With recent films such as Tokyo Sonata and Okuribito, the cinema of Japan is showcasing its renewed resurgence upon the world stage. For fans of Japanese movies and for viewers of cinema everywhere around the globe this timely development is warmly welcomed.
Yet it nearly didn't happen, and it certainly didn't occur overnight. Between the the mid-1960s, when the Modern Era of Japanese filmmaking began, and now, the Japanese cinema has struggled mightily to survive and stay relevant. The Olympic year of 1964 is often thought of as the dividing line between the booming Golden Era of Japanese filmmaking as opposed to the quietly evolving Modern Era, which continues today.
While independent directors such as Nagisa Oshima and Shohei Imamura were productive in the early Modern Era of the '70s and '80s, many other auteurs faced numerous challenges gaining a toehold, as the Japanese studio system had virtually collapsed. As a result, there was a "dead" period in Japanese cinema of about 25 years, running the mid-1960s to the late 1980s. But through it all, some very memorable and very worthwhile films managed to be made.
Since the 1980s, though, and particularly since the mid-1990s, Japanese cinema, as mentioned above, has seen a slow rebirth. Although this resurgence in no way comes close to the Golden Era of the 1950s, several contemporary Japanese directors are gaining increasing cinematic renown for their innovative and insightful productions.
For those interested in the Modern Era of Japanese cinema, the following list may prove useful as introductory guidance. For the most part, the movies that comprise the list are societal and family dramas set in contemporary times. There is a sprinkling of light comedy and horror, but left out, generally, were popular genres, including yakuza, cult, low-budget horror, and asian extreme. The reason for this is that while those genres do command an audience, the appeal often does not broadly cross generational or gender lines. As in any list, the favorite film for an individual or another will be missing. The list, too, should not be construed in any way to say what are the best Japanese films of the Modern Era, nor has it been constructed to show favoritism to any one film, genre, or director.
1. Shall We Dance - Masayuki Suo, dir. (1996)
2. Ran - Akira Kurosawa, dir. (1985)
3. A Taste of Tea - Katsuhito Ishii, dir. (2006)
4. Pale Flower - Masahiro Shinoda, dir. (1964) - seminal film noir
5. Tampopo - Juzo Itami, dir. (1985)
6. Nobody Knows - Hirokazu Koreeda, dir. (2005)
7. The Ceremony - Nagisa Oshima, dir. (1971)
8. The Face of Another - Hiroshi Teshigahara, dir. (1966) - "new wave"
9. House [aka Hausu] - Nobuhiko Obayashi, dir. (1977) - noteworthy horror
10. Still Walking - Koreeda, dir. (2008)
11. Ballad of Naruyama - Shohei Imamura, dir. (1983) - mature audience only
12. Linda, Linda, Linda - Nobuhiro Yamashita, dir. (2005)
13. Dodes'ka-den - Kurosawa, dir. (1970)
14. Okuribito - Yojiro Takita, dir. (2008)
15. In the Realm of the Senses - Oshima, dir. (1976) - groundbreaking film; explicit sexual content, mature audience only
16. Bounce Ko Gals - Masato Harada, dir. (1997)
17. The Eel - Imamura, dir. (1997)
18. Always - Sunset on Third Street - Takashi Yamazaki, dir. (2005)
19. Kwaidan - Masaki Kobayashi, dir. (1965) - Lafcadio Hearn horror stories
20. Tokyo Drifter (1966) and The Gate of Flesh (1964) - Seijun Suzuki, dir. - a double dip of interesting cult
21. A Taxing Woman - Itami, dir. (1987)
22. Sway - Miwa Nishikawa, dir. (2006)
23. The Yellow Handkerchief - Yoji Yamada, dir. (1977)
24. Vibrator - Ryuichi Hiroki, dir. (2003) - mature audience only
25. Kagemusha - Kurosawa, dir. (1980)
26. Kabei - Our Mother - Yoji Yamada, dir. (2008)
27. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence - Oshima, dir. (1983)
28. Strawberry Shortcakes - Hitoshi Yazaki, dir. (2006)
29. Marboroshi - Koreeda, dir. (1995)
30. Tokyo Sonata - Kiyoshi Kurosawa, dir. (2008)
Also for consideration:
Care Lumiere - Hou Hsiao-hsien, dir. (2003) - A tribute to Japanese director Yasajiro Ozu by the highly regarded Taiwanese director; although technically a Taiwanese film, Cafe is nonetheless a Japanese film through and through.
Caution: Some of the content in the films above may be highly disturbing and objectionable to some viewers. Before simply plunging ahead and selecting a title at random, please do a little research to see if the subject matter will be acceptable.
For those of you new to contemporary Japanese film, the following five popular films are very good starting points:
(a) Shall We Dance
(b) Tampopo
(c) A Taste of Tea
(d) Nobody Knows
(e) Linda, Linda, Linda
As for the list, suggestions for additions or subtractions are welcomed, as is feedback and comments. Happy viewing!
Yet it nearly didn't happen, and it certainly didn't occur overnight. Between the the mid-1960s, when the Modern Era of Japanese filmmaking began, and now, the Japanese cinema has struggled mightily to survive and stay relevant. The Olympic year of 1964 is often thought of as the dividing line between the booming Golden Era of Japanese filmmaking as opposed to the quietly evolving Modern Era, which continues today.
While independent directors such as Nagisa Oshima and Shohei Imamura were productive in the early Modern Era of the '70s and '80s, many other auteurs faced numerous challenges gaining a toehold, as the Japanese studio system had virtually collapsed. As a result, there was a "dead" period in Japanese cinema of about 25 years, running the mid-1960s to the late 1980s. But through it all, some very memorable and very worthwhile films managed to be made.
Since the 1980s, though, and particularly since the mid-1990s, Japanese cinema, as mentioned above, has seen a slow rebirth. Although this resurgence in no way comes close to the Golden Era of the 1950s, several contemporary Japanese directors are gaining increasing cinematic renown for their innovative and insightful productions.
For those interested in the Modern Era of Japanese cinema, the following list may prove useful as introductory guidance. For the most part, the movies that comprise the list are societal and family dramas set in contemporary times. There is a sprinkling of light comedy and horror, but left out, generally, were popular genres, including yakuza, cult, low-budget horror, and asian extreme. The reason for this is that while those genres do command an audience, the appeal often does not broadly cross generational or gender lines. As in any list, the favorite film for an individual or another will be missing. The list, too, should not be construed in any way to say what are the best Japanese films of the Modern Era, nor has it been constructed to show favoritism to any one film, genre, or director.
1. Shall We Dance - Masayuki Suo, dir. (1996)
2. Ran - Akira Kurosawa, dir. (1985)
3. A Taste of Tea - Katsuhito Ishii, dir. (2006)
4. Pale Flower - Masahiro Shinoda, dir. (1964) - seminal film noir
5. Tampopo - Juzo Itami, dir. (1985)
6. Nobody Knows - Hirokazu Koreeda, dir. (2005)
7. The Ceremony - Nagisa Oshima, dir. (1971)
8. The Face of Another - Hiroshi Teshigahara, dir. (1966) - "new wave"
9. House [aka Hausu] - Nobuhiko Obayashi, dir. (1977) - noteworthy horror
10. Still Walking - Koreeda, dir. (2008)
11. Ballad of Naruyama - Shohei Imamura, dir. (1983) - mature audience only
12. Linda, Linda, Linda - Nobuhiro Yamashita, dir. (2005)
13. Dodes'ka-den - Kurosawa, dir. (1970)
14. Okuribito - Yojiro Takita, dir. (2008)
15. In the Realm of the Senses - Oshima, dir. (1976) - groundbreaking film; explicit sexual content, mature audience only
16. Bounce Ko Gals - Masato Harada, dir. (1997)
17. The Eel - Imamura, dir. (1997)
18. Always - Sunset on Third Street - Takashi Yamazaki, dir. (2005)
19. Kwaidan - Masaki Kobayashi, dir. (1965) - Lafcadio Hearn horror stories
20. Tokyo Drifter (1966) and The Gate of Flesh (1964) - Seijun Suzuki, dir. - a double dip of interesting cult
21. A Taxing Woman - Itami, dir. (1987)
22. Sway - Miwa Nishikawa, dir. (2006)
23. The Yellow Handkerchief - Yoji Yamada, dir. (1977)
24. Vibrator - Ryuichi Hiroki, dir. (2003) - mature audience only
25. Kagemusha - Kurosawa, dir. (1980)
26. Kabei - Our Mother - Yoji Yamada, dir. (2008)
27. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence - Oshima, dir. (1983)
28. Strawberry Shortcakes - Hitoshi Yazaki, dir. (2006)
29. Marboroshi - Koreeda, dir. (1995)
30. Tokyo Sonata - Kiyoshi Kurosawa, dir. (2008)
Also for consideration:
Care Lumiere - Hou Hsiao-hsien, dir. (2003) - A tribute to Japanese director Yasajiro Ozu by the highly regarded Taiwanese director; although technically a Taiwanese film, Cafe is nonetheless a Japanese film through and through.
Caution: Some of the content in the films above may be highly disturbing and objectionable to some viewers. Before simply plunging ahead and selecting a title at random, please do a little research to see if the subject matter will be acceptable.
For those of you new to contemporary Japanese film, the following five popular films are very good starting points:
(a) Shall We Dance
(b) Tampopo
(c) A Taste of Tea
(d) Nobody Knows
(e) Linda, Linda, Linda
As for the list, suggestions for additions or subtractions are welcomed, as is feedback and comments. Happy viewing!
