Departures / おくりびと

Someday I’ll write a full essay on the difference between “Kitsch” and “Schlock” and this movie will serve as Exhibit A  YES Release date: September 13, 2008Director: Yōjirō TakitaLanguage: Japanese Who should watch this movie: Expats living in Japan. Classical musicians. Folks who have recently lost a loved one. Folks who have ever lost a

Night Is Short, Walk On Girl / 夜は短し歩けよ乙女

I will only be accepting confessions of love in the form of guerrilla theater YES Release date: April 7, 2017Director: Masaki YuasaLanguage: Japanese Who should watch this movie: University students. Theater nerds. Anyone who’s been out drinking in Kansai (Kanto folks need not apply).  When should you watch this movie: When you’ve just discovered Gen

The Twilight Samurai / たそがれ清兵衛

No, Kurosawa did not direct this film YES Release date: November 2, 2002Director: Yoji YamadaLanguage: Japanese Who should watch this movie: Fans of Seven Samurai. Folks interested in kendo. Former Fencers. When should you watch this movie: When you need a hero to root for. When you’ve seen enough period dramas starring Kiera Knightley. The

The Handmaiden

Be Gay Do Crimes YES Release date: June 1, 2016Director: Park Chan-wookLanguage: Korean, Japanese Who should watch this movie: David Fincher fans. People who don’t like horror. The gays.  When should you watch this movie: When the patriarchy has got you down again. When you want to watch something romantic and your friend/partner wants to

We Are Little Zombies

I’m a fundamentally different person for having seen this movie, but I can’t describe exactly how or why YES Release date: June 14, 2019Director: Makoto NagahisaLanguage: Japanese Who should watch this movie: Fans of Wes Anderson. Folks considering therapy for unresolved childhood trauma. When should you watch this movie: When you’re alone. When you have

Paprika / パプリカ

Dream therapy actually sounds terrible and I would never sign up MAYBE Release date: November 25, 2006Director: Satoshi KonLanguage: Japanese Who should watch this movie: Fans of Akira. Fans of Tokyo Ghoul.  When should you watch this movie: When you’re down for something weird. When you’re trying to convince your friend that Christopher Nolan is

Summer Wars / サマーウォーズ

The best movie you’ve never heard of YES Release date: August 1, 2009Director: Mamoru HosodaLanguage: Japanese Who should watch this movie: People who grew up watching Sailor Moon. Fans of Miyazaki. Gamers. When should you watch this movie: In the summer. Outside if possible.  The sell: Summer Wars is a very Japanese movie. It’s got

Shoplifters / 万引き家族

Nothing brings people together like murder! YES Release date: June 8, 2018Director: Hirokazu KoreedaLanguage: Japanese Who should see this movie: People who love their chosen family  When should you see this movie: In a theatre if possible.  The sell: Koreeda knows exactly how to pull each and every heartstring with perfect precision, it’s almost scary.

Gamushara / がむしゃら

PAIN YES Release date: March 28, 2015Director: Hidekazu TakaharaLanguage: Japanese Who should watch this movie: Fans of Netflix’s Cheer When should you watch this movie: When you’re done with Cheer but you’re not done watching young female athletes injure themselves  The sell: Gamushara (loosely translated to “daredevil”), is a documentary about Act Yasukawa, a professional

Howl’s Moving Castle / ハウルの動く城

The dubbed version isn’t even that bad YES Release date: November 20, 2004Director: Hayao MiyazakiLanguage: Japanese Who should watch this movie: People who “aren’t into anime”  When should you watch this movie: At the start of a new relationship. When the world around you seems to be in chaos.  The sell: Miyazaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle