🎬 9 Japanese Movies you should definitely watch!

Only a couple of years ago, if asked about Japanese movies I would have answered with names of animes; I've only recently expanded my view on the Japanese film industry beyond Studio Ghibli...which is still a stronghold, no doubts about that!

During my stay in Japan, I had the chance to watch a few Japanese movies and I found them really well executed and, in my opinion, haven't received the appropriate acknowledgments worldwide.
Plus on Pinterest there are many pins like 'must-watch Japanese movies' or 'movies to watch before you go to Japan' and they were more or less the same, very old movies or school romances.

So here's a list of 9 movies from the newest (2018) to oldest (2000) who are engaging, introspective, and surprisingly funny while showcasing Japanese society and Japan, maybe from a different perspective from the one you're used to.

1. Color Me True (今夜、ロマンス劇場で)

This movie will fulfill all the needs nostalgic/romance lovers might have: it's honestly humouristic, gives a glimpse of how Japan and the entertainment business must have been back in the '60es. Any movie lover will feel like hitting the jackpot!
Read my review HERE

2. The Travelling Cat Chronicles (旅猫リポート)

Satoro and his cat, Nana, are on a road trip to find a new owner for the animal. The two of them will meet with old friends and make new ones, while we'll slowly uncover the reasons why Satoro can't take care of Nana anymore.

Based on the same-name novel by Hiro Arikawa, you can check my book review HERE.

3. Your Name (君の名はₒ)

I'm never going to stress this enough: if you still haven't watch Your Name (Kimi No Na Wa), please PLEASE do so! There has to be a reason (to me, more than one, actually) if this movie broke the box office records in 2016. This is probably the most famous and worldwide know movie I've put in this list and I know it's an animation one, but I simply couldn't leave it out.
Based on the same name novel (later also adapted as manga) written by the movie's director, Shinkai Makoto.
Makoto's next movie "Weathering With You" (天気の子) will hit Japanese movie theaters in July. I can't wait to listen to its soundtrack!
Read my review HERE

4. Sweet Bean (あん)

Probably one of the most emotional and moving books I've ever read and, judging from its trailer only, I can tell the movie is going on the same path. I've fallen for the unusual friendship that Sentaro and Toku share and her optimistic approach towards life.
Read my book review HERE

5. My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday (ぼくは明日、昨日のきみとデートする)

Risultati immagini per my tomorrow your yesterday poster

The genre is similar to "The Time Traveler's Wife", where a young boy and girl met and fall in love, but what's tomorrow for the boy is going to be yesterday for the girl...It sounds complicated, I know, but watch the movie and you'll understand everything, promise!
Read my review HERE

6. 12 Suicidal Teens (十二人の死にたい子どもたち)

12 boys and girls gather in an abandoned hospital, allegedly all to end their lives...But instead, they find the body of a young boy and try to find out what happened and who killed him.
As everybody knows, Japan's under 30 suicidal rates have increased, so this movie can be seen as an ode to life and a warning to society in general.
Based on the same-name novel by Tow Ubukata.

Read my review HERE

7. Thermae Romae (テルマエ・ロマエ)

This 2012 movie is about the time travel journey of a man from the Roman Empire to modern Japan thanks to a portal in...a bathhouse?
I've come to see a lot of similarities between Italians and Japanese (odd, but true!) and I think this movie is exactly what you need to just have a laugh and to witness the impossible and improbable happen.
Based on the same name manga series by Mari Yamazaki.

8. Quill (クイ-ル)

Japan may be the land of cat lovers, but I bet everyone knows about Hachiko, the loyal dog who waited at Shibuya station for his owner (who died while at work for brain hemorrhage) to come back to him. The common link with this movie is the heart-melting relationship between a cute and stubborn labrador and an even more stubborn blind man, who initially doesn't want the dog, but will grow fond of it.

Based on the book "The Life of Quill, the Seeing-Eye Dog" (盲導犬クイールの一生) by Kengo Ishiguro and Ryohei Akimoto.

9. Battle Royale (バトル・ロワイアル)

I'm fairly positive this is the first Japanese movie I've ever watched and it became source of debate when the first Hunger Games book was released: in both the Battle Royale and the series of books the story revolves around teenagers choose randomly to kill each other until only one remains alive.
Battle Royale is cruel and shows all the good and bad that's in human nature and even if I'm not a horror fan, I definitely suggest the view!

Whether it is because you're coming to Japan in the near future or simply are running out of titles, this is my list of Japanese movies that I think everybody could enjoy.
Let me know if you already watched some of them and if you liked them or not!

Japanese movies not listed here that I've watched and reviewed on the blog

Click on the cover for the review