The Japanese entertainment industry has peaked in popularity for the creation of anime movies and series, but their live-action films are also groundbreaking. Let’s face it, the country has churned out the best narratives spanning across various genres, and the depth of newfangled concepts—ranging from heartwarming to horrifying—never fails to delight fans.
So, here are our picks for the best Japanese movies ever made for every cinema enthusiast. These titles definitely deserve all the love and recognition.
15. Howl’s Moving Castle
Known for stunning visuals and captivating animation, which do justice to breathtakingly imagined landscapes, and striking characters of Diana Wynne Jones’s ‘Howl’s Moving Castle‘ book, the film is a triumph. You can always trust Studio Ghibli’s aesthetics, right? While the movie takes liberties with the plot, the magic and vividness of the world come alive on screen. The story follows the young, beautiful girl Sophie and a reclusive wizard, Howl, who resides in a moving castle. Seeing the closeness of these two, the Witch of the Waste casts a spell on Sophie and transforms her into an old lady. How does she break the charm? Allow the film’s mysterious yet adventurous ride to be your guide.
14. Woman In The Dunes (1964)
Based on Kōbō Abe’s brilliant novel, ‘The Woman in the Dunes,’ this psychological thriller became a standard for Japanese New Wave cinema. The story dives into the life of amateur entomologist Niki Jumpei, who is exploring for insects amid the dunes. In this isolated terrain, he finds refuge with a lonely widow who lives in a rural village at the bottom of the dunes. But the coast comes with terrible secrets. They are trapped, and Niki has to plan an escape reminiscent of the Greek myth of Sisyphus.
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13. Your Name (2016)
‘Your Name’ might masquerade as a body-swapping teen comedy, but this film goes much deeper than that. Taki and Mitsuha wake up in one another’s bodies, and they don’t just have to deal with the present; time travel adds a sci-fi edge to their new identities. With a fine balance of humor, romance, and a surprising twist, the anime cemented its place among the highest-grossing Japanese movies.
12. Monster (2023)
Japanese movies aren’t only about romance, action, and emotional damage; there are mind-bending mysteries too, and ‘Monster‘ is one such stellar entry in this list. The plot revolves around a single mother and her attempts to find the truth about her son, who starts acting strangely towards adults. The mother wants answers for this weird switch once he doesn’t come home at all, and is later found in an abandoned tunnel. She suspects something nefarious has been done by his teacher, so she goes forth with the confrontation at school. A fight ensues in the aftermath, which further complicates this coming-of-age drama.
11. Rashomon (1950)
‘Rashomon’ is one of the most influential films that have emerged from the land of Japan. The landmark movie set an early example of playing with the unreliable narrator plot device. We learn of a rape and murder case involving a bandit, and there are four contradictory accounts of this incident. Don’t expect the resolution of a mystery; director Akira Kurosawa doesn’t give us that closure. Instead, he gives us a disturbing reality that makes her contemplate the veracity of everything we hear and believe.
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10. Shoplifters (2018)
Hirokazu Kore-eda’s audacious crime drama seems to draw from Japan’s real-life shoplifting wave. The nuanced narrative takes us into the lives of a family of crooks who are forced to resort to dubious ways and petty theft to survive in a poverty-stricken Tokyo. Despair befalls them, but there’s hope too, once they take in a lost little girl. And, the movie has one of the best endings ever seen on screen.
9. Late Spring (1949)
Yasujiro Ozu’s father-daughter drama looks might seem unassuming at first glance, but peel the layers and you realize the searing complexities underneath. We meet a widowed professor trying to get his 27-year-old daughter married, even if it seems like giving away a piece of his heart. The girl is naturally disturbed by the proposition, content to stay home and take care of him. But his unhappiness pales in comparison to his wishes for his daughter, and he ends up feigning a remarriage of his own. This Japanese movie definitely melds morals and desires in a gripping manner.
8. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
There are many Studio Ghibli films that could fill the list, especially those helmed by Hayao Miyazaki. ‘My Neighbor Totoro’ is one great, whimsical film that will make you relive your childhood fantasies and yearn for quiet days. The film tells the tale of two sisters who move to the rural countryside and revel in nature. They come across the forest spirit and begin to understand things greater than themselves, embracing the beauty of the environment and creating stronger familial bonds.
7. Drive My Car (2021)
Based on Haruki Murakami’s short story, this Ryusuke Hamaguchi directorial venture is a true achievement in modern-day Japanese storytelling. It’s patient and powerful—a beautifully moving meditation on grief and growth. There’s an actor-director working on the theatrical production of Anton Chekhov’s play ‘Uncle Vanya’ in Hiroshima. His late wife had been unfaithful to him, and myriad emotions entangle in this process to overcome the loss of love and the idea of a perfect life.
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6. Harakiri (1962)
Director Masaki Kobayashi redefined the samurai genre. This epic movie follows a ronin during the Tokugawa shogunate. A man without family or employment, he requests to commit seppuku (the Japanese ritual suicide) at a feudal lord’s house. But things don’t go as planned when the past surfaces and a connection is established between the men. In essence, ‘Harakiri‘ is a raw exploration of honor, power, and glory.
5. Ikiru (1952)
Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Ikiru,’ which means “To Live,” is transformational. We witness a civil servant named Kanji Watanabe’s struggle and self-discovery upon getting diagnosed with terminal cancer. His quest to find meaning in his life and trying to grasp happiness in his remaining days is as endearing as it is melancholy. It’s one of those films that can change your perspective on life.
4. Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)
Another Studio Ghibli gem, albeit heartbreaking, ‘Grave of the Fireflies’ raises anti-war sentiment like no other film. It will win your heart with the love shared by orphan siblings Seita and Setsuko. And then, it will definitely make you burst into tears at their tragedy. As opposed to showing the brutality of World War II on the battlefield, the film chose to showcase the quiet devastation of people left behind, due to the scarcity of food and resources. Survival and shelter were hard to come by, especially for kids braving the hardships and terror alone. You’ve been warned, this movie will make you bawl.
3. Tokyo Story (1953)
‘Tokyo Story’ is a timeless Japanese movie and hasn’t disappeared from memory despite the passage of time. While the subtle drama might not draw modern audiences, the fusion of love, respect, joy, grief, and responsibility is worth a watch. The story is unbelievably beautiful, lined by a bittersweet truth of life. An aging couple visits their children and grandchildren in Tokyo, only to be hit by the harsh truth that the definition and the pull of family have changed across generations. The commentary on blood relations and connections is thought-provoking.
2. Seven Samurai (1954)
Akira Kurosawa is regarded as one of the most prolific Japanese filmmakers, and for good reason. The man has given the world many unforgettable films, and ‘Seven Samurai’ is arguably his best. The classic follows a group of farmers who have to resort to hiring a samurai in order to safeguard their crops from ruthless bandits. What unfolds are magnificent battles complemented by rich dialogue. Even Hollywood bowed down to this masterpiece.
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1. Spirited Away (2001)
‘Spirited Away’ is an irrefutable piece of magic. From the very beginning, this Hayao Miyazaki classic sweeps the audience into an enchanting, but eerie world. Chihiro is a 10-year-old girl lost in Kami, which is home to supernatural beings. Every setting is beautiful; however, danger lurks in every corner. In a bid for adventure, she has to witness her parents being turned into pigs. Now, the great responsibility of restoring them to human form weighs on Chihiro’s shoulders. For the mission, she has to outwit an evil witch. No wonder it held the record as Japan’s highest-grossing film for almost two decades.
