian era, Murasaki Shikibu worked for the Imperial Court under the direction of the Fujiwara clan. She is ordered by the feudal lord to create a novel for his daughter, in hopes to 

inspire further to make efforts to become the Emperor’s partner. 

Hikaru Genji, also known as the "Shining Prince", is a crown prince who had lost his mother at a young age of three – perhaps among the reasons for his long search for an ideal wife.

This is a great film that shows the flourishing arts, culture, and social hierarchy in Japan during the Heian era.

Harakiri (1962)

Harakiri is a 1962 Samurai film directed by Masaki Kobayashi. Set during the Tokugawa era, the film shows us how Tsugamo Hanshiro, a ronin or masterless samurai, pleads to commit seppuku – ritual disembowelment by the Japanese, initially practiced by daimyo (feudal lords) and samurai, to restore their honor. 

During this time, masterless samurai who fail to land employment would either resort to delinquency to survive or seppuku as penance for bringing dishonor to themselves and their families.  

When committing seppuku, it usually requires a great ceremony and assistance from the feudal family. With worsening situations, many samurai fake their desire to commit seppuku in hopes of being spared by feudal lords by giving them money or employment. However, with feudal lords already knowledgeable and alarmed of this scheme, they order desperate samurai to skip ceremonies and promptly commit seppuku. 

This is among the reasons why the main character, Tsugamo Hanshiro, was faced with a great dilemma as he had pawned his sword and only had a bamboo blade as a replacement. Without a proper sword, it would not only make his death a slow and agonizingly painful one but also humiliating as he wanted to die as a noble samurai.

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Grave of the Fireflies (1988), or Hotaru no Haka in Japanese, is a Studio Ghibli animated film written directed by Isao Takahata. Set in Kobe, Japan during the Second World War, the film shows us how Seita and his little sister Setsuko are greatly affected by the war and the downfall of Japan. 

This animated movie is based on Ayuki Nosaka’s semi-autobiography, where he narrated his experiences during and after the Second World War. To be specific, he narrated how he spent most of his childhood in Kobe when there was economic turmoil and development of militarism in Japan. 

Similar to Seita in the film, Nosaka was 14 years old when the bomb attacks started and was left orphaned and vagrant.  

Grave of the Fireflies is said to be one of Studio Ghibli's darkest films and is arguably "one of the greatest war films ever made", according to Roger Ebert, a late historian and film critic.

You can also watch the live-adaptation (2008) of this film, starring Reo Yoshitake as Seita, and Rina Hatakeyama as Setsuko.

Spirited Away (2001)

Spirited Away (2001), or Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi in Japanese, is a Studio Ghibli animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki.  It is the highest-grossing film in Japan with a total earning of ¥30.80 billion. This film also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003 and placed top 10 in the “50 films you should see by the age of 14” by the British Film Institute. 

The story unfolds as Chihiro Ogino and her family are driving to their new home in a suburb. Accidentally stumbling upon an old and abandoned amusement park; the family, driven by curiosity, decides to explore the area – much to Chihiro's dismay and objection. 

Chihiro's parents decide to eat at an unattended stall full of food. As Chihiro further wanders the area alone, she finds herself in a bizarre, magical world filled with youkai (ghost, monsters, etc.) and kami (gods), and where humans – like her parents – are transformed into other creatures. 

Double Suicide (1969) 

The film Double Suicide (1969) by Masahiro Shinoda is a modern adaptation of a Bunraku play, or a Japanese puppet theater play, written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon in the 1720s. The setting of the play is fixed during the 18th century Osaka, focusing on the social class of the merchants. 

The story revolves around Jihei, a married paper merchant, and his ill-fated obsession and relationship with a courtesan named Koharu – whom he failed to redeem although efforts and sacrifices had already been made, even to the expense of his own family suffering economically. As a result, the two committed a lovers’ suicide or shinju – a rather common matter to witness throughout the history of Japan.

This film greatly showcases the dichotomy of giri-ninjo, which the former refers to the societal responsibilities while the latter refers to an individual’s yearning or feeling. Find out how the film’s director perfectly show these conflicts through the characters’ desire to be free from societal customs and obligations, and how giri-ninjo eventually influenced the characters' decision to commit double suicide. 

Yojimbo (1961)

Yojimbo, which translates to “bodyguard” in English, is a 1961 film directed by Akira Kurosawa which is set during the end of Tokugawa Era where the bakufu system was abolished. This refers to a system of government in which the Emperor heads the state but holds a minimal power. The abolishment was the main reason why the main character Sanjuro Kuwabatake, who is played by Toshiro Mifune, became a masterless samurai or Ronin. 

While searching for a job, Sanjuro Kuwabatake – which is not his real name – stumbled into a small town of two warring factions fighting over dominance, where he found himself confronted with clashing options on which group he should work for. Discovering that these groups are more than willing to engage in a bloodbath fight, he offers his services as a bodyguard – which both leaders try to avail by bidding offers. 

This film is a must-watch if you want to see something that greatly showcases many universal themes that manage to cross-cultural boundaries. These include corruption, suffering, nature of a person battling life crisis, and heroism.

Your Name (2016)

Your Name (2016), or Kimi no Na wa in Japanese, is a romantic animation film by Makoto Shinkai which garnered attention and love from both local and international audiences. This movie held the top spot for six straight weeks, garnering ¥12.8 billion – making it the fourth highest-grossing film in Japan.

The story revolves around two high school students, Taki Tachinaba and Mitsuha Miyamuzu, who found themselves in strange, random occurrences where they switch places and live each others’ lives. As the movie progresses, more bizarre supernatural phenomena happen as they discover and stop the impending danger of a comet striking Mitsuha’s town.

Prepare yourself as this animation movie will surely take you to an emotional roller coaster ride. 

Ring (1998)

Ring, or Ringu in Japanese, is a 1998 horror movie directed by Hideo Nakata. This movie has been among the best Japanese horror movies, also known the best as the movie with a girl crawling out of a television – who is Sadako.  With its success, many remakes had been made. 

The story revolves around Reiko Asakawa and her ex-husband Ryuji investigating a haunted videotape. Reiko’s curiosity sparks when she discovers about her niece’s sudden and unusual death. After finding out that some of her niece's friends also suffered the same case, she starts investigating to solve and stop this scourge.  

How many of these have you seen? Do you have other Japanese films to recommend? Share with us by commenting below.