This is a partial list of

Japanese language is spoken natively by about 128 million people, primarily by Japanese people and primarily in Japan, the only country where it is the national language. Japanese belongs to the Japonic or Japanese- Ryukyuan language family. There have been ...

films:

0-9

*''

2LDK ''2LDK'' is a 2003 Japanese film, directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi as part of the Duel Project, starring Maho Nonami and Eiko Koike. Two ambitious actresses, who share an apartment, learn they have been short-listed for the same part and that th ...

'' (2002) *'' 964 Pinocchio'' (1991)

A

*''

About Love ''About Love'' may refer to: * "About Love" (short story), 1898 Russian short story by Anton Chekhov * ''About Love'' (album), 2009 album by the Plastiscines * "About Love" (song), a 2020 song by Marina *About Love (1970 film) ''About Love'' (russ ...

'' (2005) *''

Adrenaline Drive is a 1999 Japanese comedy film directed by Shinobu Yaguchi. Plot A young milktoast car rental company driver named Satoru Suzuki (Masanobu Ando) and a mousy nurse named Shizuko Sato (Hikari Ishida) are both in dire need of a confidence boost. Th ...

'' (1999) *'' After Life'' (1998) *'' Aiki'' (2002) *'' Akira'' (1988) *''

Alakazam the Great ''Alakazam the Great'', known in Japan as , is a 1960 Japanese anime musical film, based on the 16th-century Chinese novel ''Journey to the West''. It was one of the earliest anime films to be released in the United States. Osamu Tezuka was name ...

'' (1960) *''

Alive Alive may refer to: *Life Books, comics and periodicals * ''Alive'' (novel), a 2015 novel by Scott Sigler * '' Alive: The Final Evolution'', a 2003 shonen manga by Tadashi Kawashima and Adachitoka * '' Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors'', ...

'' (2002) *''

All About Lily Chou-Chou All or ALL may refer to: Language * All, an indefinite pronoun in English * All, one of the English determiners * Allar language (ISO 639-3 code) * Allative case (abbreviated ALL) Music * All (band), an American punk rock band * ''All'' (All ...

'' (''Rirī Shushu no Subete'') (2001) *''

All Monsters Attack is a 1969 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Ishirō Honda, written by Shinichi Sekizawa, and produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka. The film, which was produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd, is the tenth film in the ''Godzilla'' series, and featu ...

'' (''Gojira, Minira, Gabara: Ōru Kaijū Daishingeki'') (1969) *''

Another Heaven Another or variant may refer to: * anOther or Another Magazine, culture and fashion magazine * ''Another'' (novel), a Japanese horror novel ** ''Another'' (film), a Japanese 2012 live-action film based on the novel * Another River, a river in the ...

'' (2000) *''

Angel's Egg is a Japanese art film original video animation (OVA) written and directed by Mamoru Oshii. Released by Tokuma Shoten on 15 December 1985, the film was a collaboration between artist Yoshitaka Amano and Oshii. It features very little spoken di ...

'' (''Tenshi no Tamago'') (1985) *'' Appleseed'' (2004) *''

Appleseed Ex Machina ''Appleseed Ex Machina'', also known as in the original version, is a 2007 Japanese animated CG science fiction film and is the sequel to the 2004 ''Appleseed'' film, similarly directed by Shinji Aramaki, and was produced by Hong Kong director ...

'' (2007) *'' Aragami'' (2003) *''

Assassination Classroom is a Japanese science fiction comedy manga series written and illustrated by Yusei Matsui. The series follows the daily life of an extremely powerful octopus-like being working as a junior high homeroom teacher, and his students dedica ...

'' (2015) *''

Atragon is a 1963 Japanese tokusatsu science fiction film produced and distributed by Toho. It is based on ''The Undersea Warship: A Fantastic Tale of Island Adventure'' by Shunrō Oshikawa and ''The Undersea Kingdom'' by Shigeru Komatsuzaki. The film i ...

'' (1963) *''

Audition An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or other performer. It typically involves the performer displaying their talent through a previously memorized and rehearsed solo piece or by performing a work or piece ...

'' (1999) *''

An Autumn Afternoon is a 1962 Japanese drama film directed by Yasujirō Ozu for Shochiku Films. It stars Ozu regular Chishū Ryū as the patriarch of the Hirayama family who eventually realises that he has a duty to arrange a marriage for his daughter Michiko ( Sh ...

'' (''Sanma no Aji'') (1962) *''

Avalon Avalon (; la, Insula Avallonis; cy, Ynys Afallon, Ynys Afallach; kw, Enys Avalow; literally meaning "the isle of fruit r appletrees"; also written ''Avallon'' or ''Avilion'' among various other spellings) is a mythical island featured in th ...

'' (2001) *''

Azumi is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yū Koyama. Its story concerns the title character, a young woman brought up as part of a team of assassins, charged with killing the warlords that threaten the uneasy peace in Feudal Jap ...

'' (2003) *'' Azumi 2: Death or Love'' (2005)

B

*''Backdancers!'' (2006) *''

The Bad Sleep Well is a 1960 Japanese crime mystery film directed by Akira Kurosawa. It was the first film to be produced under Kurosawa's own independent production company. It was entered into the 11th Berlin International Film Festival. The film stars Toshiro M ...

'' (''Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru'') (1960) *'' The Ballad of Narayama'' (''Narayama bushikou'') (1958) *'' Battle Royale'' (2000) *'' Battle Royale II: Requiem'' (2003) *''

Blood and Bones is a Japanese film, directed by Yōichi Sai and starring Takeshi Kitano. It is based on the semi-autobiographical novel ''Chi to Hone'' by Zainichi Korean author Yan Sogiru (Yang Seok-il). The film opened in Japan on November 6, 2004. It was re ...

'' (2004) *'' Blood: The Last Vampire'' (2000) *''

Big Bang Love, Juvenile A is a 2006 film directed by Takashi Miike. The film premiered at the 56th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2006. Plot In an unknown future, Jun confesses to the murder of another boy, Shiro, at an all-boy juvenile detention facil ...

'' (2006) *''

Big Man Japan is a 2007 Japanese ''kaiju'' film written, starring and directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto. It was well received by critics in the U.S., after many months of showings at various festivals and film events. Plot The film takes the form of a mockument ...

'' (2007) *''

The Bird People in China is a 1998 Japanese comedy-drama film directed by Takashi Miike from a screenplay by his frequent collaborator Masa Nakamura. The film is considerably more mellow in tone compared to some of the director's more famous works. Plot When Mr. Okamu ...

'' (''Chûgoku no chôjin'') (1998) *''

Black Rain Black Rain may refer to: Phenomena * Black rain, rain polluted with dark particulates; such as those from wildfires, volcanic eruptions and explosions, and nuclear fallout. Film and television * ''Black Rain'' (1977 film) or ''The Last Wave' ...

'' (''Kuroi Ame'') (1989) *'' Blue Spring'' (''Aoi haru'') (2001) *'' Boiling Point'' (''3-4X jugatsu'') (1990) *''

Bounce ko gals is a 1997 Japanese crime drama film written and directed by Masato Harada. Its alternative English-language titles are ''Call Girls'' and ''Leaving''. Filmed in somewhat of a documentary style , it follows the course of three girls for a day and ...

'' (1998) *''

Branded to Kill is a 1967 Japanese yakuza film directed by Seijun Suzuki and starring Joe Shishido, Koji Nanbara, Annu Mari and Mariko Ogawa. The story follows contract killer Goro Hanada as he is recruited by a mysterious woman named Misako for a seemingly ...

'' (''Koroshi no Rakuin'') (1967) *'' Bright Future'' (''Akarui Mirai'') (2003) *''

Brother A brother is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to non-famil ...

'' (2000) *'' Bubble Fiction: Boom or Bust'' (2007) *'' The Burmese Harp'' aka ''Harp of Burma'' (''Biruma no tategoto'') (1956, with a remake in 1985)

C

*''

Casshern ''Casshan'', also known in Japan as , is an anime series created by Tatsunoko Productions founder Tatsuo Yoshida in 1973. The ''Casshern'' franchise also includes a 1993 original video animation titled '' Casshan: Robot Hunter'', and a 2004 ...

'' (2004) *''

Castle in the Sky , titled ''Laputa: Castle in the Sky'' for release in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, is a 1986 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The first film produced by Studio Ghibli, i ...

'' (''Tenkū no Shiro Rapyuta'') (1986) *''

The Castle of Cagliostro is a 1979 Japanese animated action-adventure comedy film co-written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, with animation produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS). It is the second feature film featuring Monkey Punch's master thief Arsène Lupin II ...

'' (''Rupan Sansei: Kariosutoro no Shiro'') (1979) *''

The Cat Returns is a 2002 Japanese animated fantasy film directed by Hiroyuki Morita, produced by Toshio Suzuki and Nozomu Takahashi, written by Reiko Yoshida, based on the manga '' The Cat Returns'' by Aoi Hiiragi, with music by Yuji Nomi, animated by St ...

'' (''Neko no Ongaeshi'') (2002) *'' Chushingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki'' (1962) *''

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler. ...

'' (1970) *''

Cruel Story of Youth is a 1960 Japanese film directed by Nagisa Ōshima, starring Yusuke Kawazu and Miyuki Kuwano as teenage delinquents and lovers. It is Ōshima's second feature film and is known for its elements of Japanese '' nuberu bagu''. The film won the 1960 ...

'' (''Seishun Zankoku Monogatari'') (1960) *''

Cure A cure is a substance or procedure that ends a medical condition, such as a medication, a surgical operation, a change in lifestyle or even a philosophical mindset that helps end a person's sufferings; or the state of being healed, or cured. The m ...

'' (1997) *''

Cutie Honey is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. First appearing in ''Weekly Shōnen Champions 41st issue of 1973, the series ran until April 1974. It follows an android girl named Honey Kisaragi, who trans ...

'' (2004)

D

*'' Dark Water'' (''Honogurai mizu no soko kara'') (2002) *''

Death Note ''Death Note'' (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. It was serialized in Shueisha's ''shōnen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from December 2003 to May ...

'' (2006) *''

Densha Otoko is a Japanese movie, television series, manga, novel, and other media, all based on the purportedly true story of a 23-year-old ''otaku'' who intervened when a drunk man started to harass several women on a train. The ''otaku'' ultimate ...

'' (2005) *''

Dersu Uzala Dersu Uzala (russian: Дерсу Узала; 1849–1908) was a Nanai trapper and hunter. He worked as a guide for Vladimir Arsenyev who immortalized him in his 1923 book ''Dersu Uzala''. The book was adapted into two feature films, with the v ...

'' (1975) *''

Destroy All Monsters is a 1968 Japanese Kaiju, ''kaiju'' film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. The film, which was produced and distributed by Toho, Toho Co., Ltd, is the ninth film in the Godzilla (franchise), ''Godzilla'' franchi ...

'' (''Kaijū Sōshingeki'') (1968) *''

Distance Distance is a numerical or occasionally qualitative measurement of how far apart objects or points are. In physics or everyday usage, distance may refer to a physical length or an estimation based on other criteria (e.g. "two counties over"). ...

'' (2001) *''

Dodesukaden is a 1970 Japanese drama film directed by Akira Kurosawa. The film stars Yoshitaka Zushi, Kin Sugai, Toshiyuki Tonomura, and Shinsuke Minami. It is based on Shūgorō Yamamoto's 1962 novel ''A City Without Seasons'' and is about a group of home ...

'' (1970) *''

Dogora is a 1964 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Studios, the film stars Yosuke Natsuki, Nobuo Nakamura, Hiroshi Koizumi, and Akiko Wakabayashi, along with Am ...

'' (1964) *''

Dolls A doll is a physical model, model typically of a human or humanoid character, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have also been used in traditional religious rituals throughout the world. Traditional dolls made of materials such as clay and ...

'' (2002) * ''Doraemon'' films *''

Double Suicide is a 1969 film directed by Masahiro Shinoda. It is based on the 1721 play ''The Love Suicides at Amijima'' by Monzaemon Chikamatsu. This play is often performed with puppets. In the film, the story is performed with live actors but makes use ...

'' (''Shinjû: Ten no amijima'') (1969) *''

Dreams A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. Humans spend about two hours dreaming per night, and each dream lasts around 5 to 20 minutes, althou ...

'' (''Yume'') (1990) *''

Drugstore Girl is a 2004 Japanese comedy film directed by the Japanese filmmaker Katsuhide Motoki about a young student who works in a convenience store, and five middle-aged men who develop crushes on her. The film is set in a rural town and features lacro ...

'' (2003) *''

Drunken Angel is a 1948 Japanese ''yakuza'' film directed by Akira Kurosawa. It is notable for being the first of sixteen film collaborations between director Kurosawa and actor Toshiro Mifune. Plot Sanada (Takashi Shimura) is an alcoholic doctor (the titu ...

'' (''Yoidore Tenshi'') (1948)

E

*'' Early Spring'' (1956) *''

Early Summer is a 1951 Japanese drama by Yasujirō Ozu. Like most of Ozu's post-war films, ''Early Summer'' deals with issues ranging from communication problems between generations to the rising role of women in post-war Japan. The plot concerns Noriko, who ...

'' (1951) *'' The Eel'' (1991) *''

Eros Plus Massacre is a Japanese black-and-white art film released in 1969. It was directed by Yoshishige Yoshida, who wrote it in cooperation with Masahiro Yamada. It is the first film in Yoshida's trilogy of Japanese radicalism, followed by ''Heroic Purgatory'' ...

'' (1970) *''

Equinox Flower is a 1958 color Japanese film directed by Yasujirō Ozu which is based on a novel by Ton Satomi. Plot Wataru Hirayama (Shin Saburi) is a wealthy Tokyo businessman. When an old schoolmate Mikami (Chishū Ryū) approaches him for help concerning ...

'' (1958) *''

Eureka Eureka (often abbreviated as E!, or Σ!) is an intergovernmental organisation for research and development funding and coordination. Eureka is an open platform for international cooperation in innovation. Organisations and companies applying th ...

'' (2000)

F

*''

The Family Game is a 1983 Japanese movie directed by Yoshimitsu Morita. ''The Family Game'' received several awards including the best movie of the year as selected by Japanese critics. Although the movie missed the Japan Academy Prize for the Best Picture ( ...

'' (1983) *''Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture'' (1973) *'' Fires on the Plain'' (''Nobi'') (1959) *''

The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice is a 1952 Japanese film directed by Yasujirō Ozu. The screenplay concerns a wealthy middle-aged couple (played by Shin Saburi and Michiyo Kogure) who have marital difficulties, and their niece who uses the couple's troubles as her excuse for no ...

'' (''

Ochazuke ''Chazuke'' ( 茶漬け, ちゃづけ) or ''ochazuke'' ( お茶漬け, from ( o)''cha'' 'tea' + ''tsuke'' 'submerge') is a simple Japanese dish made by pouring green tea,Floating Weeds is a 1959 Japanese drama directed by Yasujirō Ozu, starring Nakamura Ganjirō II and Machiko Kyō. It is a remake of Ozu's own black-and-white silent film '' A Story of Floating Weeds'' (1934) and considered one of the greatest films ever m ...

'' (''Ukikusa'') (1959) *''

Flying Phantom Ship :''See also Flying Phantom.'' is a 1969 anime feature film directed by Hiroshi Ikeda and produced by Toei Animation. It was one of the first anime films to be dubbed into Russian and shown in Soviet cinema theaters. The animation and design w ...

'' (1969) *'' The Funeral'' (''Ososhiki'') (1984)

G

*''

G@me ''Game'' (stylized ''G@me'') is a 2003 Japanese thriller film, based on a novel by Keigo Higashino. Plot Advertising executive Shunsuke Sakuma ( Naohito Fujiki) is at the top of his game. Winning numerous advertising awards, the cool Shunsuke l ...

'' (2003) *''

Gamera vs. Jiger is a 1970 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Noriaki Yuasa, written by Niisan Takahashi, and produced by Daiei Film. It is the sixth entry in the ''Gamera'' film series, following '' Gamera vs. Guiron'', which was released one year prior. ''G ...

'' (1970) *''

Gamera vs. Zigra is a 1971 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Noriaki Yuasa, written by Niisan Takahashi, and produced by Yoshihiko Manabe and Hidemasa Nagata. It is the seventh entry in the ''Gamera'' film series, after ''Gamera vs. Jiger'', which was relea ...

'' (1971) *''

Genius Party are two anthology films made up of 12 short animated films from Studio 4°C. It was envisioned to form a single release. Releases The first volume, containing seven shorts and entitled ''Genius Party'', was released on July 7, 2007. The seco ...

'' (2007) *''

Genius Party Beyond are two anthology films made up of 12 short animated films from Studio 4°C. It was envisioned to form a single release. Releases The first volume, containing seven shorts and entitled ''Genius Party'', was released on July 7, 2007. The seco ...

'' (2008) *''

Getting Any? is a 1995 Japanese film, written, directed, edited, and starring Takeshi Kitano. ''Yatteru'' (やってる) is the colloquial form for ''yatteiru'' (やっている), ''yatteru'' coming from the Japanese verb ''yaru'', which is an informal word m ...

'' (''Minnā, yatteru ka?'') (1995) *'' Get Up!'' (''Geroppa!'') (2003) *''

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster is a 1964 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the fifth film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise, and was the second ''Godzilla'' film produced ...

'' (1964) *''

Ghost in the Shell ''Ghost in the Shell'' is a Japanese cyberpunk media franchise based on the seinen manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. The manga, first serialized in 1989 under the subtitle of ''The Ghost in the Shell' ...

'' (1995) *''

Ghost Stories of Wanderer at Honjo (aka ''Seven Mysteries'') is a 1957 black-and-white, full screen Japanese film directed by Goro Katono. It is Japanese horror film (J-Horror Japanese horror is horror fiction derived from popular culture in Japan, generally noted for its uniq ...

'' (1957) *''

Glory to the Filmmaker! is a 2007 Japanese film written, directed, edited by the film's lead star Takeshi Kitano. It is the second film in Kitano's surrealist autobiographical trilogy, following '' Takeshis, and concluding with '' Achilles and the Tortoise''. Style T ...

'' (2007) *''

Gigantis, the Fire Monster is a 1955 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Motoyoshi Oda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho, Toho Co., Ltd., it is the second film in the Godzilla (franchise), ''Godzilla'' franchise. The film stars Hir ...

'' (1955) *'' Go'' (2001) *''

Go, Go Second Time Virgin is a 1969 Japanese film by Kōji Wakamatsu. Plot Poppo, a teenage girl, is raped by four boys on the roof of a seven-story apartment building. She asks them to kill her, but they mock her and leave. Tsukio, a teenage boy, has been watching the r ...

'' (1969) *''

Godzilla is a fictional monster, or '' kaiju'', originating from a series of Japanese films. The character first appeared in the 1954 film '' Godzilla'' and became a worldwide pop culture icon, appearing in various media, including 32 films produ ...

'' (1954) *'' Godzilla vs. Biollante'' (1989) *'' Godzilla vs. Destoroyah'' (1995) *'' Godzilla vs. Gigan'' (1972) *''

Godzilla vs. Hedorah is a 1971 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Yoshimitsu Banno, co-written by Banno and Takeshi Kimura, and produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd. It is the 11th film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise, and features the fictional monster charac ...

'' (1971) *''

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah is a 1991 Japanese ''kaiju'' film written and directed by Kazuki Ōmori and produced by Shōgo Tomiyama. The film, produced and distributed by Toho Studios, is the 18th film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise, and is the third film in the franch ...

'' (1991) *''

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla is a 1974 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Jun Fukuda, with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano. Distributed by Toho and produced under their effects subsidiary Toho–Eizo, it is the 14th film of the ''Godzilla'' franchise, and features ...

'' (1974) *''

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II , is a 1993 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Takao Okawara, written by Wataru Mimura, and produced by Shōgo Tomiyama. Produced and distributed by Toho Studios, it is the 20th film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise, as well as the fifth film ...

'' (1993) *'' Godzilla vs. Megalon'' (1973) *''

Godzilla vs. Mothra is a 1992 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Takao Okawara, written by Kazuki Ōmori, and produced by Shogo Tomiyama. Produced and distributed by Toho Studios, it is the 19th film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise, and is the fourth film in th ...

'' (1992) *''

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla is a 1994 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Kensho Yamashita, written by Hiroshi Kashiwabara, and produced by Shōgo Tomiyama. Produced and distributed by Toho Studios, it is the 21st film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise, as well as the sixth ...

'' (1994) *''

Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster is a 1966 Japanese '' kaiju'' film directed by Jun Fukuda and produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd. The film stars Akira Takarada, Kumi Mizuno, Akihiko Hirata and Eisei Amamoto, and features the fictional monster characters Godzilla, Moth ...

'' (aka ''Ebirah, Horror of the Deep'') (1966) *'' Godzilla: Final Wars'' (2004) *'' Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle'' (2000) *''

Good Morning "Good morning" is a common greeting in the English language. It may also refer to: Television * ''Good Morning!!!'' (Australian show), a children's show * ''Good Morning'' (New Zealand show), a daytime talk show * ''Good Morning'' (Russian ...

'' (''Ohayō'') (1959) *''

Gonin ''Gonin'' ( ja, ゴニン (５人) or, in some English-language editions, ''The Five'') is a 1995 crime film directed by Takashi Ishii and starring Takeshi Kitano, Kōichi Satō and Masahiro Motoki. This was the first film Kitano starred in ...

'' (1995) *''

Gorath is a 1962 Japanese epic science fiction disaster film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Based on an idea by Jojiro Okami, the film is about mankind's efforts to move Earth out of its orbit to prevent it from ...

'' (1962) *''

Gozu is a 2003 Japanese horror comedy crime film directed by Takashi Miike and written by Sakichi Sato. The film blends yakuza stories with ghost stories, bizarre vignettes, and urban legends. Plot Ozaki (Aikawa), a mentally unstable yakuza, kills ...

'' (2003) *''

Grave of the Fireflies is a 1988 Japanese animated war tragedy film based on a 1967 short story by Akiyuki Nosaka. It was written and directed by Isao Takahata, and animated by Studio Ghibli for Shinchosha Publishing. The film stars , , and . Set in the city ...

'' (''Hotaru no Haka'') (1988)

H

*''

Hana-bi , released in the United States as ''Fireworks'', is a 1997 Japanese crime drama film written, directed and edited by Takeshi Kitano, who also stars in it. The film's score was composed by Joe Hisaishi in his fourth collaboration with Kitano. i ...

'' (1997) *''

The Happiness of the Katakuris is a 2001 Japanese musical comedy horror film directed by Takashi Miike, with screenplay by Kikumi Yamagishi. It is loosely based on the South Korean film ''The Quiet Family''. The film is a surreal horror-comedy in the farce tradition, which i ...

'' (''Katakuri-ke no kōfuku'') (2001) *''

Harakiri , sometimes referred to as hara-kiri (, , a native Japanese kun reading), is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. It was originally reserved for samurai in their code of honour but was also practised by other Japanese people ...

'' (1962) *''

Helen the Baby Fox is a 2006 Japanese film. It was directed by director Keita Kono, and stars actors Takao Osawa, Yasuko Matsuyuki, Arashi Fukasawa and Ryoko Kobayashi in lead roles. It was released in Japanese cinemas on 18 March 2006. ''Helen the Baby Fox'' ...

'' (''Kogitsune Helen'') (2006) *''

The Hidden Fortress is a 1958 Japanese ''jidaigeki'' adventure film directed by Akira Kurosawa. It tells the story of two peasants who agree to escort a man and a woman across enemy lines in return for gold without knowing that he is a general and the woman is a pri ...

'' (''Kakushi toride no san akunin'') (1958) *'' High and Low'' (''Tengoku to jigoku'') (1963) *''

Himitsu ''Naoko'' is a novel by Keigo Higashino. The original title is . The novel won the 52nd Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Best Novel. The story centers on a man whose wife and daughter are in a terrible accident; the wife dies, but when the daug ...

'' (1999) *'' Hols: Prince of the Sun'' (''Taiyō no Ōji: Horusu no Daibōken'') (1968) *''

House of Himiko , also known internationally as ''La Maison de Himiko'', is a 2005 Japanese film directed by Isshin Inudo and starring Kō Shibasaki as Saori, Min Tanaka as Saori's father Himiko, and Joe Odagiri as Haruhiko, Himiko's lover. The film was shown ...

'' (''Mezon do Himiko'', ''La Maison de Himiko'') (2005) *''

Howl's Moving Castle ''Howl's Moving Castle'' is a fantasy novel by British author Diana Wynne Jones, first published in 1986 by Greenwillow Books of New York. It was a runner-up for the annual Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and won the Phoenix Award twenty years ...

'' (''Hauru no ugoku shiro'') (2004) *''

The Human Condition ''The Human Condition'', first published in 1958, is Hannah Arendt's account of how "human activities" should be and have been understood throughout Western history. Arendt is interested in the ''vita activa'' (active life) as contrasted with t ...

'' trilogy (1959–61) *''

Humanity and Paper Balloons is a 1937 Japanese jidaigeki film directed by Sadao Yamanaka. It was Yamanaka's last film before his death. Plot The film is set in feudal Japan during the 18th century, an era known as the Edo period. It depicts the struggles and schemes of Ma ...

'' (''Ninjo Kami Fusen'') (1937)

I

*''

I.K.U. ''I.K.U.'' (pronounced ''ai-kei-ju'', abbreviated as ''iku'' ) is a 2001 independent film directed by Taiwanese-American experimental filmmaker Shu Lea Cheang. It was marketed as "a Japanese Sci-Fi Porn Feature". The film was partially inspi ...

'' (2001) *'' I Can Hear the Sea'' (''Umi ga Kikoeru'') (1993) *''

I Like You, I Like You Very Much is a 1994 Japanese ''pink film'' written and directed by Hiroyuki Oki, depicting gay life in Japan. It won the Silver Prize at the 1994 Pink Grand Prix ceremony. Filmmaker/actor Hiroyuki Oki was also given a Best New Director award for the film. ...

'' (''Anata-ga suki desu, dai suki desu'') (1994) *'' Ichi the Killer'' (''Koroshiya Ichi'') (2001) *''

The Idiot ''The Idiot'' ( pre-reform Russian: ; post-reform rus, Идиот, Idiót) is a novel by the 19th-century Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was first published serially in the journal ''The Russian Messenger'' in 1868–69. The title is an ...

'' (''Hakuchi'') (1951) *''

Ikiru is a 1952 Japanese drama film directed and co-written (with Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni) by Akira Kurosawa. The film examines the struggles of a terminally ill Tokyo bureaucrat (played by Takashi Shimura) and his final quest for meaning. T ...

'' (1952) *''

In the Realm of the Senses ''In the Realm of the Senses'' (french: link=no, L'Empire des sens, Japanese: , ''Ai no Korīda'', "Bullfight of Love") is a 1976 erotic art film written and directed by Nagisa Ōshima. It is a fictionalised and sexually explicit treatment of a ...

'' (''Ai no Corrida'') (1976) *'' Innocence: Ghost in the Shell'' (2004) *''

Inochi is a 2002 Japanese movie directed by Shinohara Tetsuo starring Esumi Makiko and Etsushi Toyokawa. It is based on a memoir of the same title by the Korean-Japanese author Yu Miri. Plot summary Yu Miri (Esumi) is a writer who's just become p ...

'' (2002 ) *'' It's Only Talk'' (2005) *''

The Insect Woman is a 1963 Japanese drama film directed by Shōhei Imamura. It was entered into the 14th Berlin International Film Festival, where Sachiko Hidari won the Silver Bear for Best Actress award. It was also awarded numerous national film prizes. P ...

'' (1963) *''

Invasion of Astro-Monster is a 1965 ''kaiju'' film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. It is the sixth film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise and Shōwa period. The film was a Japanese-American co-production; it was the second collaboration b ...

'' (1965) *''

Izo ''IZO'' is a 2004 Japanese film directed by Takashi Miike. The main character of the film is Izo Okada (1832–1865), the historical samurai and assassin in 19th-century Japan who was tortured and executed by beheading in Tosa Domain, Tosa. Izo ...

'' (2004)

J

*''

Jam Films ''Jam Films'' and its sequels are collections of short films, each by a different Japanese director. ''Jam Films'' ''Jam Films'' is a 2002 suite of 7 shorts produced by Sega/ Amuse (various production companies participated in the production of th ...

'' (2002) *'' Jam Films 2'' (2003) *'' Jam Films S'' (2005) *''

Jin-Roh , also known as ''Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade'' in its American release, is a 1999 Japanese action political thriller anime film directed by Hiroyuki Okiura (in his directorial debut) and written by Mamoru Oshii. ''Jin-Roh'' is the third film in Os ...

'' (1999) *'' Ju-on'' *''

Justice Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...

'' (2002)

K

*''

Kagemusha is a 1980 jidaigeki film directed by Akira Kurosawa. It is set in the Sengoku period of Japanese history and tells the story of a lower-class criminal who is taught to impersonate the dying ''daimyō'' Takeda Shingen to dissuade opposing lords f ...

'' (1980) *'' Kairo'' (2001) *'' Kamen Rider: The First'' (2005) *'' Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love'' (2006) *''

Kanto Wanderer is a 1963 Japanese yakuza film directed by Seijun Suzuki and starring Akira Kobayashi, Chieko Matsubara, Daizaburo Hirata and Hiroko Itō. It was a programme picture produced by the Nikkatsu Company to fill out the second half of a double bill ...

'' (1963) *''

Kids Return is a 1996 Japanese film written, edited and directed by Takeshi Kitano. The film was made directly after Kitano recovered from a motorcycle wreck that left one side of his body paralyzed. After undergoing extensive surgery and physical therapy, h ...

'' (1996) *''

Kiki's Delivery Service is a 1989 Japanese animated fantasy film written, produced, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, adapted from the 1985 novel by Eiko Kadono. It was animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten, Yamato Transport (which licensed the trademark for th ...

'' (''Majo no Takkyūbin'') (1989) *''

Kikujiro ''Kikujiro'' () is a 1999 Japanese road drama film starring, written, and directed by Takeshi Kitano. Its score was composed by Joe Hisaishi. The film was entered into the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. ''Kikujiro'' tells the story of a young boy sea ...

'' (1999) *''

King Kong vs. Godzilla is a 1962 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd, it is the third film in both the ''Godzilla'' and ''King Kong'' franchises, as well as the first T ...

'' (1962) *''

Kwaidan is a Japanese word consisting of two kanji: 怪 (''kai'') meaning "strange, mysterious, rare, or bewitching apparition" and 談 (''dan'') meaning "talk" or "recited narrative". Overall meaning and usage In its broadest sense, ''kaidan'' refer ...

'' (1964) *''

Kagen no Tsuki is a Japanese three-volume ''shōjo'' manga series by Ai Yazawa. It was first published in ''Ribon'', a manga magazine primarily read by teenage girls. In 2004 it was adapted into a live-action movie. The film was released in the United St ...

'' (2004)

L

*''

Lady Joker is a 2004 Japanese film directed by Hideyuki Hirayama, based on a story by Kaoru Takamura. Cast * Tetsuya Watari as Seizo Monoi * Satoshi Tokushige as Yuichiro Gouda * Koji Kikkawa as Shuhei Handa * Jun Kunimura as Satoru Hirose * Ren Osugi as Ju ...

'' (2004) *''

Lady Sazen and the Drenched Swallow Sword (also known as Left Fencer) is a 1969 Japanese samurai drama and action film, directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda. Michiyo Okusu plays the role of the one-eyed, one-armed swords-woman O-kin. This film follows in the series of films about Tange Sazen, b ...

'' (''On'na hidarizen nuretsubame katate kiri'') (1969) *'' The Last Dance'' (''Daibyonin'') (1993) *'' Late Autumn'' (''Akibiyori'') (1960) *''

Late Chrysanthemums is a 1954 Japanese drama film directed by Mikio Naruse. It follows four retired geisha and their struggles to make ends meet in post World War II Japan. The film is based on three short stories by female author Fumiko Hayashi. Plot ''Late Ch ...

'' *''

Late Spring is a 1949 Japanese drama film directed by Yasujirō Ozu and written by Ozu and Kogo Noda, based on the short novel ''Father and Daughter'' (''Chichi to musume'') by the 20th-century novelist and critic Kazuo Hirotsu. The film was written and s ...

'' (''Banshun'') (1949) *'' La Maison de Himiko'' aka ''Mezon do Himiko'', ''House of Himiko'' (2005) *''

Legendary Crocodile, Jake and His Friends Legendary may refer to: * Legend, a folklore genre * Legendary (hagiography) ** Anjou Legendarium * J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium Film and television * ''Legendary'' (film), a 2010 American sports drama film * ''Legendary'', a 2013 film fea ...

'' *''

The Life of Oharu is a 1952 Japanese historical fiction film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi from a screenplay by Yoshikata Yoda. It stars Kinuyo Tanaka as Oharu, a one-time concubine of a ''daimyō'' (and mother of a later ''daimyō'') who struggles to escape the s ...

'' (1952) *''

Longinus Longinus () is the name given to the unnamed Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus with a lance and who in medieval and some modern Christian traditions is described as a convert to Christianity. His name first appeared in the apocryphal G ...

'' (2004) *''

Love & Pop is a 1998 Japanese experimental coming-of-age film directed and co-written by Hideaki Anno, based on the novel ''Topaz II'' by Ryū Murakami''.'' It was Anno's first live action feature-length film. The film was shot almost entirely on hand-held ...

'' (1998) *'' Love Is Strength'' (1930) *''

Love Letter A love letter is an expression of love in written form. However delivered, the letter may be anything from a short and simple message of love to a lengthy explanation and description of feelings. History One of the oldest references to a l ...

'' (1995) *''

The Lower Depths ''The Lower Depths'' (russian: На дне, translit=Na dne, literally: ''At the bottom'') is a play by Russian dramatist Maxim Gorky written in 1902 and produced by the Moscow Arts Theatre on December 18, 1902 under the direction of Konstantin S ...

'' (1957) *'' Lupin III: The Mystery of Mamo'' (1978)

M

*''

Maborosi ''Maborosi'', known in Japan as , is a 1995 Japanese drama film by director Hirokazu Kore-eda starring Makiko Esumi, Tadanobu Asano, and Takashi Naito. It is based on a novel by Teru Miyamoto. The film won a Golden Osella Award for Best Cinemato ...

'' (1995) *''

Maiko Haaaan!!! is a Japanese comedy film released in 2007. Hitoshi Ueki made his final film appearance in the film. Plot Kimihiko Onizuka (Sadao Abe) is a salaryman infatuated with maiko (apprentice geisha) and whose greatest goal in life is to play a party gam ...

'' (2007) *''

The Makioka Sisters is a novel by Japanese writer Jun'ichirō Tanizaki that was serialized from 1943 to 1948. It follows the lives of the wealthy Makioka family of Osaka from the autumn of 1936 to April 1941, focusing on the family's attempts to find a husband fo ...

'' (1983) *''

Matango is a 1963 Japanese horror film directed by Ishirō Honda. The film stars Akira Kubo, Kumi Mizuno and Kenji Sahara. It is partially based on William Hope Hodgson's short story " The Voice in the Night" and is about a group of castaways on an ...

(1963) *''

Memories Memory is the faculty of the mind by which data or information is encoded, stored, and retrieved when needed. It is the retention of information over time for the purpose of influencing future action. If past events could not be remembered, ...

'' (1995) *''

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence , also known in many European editions as , is a 1983 war film co-written and directed by Nagisa Ōshima, co-written by Paul Mayersberg, and produced by Jeremy Thomas. The film is based on the experiences of Sir Laurens van der Post (portra ...

'' (1983) *''

Metropolis A metropolis () is a large city or conurbation which is a significant economic, political, and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections, commerce, and communications. A big c ...

'' (2001) *'' Mezon do Himiko'' aka ''House of Himiko'', ''La Maison de Himiko'' (2005) *''

Millennium Actress is a 2001 Japanese animated drama film co-written and directed by Satoshi Kon and produced by Madhouse. Loosely based on the lives of actresses Setsuko Hara and Hideko Takamine, it tells the story of two documentary filmmakers investigating t ...

'' (2001) *''

Minbo is a 1992 Japanese film by filmmaker Juzo Itami. It is also known by the titles ''Minbo: the Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion'', ''The Gangster's Moll'' and ''The Anti-Extortion Woman''. The film was widely popular in Japan and a critical succe ...

'' (1992) *''

Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors is the first Japanese feature-length animated film. It was directed by Mitsuyo Seo, who was ordered to make a propaganda film for World War II by the Japanese Naval Ministry. Shochiku Moving Picture Laboratory shot the 74-minute film in 1944 and ...

'' (1945) *'' Moon Child'' (2003) *''

Mothra vs. Godzilla is a 1964 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the fourth film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise. The film stars Akira Takarada, Yuriko Hosh ...

'' (1964) *'' Mura no Shashinshuu'' *''

My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten. The film—which stars the voice actors Noriko Hidaka, Chika Sakamoto, and Hitoshi Takagi—tells the stor ...

'' (''Tonari no Totoro'') (1988)

N

*'' Naked Blood'' (1996) *''

The Naked Island ''The Naked Island'' ( ja, text=裸の島, translit=Hadaka no Shima) is a Japanese black-and-white film from 1960, directed by Kaneto Shindō. The film is notable for having almost no spoken dialogue. Plot The film depicts a small family, a husb ...

'' (1960) *''

Nana Nana, Nanna, Na Na or NANA may refer to: People and fictional characters * Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name * Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname * Nana ( ...

'' (2005) *''

Nana 2 ''Nana 2'' is a 2006 Japanese drama film directed by Kentarō Ōtani and adapted from the manga by Ai Yazawa. It is the sequel to the 2005 film '' Nana''. Production for the movie began in mid-September and only one and a half month shootings f ...

'' (2006) *'' Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind'' (''Kaze no tani no Naushika'') (1984) *''

Night and Fog in Japan is a 1960 Japanese film directed by Nagisa Ōshima. It is an intensely political film both in subject matter (Zengakuren opposition in 1950 and 1960 to the Anpo treaty) and in thematic concerns such as political memory and the interpersonal dynam ...

'' (''Nihon no yoru to kiri'') (1960) *''

Nobody Knows Nobody Knows may refer to: Film and television Film * ''Nobody Knows'' (1920 film), a German silent drama film * ''Nobody Knows'' (1970 film), a South Korean film * ''Nobody Knows'' (2004 film), a Japanese film Television * ''Nobody Knows'' (TV ...

'' (''Dare mo shiranai'') (2004) *'' Norwegian Wood'' (''Noruwei no mori'') (2010)

O

*''

One Missed Call One Missed Call may refer to: * ''One Missed Call'' (2003 film), a Japanese horror film, followed by two sequels * ''One Missed Call'' (2008 film), an American remake of the Japanese film * ''One Missed Call'' (TV series), a Japanese television ...

'' (''Chakushin Ari'') (2003) *''

One Missed Call 2 is a 2005 Japanese horror film that is the sequel to the 2004 J-Horror film '' One Missed Call''. Plot Kindergarten teacher Kyoko Okudera's friend Madoka Uchiyama invites her to dinner at a Chinese restaurant, where Kyoko's boyfriend, Naoto Sa ...

'' (''Chakushin Ari 2'') (2005) *'' One Missed Call: Final'' (''Chakushin Ari Final'') (2006) *'' Onibaba'' (1964) *'' Only Yesterday'' (''Omohide poro poro'') (1991) *'' Onmyoji'' (2001) *'' Onmyoji II'' (2003) *''

Otoko wa Tsurai yo is a Japanese film series starring Kiyoshi Atsumi as , a kind-hearted vagabond who is always unlucky in love. The series itself is often referred to as "Tora-san" by its fans. Spanning 48 installments released between 1969 and 1995, all of the ...

'' (1969-95) *''

Otoko-tachi no Yamato is a 2005 Cinema of Japan, Japanese war film. It was directed by Junya Satō and is based on a book by Jun Henmi. With a framing story set in the present day, by flashbacks it tells the story of the crew of the World War II Japanese battleship ...

'' (2005)

P

*''

Paprika Paprika ( US , ; UK , ) is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers. It is traditionally made from '' Capsicum annuum'' varietals in the Longum group, which also includes chili peppers, but the peppers used for paprika tend to be milder ...

'' (2006) *''

Perfect Blue is a 1997 Japanese animated psychological thriller film directed by Satoshi Kon. It is based on the novel by Yoshikazu Takeuchi, with a screenplay written by Sadayuki Murai. Featuring the voices of Junko Iwao, Rica Matsumoto, Shiho Niiy ...

'' (1997) *''

Pistol Opera is a 2001 Japanese film directed by Seijun Suzuki and starring Makiko Esumi. Storyline The film's main character, Miyuki Minazuki, ranked number three in The Assassins Guild, is known as the "Stray Cat". A stoic and deadly woman, she is forc ...

'' (2001) *''

Pom Poko Pom or POM may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Pom (comics) (1919–2014), a Belgian comic strip writer and artist * Baby Pom, a fictional character in the British television programme '' Fimbles'' * Pom, a character in the video game ''Them's ...

'' (''Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko'') (1994) *''

Ponyo is a 2008 Anime, Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, animated by Studio Ghibli for the Nippon Television Network, Dentsu, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Buena Vista Home En ...

'' (''Gake no Ue no Ponyo'') (2008) *''

Porco Rosso is a 1992 Japanese animated adventure-fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It is based on ''Hikōtei Jidai'' ("The Age of the Flying Boat"), a three-part 1989 watercolor manga by Miyazaki. It stars the voices of Shūichirō Mo ...

'' (''Kurenai no Buta'') (1992) *''

Princess Mononoke is a 1997 Japanese animated epic historical fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network and Dentsu. The film stars the voices of Yōji Matsuda, Yuriko Ish ...

'' (''Mononoke Hime'') (1997) *''

Princess Raccoon is a 2005 Japanese film directed by Seijun Suzuki. The "raccoon" of the English title is actually a translation for the tanuki or Japanese raccoon-dog. It is a love story set in the musical genre and stars Zhang Ziyi as a tanuki princess and J ...

'' (''Operetta Tanuki Goten'') (2005)

Q

*''

Quill A quill is a writing tool made from a moulted flight feather (preferably a primary wing-feather) of a large bird. Quills were used for writing with ink before the invention of the dip pen, the metal- nibbed pen, the fountain pen, and, event ...

'' (2004) *''

Queer Boys and Girls on the Shinkansen ''Queer Boys and Girls on the Shinkansen'' is a 2004 Japanese movie produced by habakari-cinema+records. The English title is ''Queer Boys and Girls on the Bullet Train''. Description Queer Boys and Girls on the Shinkansen brings together ten f ...

'' (2004)

R

*''

Ran Ran, RaN and ran may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Ran'' (film), a 1985 film directed by Akira Kurosawa * "Ran" (song), a 2013 Japanese song by Luna Sea * ''Ran Online'', a 2004 MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game) *' ...

'' (1985) *'' Rasen'' (1998) *''

Rashomon is a 1950 Jidaigeki psychological thriller/crime film directed and written by Akira Kurosawa, working in close collaboration with cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa. Starring Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyō, Masayuki Mori, and Takashi Shimura as va ...

'' (1950) *''

Red Beard is a 1965 Japanese ''jidaigeki'' film co-written, edited, and directed by Akira Kurosawa, in his last collaboration with actor Toshiro Mifune. Based on Shūgorō Yamamoto's 1959 short story collection, '' Akahige Shinryōtan'', the film takes pl ...

'' (''Akahige'') (1965) *'' Repast'' (1951) *''

The Return of Godzilla is a 1984 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Koji Hashimoto, with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano. The film features the fictional monster character Godzilla. Distributed by Toho and produced under their subsidiary Toho Pictures, it is t ...

'' (1984) *''

Returner is a 2002 Japanese science fiction film directed by Takashi Yamazaki and starring Anne Suzuki and Takeshi Kaneshiro. Plot Milly is a soldier from 2084, where humanity is on the verge of extinction because of the "Daggra", an alien race. In man ...

'' (2002) *''

Ring Ring may refer to: * Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry * To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell :(hence) to initiate a telephone connection Arts, entertainment and media Film and ...

'' (1998) *'' Ring 0: Birthday'' (2000) *''

Ring 2 is a 1999 Japanese supernatural horror film, directed by Hideo Nakata and serves as a sequel to '' Ring''. ''Ring'' was originally a novel written by Koji Suzuki; its sequel, ''Rasen'' (a.k.a. ''Spiral''), was also adapted into a film as the s ...

'' (1999) *'' Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise'' (1987) *''

Ryu ga Gotoku ''Yakuza'', also known as is a Japanese video game franchise created, owned and published by Sega. The franchise incorporates elements of the action-adventure, beat 'em up, and Role-playing video game, role-playing genres. The storyline prem ...

'' (2007) *''

Ringing Bell is a 1978 Japanese anime adventure-drama film adaptation of the storybook of the same name written by Takashi Yanase, the creator of '' Anpanman''. It is most notable by fans and critics as a family film which makes a sharp, sudden turn into a ...

'' (1978)

S

*''

Salaryman Kintarō is a Japanese manga series by Hiroshi Motomiya. It was serialized in Shueisha's ''seinen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Young Jump'' from 1994 to 2002, with many periods of inactivity during its run. Salary Man Kintaro had sold over 30 milli ...

'' (1999) *''

Samurai I is a 1954 Japanese film directed and co-written by Hiroshi Inagaki and starring Toshiro Mifune. The film is the first film of Inagaki's ''Samurai Trilogy'' of historical adventures. The film is adapted from Eiji Yoshikawa's novel '' Musashi'', ...

'' (1954) *'' Samurai II'' (1955) *'' Samurai III'' (1956) *''

Sanjuro is a 1962 black-and-white Japanese ''jidaigeki'' film directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune. It is a sequel to Kurosawa's 1961 ''Yojimbo''. Originally an adaptation of the Shūgorō Yamamoto novel ''Hibi Heian'', the script ...

'' (''Tsubaki Sanjūrō'') (1962) *''

Sanshiro Sugata is a 1943 Japanese martial arts drama film and the directorial debut of the Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa. First released in Japan on 25 March 1943 by Toho film studios, the film was eventually released in the United States on 28 April ...

'' (1943) *''

Sansho the Bailiff is a 1954 Japanese period film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. Based on a 1915 short story of the same name by Mori Ōgai (usually translated as "Sanshō the Steward" in English), which in turn was based on a folktale, it follows two aristocratic ...

'' (1954) *''

A Scene at the Sea is a 1991 Japanese drama film written, edited and directed by Takeshi Kitano starring Claude Maki. Plot A deaf garbage collector happens upon a broken and discarded surfboard. The discovery plants in him dreams of becoming a surf champion. En ...

'' (1991) *''

The Sea Is Watching is a 2002 Japanese romance film directed by Kei Kumai, based on a screenplay by Akira Kurosawa. Cast * Misa Shimizu – Kikuno * Nagiko Tōno – Oshin * Masatoshi Nagase – Ryosuke * Hidetaka Yoshioka is a Japanese actor known for his p ...

'' (2002) *''

Seven Samurai is a 1954 Japanese epic samurai drama film co-written, edited, and directed by Akira Kurosawa. The story takes place in 1586 during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. It follows the story of a village of desperate farmers who hire seven ...

'' (1954) *'' Shall We Dance?'' (1996) *''

Shiki-Jitsu is a 2000 art film written and directed by Hideaki Anno. The film is Anno's second live-action feature. The screenplay is an adaption of Ayako Fujitani's novella ''Tōhimu'', which was inspired by an emotionally difficult time in Los Angeles ...

(2000) *''

Shimotsuma Monogatari ''Kamikaze Girls'', originally released in Japan as , is a 2002 Japanese light novel written by Novala Takemoto. The story centers on the friendship between two students named Momoko Ryugasaki and Ichigo "Ichiko" Shirayuri. These two are fro ...

'' (aka ''Kamikaze Girls'') (2004) *''

Sky High Sky High or Skyhigh may refer to: Business * Sky High Aviation Services, an airline based in the Dominican Republic Film and television * ''Sky High'' (1922 film), an American silent film * ''Sky High'' (1951 film), a US Air Force comedy wit ...

'' (2003) *''

Son of Godzilla is a 1967 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Jun Fukuda, with special effects by Sadamasa Arikawa, under the supervision of Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd, it is the eighth film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise. It s ...

'' (1967) *'' Sonatine'' (1993) *''

Spirited Away is a 2001 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network, Dentsu, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Tohokushinsha Film, and Mitsubishi and dist ...

'' (''Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi'') (2001) *''

Spring Snow is a novel by Yukio Mishima, the first in his Sea of Fertility tetralogy. It was published serially in ''Shinchō'' from 1965 to 1967, and then in book form in 1969. Mishima did extensive research, including visits to Enshō-ji in Nara, to ...

'' (2005) *''

Steamboy is a 2004 Japanese animated steampunk action film produced by Sunrise, directed and co-written by Katsuhiro Otomo, his second major anime release as a director, following '' Akira'' (1988). The film was released in Japan by Toho on July 17, 2 ...

'' (2004) *''

Stray Dog A free-ranging dog is a dog that is not confined to a yard or house. Free-ranging dogs include street dogs, village dogs, stray dogs, feral dogs, etc., and may be owned or unowned. The global dog population is estimated to be 900 million, of w ...

'' (''Nora-inu'') (1949) *'' Suicide Club'' (''Jisatsu Sākuru'') (2000) *''

Suicide Manual is a 2003 film directed by Fukutani Osamu. The movie follows Yū (played by Kenji Mizuhashi), a cameraman who works for a small TV station. He and his assistant Rie (Chisato Morishita) are sent by their superior, Keita ( Hideo Sakaki), to inve ...

'' (2003) *'' Sukiyaki Western: Django'' (2007) *'' Sun Scarred'' (2006) *''

Supermarket Woman is a 1996 Japanese comedy romance film written and directed by Juzo Itami. The film stars Juzo's wife and regular leading-lady Nobuko Miyamoto as a woman who is hired by a failing supermarket to help it compete against an aggressive local rival ...

'' (1996) *''

Survive Style 5+ ''Survive Style 5+'' is a 2004 Japanese film directed by Gen Sekiguchi and produced by Hiroyuki Taniguchi. It stars Tadanobu Asano, Kyōko Koizumi, Reika Hashimoto, Jai West, Sonny Chiba and Vinnie Jones. Synopsis The film follows five simulta ...

'' (2004) *''

Swallowtail Butterfly Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the larges ...

'' (1996) *''

Swing Girls is a Japanese 2004 teen comedy film directed and co-written by Shinobu Yaguchi. The plot follows a group of inept high school girls who form a big band. The cast includes Juri Ueno, Yuta Hiraoka, Shihori Kanjiya, Yuika Motokariya and Yukari T ...

'' (2004) *''

Sword of Alexander A sword is an edged and bladed weapons, edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter ...

'' (2007) *''

The Sword of Doom ''The Sword of Doom'', known in Japan as , is a 1966 Japanese ''jidaigeki'' film directed by Kihachi Okamoto and starring Tatsuya Nakadai. It is based on the serial novel of the same title by Kaizan Nakazato. Plot The story follows the life of Ryu ...

'' (1966)

T

*''

Taboo A taboo or tabu is a social group's ban, prohibition, or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, sacred, or allowed only for certain persons.''Encyclopædia Britannic ...

'' (''Gohatto'') (1999) *''

Takeshis' ''Takeshis'' is a 2005 Japanese film directed, written, edited by, and starring Takeshi Kitano. It is the first film in Kitano's surrealist autobiographical trilogy, being followed by ''Glory to the Filmmaker!'', and '' Achilles and the Tortoise'' ...

'' (2005) *''

The Tale of the White Serpent The Legend of the White Snake is a Chinese legend. It has since been presented in a number of major Chinese operas, films, and television series. The earliest attempt to fictionalize the story in printed form appears to be ''The White Maiden L ...

'' (1958) *''

Tales from Earthsea ''Tales from Earthsea'' is a collection of fantasy stories and essays by American author Ursula K. Le Guin, published by Harcourt in 2001. It accompanies five novels (1968 to 2001) set in the fictional archipelago Earthsea. . Retrieved 2012-02- ...

'' (2006) *'' Tales of a Golden Geisha'' (1990) *''

Tampopo is a 1985 Japanese comedy film written and directed by Juzo Itami, and starring Tsutomu Yamazaki, Nobuko Miyamoto, Kōji Yakusho, and Ken Watanabe. The publicity for the film calls it the first "ramen western", a play on the term Spaghetti W ...

'' (1985) *''

The Taste of Tea is the third film by Japanese writer and director Katsuhito Ishii. It has been referred to as a " surreal" version of Ingmar Bergman's '' Fanny and Alexander'' (1982). It was a selection of the Cannes Film Festival. Synopsis The film follows the ...

'' (2004) *''

Tattooed Life is a 1965 yakuza action movie directed by Seijun Suzuki. The film stars Hideki Takahashi as "Silver Fox" Tetsu. The story follows the flight of yakuza hitman Tetsu and his younger, artistic brother Kenji after the latter kills a yakuza boss in a ...

'' (''Irezumi ichidai'') (1965) *''

A Taxing Woman is a 1987 Japanese film written and directed by Juzo Itami. It won numerous awards, including six major Japanese Academy awards. The title character of the film, played by Nobuko Miyamoto, is a tax investigator for the Japanese National Tax Age ...

'' (''Marusa no onna'') (1987) *''

A Taxing Woman 2 is a 1988 Japanese comedy film written and directed by Juzo Itami. It is the sequel to Itami's 1987 comedy ''A Taxing Woman''. Nobuko Miyamoto plays female government tax investigator Ryoko Itakura. She investigates a religious sect, led by Te ...

'' (1988) *'' Tenshi'' (2005) *''

Terror of Mechagodzilla is a 1975 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Ishirō Honda (his final film as a director), written by Yukiko Takayama, and produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka and Henry G. Saperstein, with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano. Distributed by Toho and pr ...

'' (1975) *'' Tetsuo: The Iron Man'' (1989) *'' Tetsuo II: Body Hammer'' (1992) *''

Throne of Blood is a 1957 Japanese ''jidaigeki'' film co-written, produced, edited, and directed by Akira Kurosawa, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. The film transposes the plot of William Shakespeare's play ''Macbeth'' from Medieval Scotland to feudal J ...

'' (''Kumonosu-jō '') (1957) *'' Tokyo Decadence'' aka ''Topaz'' (''Topāzu'') (1992) *''

Tokyo Eyes ''Tokyo Eyes'' is a 1998 French-Japanese romantic thriller film directed by Jean-Pierre Limosin and starring Shinji Takeda and Hinano Yoshikawa. It was selected for the 1998 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard category. Plot K (Shinji Ta ...

'' (1998) *''

Tokyo Godfathers is a 2003 Japanese animated tragicomedy adventure film written and directed by Satoshi Kon. The film stars live-action actors such as Toru Emori, Yoshiaki Umegaki, and Aya Okamoto as the lead voice actors. Kon was inspired by the 1948 American ...

'' (2003) *''

Tokyo Story is a 1953 Japanese drama film directed by Yasujirō Ozu and starring Chishū Ryū and Chieko Higashiyama about an aging couple who travel to Tokyo to visit their grown children. Upon release, it did not immediately gain international recogni ...

'' (''Tokyo Monogatari'') (1953) *''

Tony Takitani is a 2004 Japanese film directed by Jun Ichikawa, based on the short story by Haruki Murakami. Inspiration Haruki Murakami was intrigued by the name Tony Takitani when, at a garage sale on Maui, he found a yellow T-shirt that said, "Tony Takit ...

'' (2004) *''

The Twilight Samurai ''The Twilight Samurai'' is a 2002 Japanese historical drama film co-written and directed by Yoji Yamada and starring Hiroyuki Sanada and Rie Miyazawa. Set in mid-19th century Japan, a few years before the Meiji Restoration, it follows the ...

'' (2002)

U

*''

Ugetsu , is a 1953 Japanese historical drama and fantasy film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi starring Masayuki Mori and Machiko Kyō. It is based on two stories in Ueda Akinari's 1776 book of the same name, combining elements of the ''jidaigeki'' (pe ...

'' (1953) *''

Under the Flag of the Rising Sun is a 1972 Japanese film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. It is based on two of the stories in Yūki Shōji's Naoki Prize-winning short story collection of the same name. The film was selected as the Japanese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film ...

'' (1972) *''

Unlock Your Heart *''This article uses Eastern name order when mentioning individuals.'' is a 2021 Japanese romantic drama film directed by Shuto Rin and starring Yamada Anna, Sakuma Ryuto and Imou Haruka. It is based on Wataya Risa's novel of the same title. ...

'' (2021) *''

Umizaru is a manga series by Shūhō Satō which was serialized by Shogakukan in ''Weekly Young Sunday'' from 1998 to 2001. Yōichi Komori is credited with the original idea for the series, and he also did the research to make the series more auth ...

'' (2004) *''

Uzumaki is a Japanese horror manga series written and illustrated by Junji Ito. Appearing as a serial in the weekly ''seinen'' manga magazine ''Big Comic Spirits'' from 1998 to 1999, the chapters were compiled into three bound volumes by Shogak ...

'' (2000)

V

*''

Vampire Hunter D is a series of novels written by Japanese author Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano since 1983. As of April 2022, 40 novels have been published in the main series, with some novels comprising as many as four volumes. They hav ...

'' (1985) *'' Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust'' (2000) *'' Versus'' (2000) *''

Vexille is a 2007 Japanese CGI anime film, written, directed, and edited by Fumihiko Sori, and features the voices of Meisa Kuroki, Yasuko Matsuyuki, and Shosuke Tanihara. At the 60th Locarno International Film Festival, where ''Vexille'' made its wo ...

'' (2007) *'' Violent Cop'' (''Sono otoko, kyōbō ni tsuki'') (1989) *''

Virus A virus is a wikt:submicroscopic, submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living Cell (biology), cells of an organism. Viruses infect all life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and ...

'' (1980) *'' Vital'' (2004)

W

*'' Waru'' (2006) *'' Waru: kanketsu-hen'' (2006) *''

Waterboys The Waterboys are a folk rock band formed in Edinburgh in 1983 by Scottish musician Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Mike Scott has remained ...

'' (2001) *'' Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald'' (1997) *''

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs is a 1960 Japanese drama directed by Mikio Naruse. Plot Keiko (called "Mama" by the other characters), a young widow approaching 30, is a hostess at a bar in Ginza. Realizing she is getting older, she decides after talking to her bar manager, Ko ...

'' (1930) *''

When the Last Sword Is Drawn is a 2002 historical drama film directed by Yōjirō Takita loosely based on real historical events. ''When the Last Sword Is Drawn'' won the Best Film award at the 2004 Japanese Academy Awards, as well as the prizes for Best Actor ( Kiichi Na ...

'' (''Mibu gishi den'') (2003) *''

Whisper of the Heart is a 1995 Japanese animated romantic drama film directed by Yoshifumi Kondō and written by Hayao Miyazaki based on the 1989 manga of the same name by Aoi Hiiragi. It was animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network ...

'' (''Mimi wo Sumaseba'') (1995) *'' wkw/tk/1996@7'55"hk.net'' (1996) *''

Woman in the Dunes is a 1964 Japanese New Wave drama directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara, starring Eiji Okada as an entomologist searching for insects and Kyōko Kishida as the titular woman. It received positive critical reviews and was nominated for two Academy ...

'' (''Suna no Onna'') (1964)

Y

*''

Yojimbo is a 1961 Japanese samurai film co-written, produced, edited, and directed by Akira Kurosawa. The film stars Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Yoko Tsukasa, Isuzu Yamada, Daisuke Katō, Takashi Shimura, Kamatari Fujiwara, and Atsushi W ...

'' (1961) *''

Yumeji is a 1991 independent Japanese film directed by Seijun Suzuki. It is a semi-fictional account of poet and painter Takehisa Yumeji. It also forms the final part of Suzuki's Taishō ''Roman Trilogy'', preceded by ''Zigeunerweisen'' (1980) and '' Kag ...

'' (1991)

Z

*''

Zatōichi is a fictional character created by Japanese novelist Kan Shimozawa. He is an itinerant blind masseur and swordsman of Japan's late Edo period (1830s and 1840s). He first appeared in the 1948 essay , part of Shimozawa's ''Futokoro Techō'' serie ...

'' series (1962–89) *''

'' (2003) *''

Zebraman is a 2004 Japanese tokusatsu action comedy superhero film directed by Takashi Miike, written by Kankurō Kudō and stars Shō Aikawa as the main character, a superhero named "Zebraman". A 2010 sequel, titled '' Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebr ...

'' (2004) *''

Zigeunerweisen ''Zigeunerweisen'' (''Gypsy Airs'', es, Aires gitanos, link=no), Op. 20, is a musical composition for violin and orchestra written in 1878 by the Spanish composer Pablo de Sarasate. It was premiered the same year in Leipzig, Germany. Like his c ...

'' (''Tsigoineruwaizen'') (1980)