20 Must-Watch Japanese Movie of All Time

This 1-hour and 55-minute film seamlessly blends elements of romance, history, fantasy, and drama. It centers around the life of Miyo Saimori (Mio Imada), a young woman living in Japan's Meiji era.

After the death of her mother, Miyo's life becomes reminiscent of Cinderella's tale. Her father remarries, bringing a new wife and daughter into the family. Unfortunately, Miyo's stepmother and stepsister treat her poorly, even managing to sway her father's opinion against her. Despite the pain in her heart, Miyo strives to remain strong.

A significant turn of events occurs when Miyo will be married to a soldier reputed for his cruelty, Kiyoka Kudo (by Ren Meguro). When they first meet, Kiyoka seems tough with Miyo. But as time goes on, Miyo sees that he's actually kind and understanding. So, they start to have feelings for each other.

Just when things are getting better for Miyo, strange things start happening to her. Miyo's sister gets jealous of her and works with their mom to make a plan against Miyo. This makes Miyo's life even more complicated.

A skilled actor and director, Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), faces a shocking tragedy when his wife unexpectedly dies from a brain hemorrhage. Her mysterious death leaves a deep void in Yusuke's life.

Two years later, Yusuke receives an invitation to return to theater and direct the play "Uncle Vanya" at the Hiroshima Theater Festival. Unfortunately, the journey to staging this performance is filled with challenges.

Yusuke struggles to connect with the rest of the crew and faces a personal conflict Koji Takatsuki (Masaki Okada), an actor who previously had an affair with his wife. Amidst this conflict, a revelation about his wife's death is uncovered with the help of his personal driver in Hiroshima, Misaki Watari (Toko Miura).

"Drive My Car" illustrates how art can help process trauma. It also explores the protagonist's journey towards healing the deep-seated pain in his heart. This beautifully crafted film has gained international acclaim, securing four nominations at the Academy Awards.

While on her way to school, Naho Takamiya (Tao Tsuchiya) receives an unusual letter. She is shocked to discover that it's from herself, but 10 years in the future!

The letter urges Naho to prevent the death of a new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse (Kento Yamazaki), who, in the future, dies by suicide. This tragedy, which the letter explains, will have serious repercussions for Naho and her friends.

Initially skeptical about the letter, Naho's doubts start to fade when Kakeru actually arrives at her school as the new student. With this realization, she wonders: Can she alter the course of events and save Kakeru?

"Orange" is a live-action movie based on the manga series by Ichigo Takano. It has also been adapted into an anime. Both versions have been warmly received by fans for their poignant and heartfelt storytelling.

The film, screened in 302 theaters across Japan, achieved a remarkable gross of 2.15 billion yen. It was ranked as the 17th highest-grossing Japanese film in 2009 by the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan.

The plot revolves around Takuma Kakinouchi (Masaki Okada), a young man diagnosed with a terminal illness, not expected to live beyond the age of 20. During his treatment at a hospital, he encounters Mayu Taneda (Mao Inoue), the daughter of his doctor.

This meeting kindles a special connection between them. Gradually, they grow closer, even promising to stay together despite knowing Takuma's limited time. However, as they enter their teenage years, keeping this promise becomes increasingly challenging.

Takuma, unable to bear seeing Mayu's constant sadness, decides to distance himself. Despite this, Mayu remains unwaveringly supportive. Their relationship faces further strain when they meet new people: Mayu comes across a guy who takes an interest in her, and Takuma meets a girl who shares his fate.

Shun (Hio Miyazawa) and Nagisa (Kisetsu Fujiwara) were once a same-sex couple in high school. But after college, Nagisa ended her relationship with Shun. She felt that she couldn't see a future for them together. Nagisa wanted to move to Australia to live a more conventional life.

At first, Shun was disappointed, but he eventually came to terms with it and chose to live alone in a village.

Years later, Shun is surprised to see Nagisa visit his village. Even more astonishing is that he arrives with his 6-year-old daughter.

Their first meeting is awkward, but Shun soon realizes his feelings for Nagisa haven't changed. Nagisa feels the same; he has come to Shun's village on purpose to reconnect with the man she still loves.

The question then arises: Can Shun and Nagisa reunite despite Nagisa now being a parent? To find out, you'll have to watch the movie!

The god of death, Ryuk, drops a Death Note into the human world, where it is found by a student named Light Yagami (Tatsuya Fujiwara). Initially frightened by the sight of Ryuk when he picks up the book, Light's fear turns to intrigue after Ryuk explains how the book works. Light can't resist trying it out.

When he writes a criminal's name in the Death Note, the person dies shortly after. This power fuels Light's desire to create his ideal world by eliminating all criminals.

These serial murders among criminals baffle the police and government. They enlist a renowned detective, known as L (Kenichi Matsuyama), to track down the mastermind. Can L discover that Light is the one behind the murders?

Just as popular as the manga and anime, this live-action Death Note movie has picked up significant public interest since its release. It was the first Japanese film to premiere in Hong Kong and even won the Best Asian Film category at the Hong Kong Film Award in 2007.

A decade after the war, a legendary assassin decides to leave his old life behind. Adopting a new identity as Kenshin Himura, he now roams the land, determined to help those in need.

In his travels, Kenshin meets a young woman named Kamiya Kaoru, the daughter of the owner of the Kamiya Kasshin kendo school. Kaoru seeks Kenshin's assistance in confronting a drug lord threatening to seize her school and convert it into an opium production site.

This situation is tied to a series of shocking serial murders in Tokyo. The government suspects that the legendary Battousai, a nickname once belonging to Kenshin, is behind these crimes.

"Rurouni Kenshin" stands out as one of Japan's finest live-action movies. Takeru Sato's exceptional portrayal of Kenshin Himura and the film's gripping, well-choreographed fight scenes make it a thrilling and memorable experience.

Although "Your Eyes Tell" is a remake of a South Korean movie, it has been one of the best Japanese films, captivating audiences with its story. This romantic melodrama follows Akari (Yuriko Yoshitaka) and Rui (Ryusei Yokohama).

Rui, a former boxer, now works as a parking lot attendant. On his first day, he meets Akari. Their initial encounter is awkward, as Akari unexpectedly invites him to discuss a TV drama, but their relationship gradually grow closer.

Rui soon discovers that Akari is blind and believes he is the previous parking attendant. Despite this, their daily conversations continue, leading to the development of romantic feelings.

However, Rui is shocked to learn that he was accidentally responsible for Akari's blindness in the past. What exactly happened? And will this revelation end their budding relationship?

On his 30th birthday, Kiyoshi Adachi (Eiji Akaso) gains the extraordinary ability to read people's minds by touching them. This newfound power reveals that his popular coworker, Yuichi Kurosawa (Keita Machida), harbors romantic feelings for him.

Their bond deepens, leading to the start of a romantic relationship, which they choose to keep hidden from their coworkers and families.

However, a major shift occurs when Adachi is transferred to Nagasaki, which is 1,200 km away from his current workplace. Although initially excited about advancing his career, this change creates a challenge to his relationship with Kurosawa, prompting them to rethink the future of their relationship.

This film is a sequel to the beloved BL series "Cherry Magic." It explores the struggles of long-distance relationships, mirroring the challenges faced by modern couples. To discover whether they can overcome this hurdle, watch "Cherry Magic The Movie."

Following the events of "Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno," Kenshin's adversary, Shishio, sets sail for Tokyo with his allies. Meanwhile, Kenshin finds himself stranded on the shore after diving into the sea in pursuit of Kaoru, who has been captured by Shishio. Luckily, Kenshin's teacher comes to his rescue.

Kenshin asks his teacher, Hiko Seijuro, to retrain him in the secret Hiten Mitsurugi technique. This is because he wants to stop Shishio's plot to take over the government and threaten the wellbeing of the Japanese people. Will Kenshin be able to thwart Shishio's plan?

Directed by Keishi Ohtomo, this film, like its two Rurouni Kenshin predecessors, achieved substantial success, grossing USD 44 million. "The Legend Ends" has also picked up widespread praise from critics, particularly for the epic choreography in its fight scenes.

This live-action adaptation of the popular anime shares the same name and tells the story of Sawako (Mikako Tabe). Sawako's somber look and long, bushy hair often hinder her ability to connect with her classmates.

Her "different" look has led her peers to nickname her "Sadako," after a ghost character from a well-known horror movie. Despite this intimidating appearance, Sawako is actually warm-hearted and positive person. However, most of her classmates fail to see this side of her and instead keep their distance, with the exception of a fellow student, Kazehaya (Haruma Miura).

Kazehaya treats Sawako with kindness like everyone else from their very first meeting. This makes Sawako gradually start to make friends at school.

The plot thickens when Sawako's friend, Ume Kurumizawa, asks for her help in getting closer to Kazehaya. This request leaves Sawako in a quandary as she realizes her feelings for Kazehaya have blossomed into a crush.

In Japan's Central region, the economy is in big trouble, caused by high unemployment and students who refuse to study. In response, the government initiates the Battle Royale program.

This brutal program randomly selects 42 students from a Japanese high school. They are transported to an isolated island, where they must survive for three days. The harrowing catch of the Battle Royale program is that only one student can win. They all have to fight each other to survive.

"Battle Royale," one of Japan's highest-grossing films, is adapted from a novel by Koushun Takami. The movie has gained immense popularity in Japan, partly fueled by the controversy surrounding it.

The controversy stems from numerous attempts by Japanese lawmakers to ban the film. Despite these efforts, the public's interest in the movie only grows stronger, with people there becoming increasingly keen to watch "Battle Royale."

"Nobody Knows" is a film based on a real-life story of child neglect in Tokyo's Sugamo district. It follows the journey of a 12-year-old boy, Akira Fukushima, as he tries to care for himself and his three younger siblings.

After moving into a new apartment, Akira meets his half-sister Kyoko. He currently lives there with his mother Keiko, two younger siblings, and Kyoko. Keiko tells her children to keep quiet and only allows Akira to leave the apartment. This rule is to prevent them from being evicted as they were from their last home.

One day, Keiko went to work, giving a small amount of money to her children and never returns. Puzzled and worried, Akira takes on the responsibility of caring for his siblings with the limited resources left by their mother. To discover how Akira copes with these challenges, watch the movie and see his struggle unfold.

The film "Crows Zero" sets its story before the events of Hiroshi Takahashi's "Crows" manga, featuring numerous action-packed scenes and school gang battles. It revolves around Kenji Takiya (Shun Oguri).

Kenji, a newcomer at Suzuran High School, boldly challenges the school's toughest gang, the Serizawa gang. He aims to become the top fighter in school, inspired by his father, a former yakuza boss.

Kenji soon knows from another gang member, Ken Katagiri, that he must form his own gang before taking on the Serizawa gang. This marks the start of Kenji's journey to assemble a team and pursue his ambition. Will he manage to overthrow the Serizawa gang?

This movie continues the story of Chiaki Shinichi and Nodame from the "Nodame Cantabile" series. It follows Chiaki's journey as he wins the esteemed Platini International Music Competition and becomes the conductor of the Le Marlet Orchestra.

Meanwhile, Nodame is busy preparing for her graduation exams at her music school. Chiaki invites her to join a performance of Ravel's "Bolero." However, Nodame's role is eventually given to someone else, yet she continues to support Chiaki.

The performance, unfortunately, ends in chaos and failure, despite the audience's cheers. Nodame, determined to lift Chiaki's spirits, decides to help him organize a second performance. To find out if they succeed in their efforts, watch the movie and see how their story goes!

"Confessions" is a film based on the renowned novel "Kokuhaku" by Kanae Minato. It's the story of Yuko Moriguchi (Takako Matsu), a teacher who seeks revenge for her daughter's death, suspecting two of her students are responsible.

The narrative begins with the tragic discovery of Moriguchi's four-year-old daughter, drowned in the school swimming pool. Yuko becomes convinced that two of her students did this terrible act.

However, since they don't want to admit to the murder, Yuko is forced to make various terrible acts to make them confess. Her tactics range from contaminating milk with HIV-infected blood to launching verbal assaults against them.

To find out if Yuko's relentless pursuit leads to a confession from the accused students, you can watch the movie and witness her quest for justice.

"Audition," a movie blending horror, mystery, and thriller elements, is full of suspense and unexpected twists. It focuses on Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi), a movie production executive who has been widowed for several years.

Aoyama's colleague suggests he find a new wife by organizing an audition, much like casting for a film. Among the numerous applicants, Aoyama finds himself drawn to Asami Yamazaki (Eihi Shiina), a woman who seems gentle, beautiful, and enigmatic. However, Asami is not as she appears. She reveals herself to be a psychopath and a merciless killer.

This shocking revelation leaves Aoyama desperate to escape Asami's clutches. The movie leaves viewers wondering: will Aoyama manage to free himself from Asami?

A band of six masterless samurai, known as ronin, and a clever young man join forces to protect a village under threat. Marauders are attempting to take the villagers' crops, leaving the people in a desperate situation.

Kambei, the leader of the samurai, agrees to defend the village in exchange for food, recognizing the villagers' poverty. Despite the villagers' limited means, the seven samurai take their task seriously. They even go so far as to train the villagers in combat.

"Seven Samurai" is celebrated as one of the greatest Japanese samurai films ever made. It was nominated for an Oscar in 1957. The film is renowned for its exceptional storyline and action scenes, especially considering the technology available at the time.

Murakawa, a character in the film, is sent by his boss to Okinawa to resolve a conflict between two allied yakuza gangs, the Anan and Nakamatsu clans. However, when Murakawa arrives, he finds no issues between the two gangs. Instead, it's his own group that unexpectedly comes under attack.

Sensing something amiss with his mission, Murakawa starts to investigate. He discovers that his assignment was merely a ruse by his boss, who aimed to take over Murakawa's territory. Now, Murakawa is set on getting revenge on his boss.

Takeshi Kitano, who plays Murakawa, also directed the movie. Initially, many doubted him due to his reputation as a comedian, especially known for his role in the variety show "Fort Takeshi." However, after the release of "Sonatine," many praised Kitano's work. The film is even regarded as one of the best Japanese movies of all time.

Tampopo is a classic film that thoroughly explores everything about the Japanese dish, ramen. It picks up the philosophy behind each component of a ramen bowl, the art of making ramen, and even the proper way to eat it.

The movie's story kicks off when two truck drivers, Gun (Ken Watanabe) and Goro (Tsutomu Yamazaki), are eager to enjoy a bowl of ramen. They stumble upon a roadside ramen shop, managed by a widow named Tampopo (Nobuko Miyamoto).

Their initial meal at the shop, however, is disappointing as Tampopo's ramen lacks flavor. Motivated by this experience, Gun and Goro embark on a mission to help Tampopo perfect her ramen recipe.