Japanese Films

Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Tokyo Sonata reviewed by Jurgen Fauth

Movie review of the New York Comic Con world premiere of Takashi Miike's live-action adaptation of the anime series Yatterman, starring Sho Sakurai and Saki Fukuda.

Departures - Yojiro Takita's 'Departures' received an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kimiko Yo, Ryoko Hirosue, Masahiro Motoki star in 'Departures.'

Naoko Ogigami's Megane is a wonderfully droll and touching story about Taeko (Mikako Ichikawa), a Tokyo woman who seeks relaxation on a strange and sparsely populated island.

Adapted from a story by popular Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, Jun Ichikawa's mesmerizing new film "Tony Takitani" explores the human condition of loniliness.

Hirokazu Koreeda's drama "Nobody Knows" heart-breaking film about four children, who after being abandonned by their mother, continue to live together in their small Toyko apartment. Twelve year old actor Ayu Kitaura won the best actor award at Cannes for his performance.

An unofficial fan page about this essential movie. Why isn't there more about "Akira"? And why isn't it out on DVD yet?

"Kids" meets "Lost in Translation" in Masato Harada's "Bounce Ko Gals," a strangely sweet film about underage prostitution. The film follows the adventures of a trio of white-socked friends through the kinky Tokyo nightlife.

The groovy crew of animated bounty hunters makes their way to the big screen, but they lose their trademark snazziness to the limp, overlong plot.

Takeshi Kitano's masterfully touching and violent yakuza film won the 1997 Golden Lion at Venice.

The classic and disturbing film by great Japanese director Nagisa Oshima.

The office site of the latest film of Takeshi Kitano (Fireworks).

Hayao Miyazaki's classic animation, now out on DVD, is gentle enough to appeal to the youngest demographic, but anybody with open eyes and heart will find plenty to love.

Two murderous women try to make a living in times of war in Kaneto Shindo's Japanese classic film.

The top grossing Japanese movie of all time, this beautifully drawn animated fantasy features the voices of Claire Danes, Billy Crudup, and Gillian Anderson. Master of anime Hayao Miyazaki directs.

When teenage love turns dark: it starts with bike rides and unblemished school uniforms, but before you know it, the boy is sniffing dirty underwear and the girl yells: "Be my dog!"

Released in early 1998 and made for a mere 1.5 million dollars, "The Ring" was the number 1 box office sensation of the year, smashing records in Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Juzo Itama's film may be the most impenitent hedonist you have ever seen. If you love noodles...

Cyborg madness. This cult favorite still doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but it's great disturbing fun.

The most famous film of quiet Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu.

A discussion of Takeshi Kitano's film.

Magic elements mingle with oddball characters in Shohei Imamura's quiet tale of a company man who finds renewed life in a small Japanese fishing town.

Kurosawa's darkly comic tale of a lone samurai who plays both sides in a deadly battle is one of his most accessible movies.