Japan

In this 1979 animated film directed by Rintaro, viewers are taken on a cosmic journey aboard a mysterious interstellar train. The story follows a young boy named Tetsuro Hoshino, who…

During an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping…

In this 1978 horror film directed by Joe Dante, a small town becomes the target of a deadly threat when genetically modified piranhas are accidentally released into a local river….

A novice golfer has to handle the pressures of stardom when a marketing professional turns her into a renowned sports figure.

In this 1976 adventure film directed by John Guillermin, an ambitious oil company executive leads an expedition to a mysterious island in search of untapped resources. The team encounters a…

In this 1974 stop-motion animated classic directed by Arthur Rankin Jr., Santa Claus finds himself disheartened by the lack of Christmas spirit and decides to take a year off from…

In this 1973 film, the legendary blind swordsman returns to his hometown, only to uncover a web of corruption and deceit that threatens the villagers. As he delves deeper into…

In his 13th film, Godzilla takes a supporting role to the far more prominently featured Jet Jaguar, an Ultra-Man like robot. Aliens take control of Earth’s monsters and begin using…

In this 1972 film, the legendary blind swordsman finds himself entangled in a web of guilt and redemption after inadvertently causing a woman’s death. As he seeks to make amends,…

Godzilla’s 12th film. After a accepting a job at a monster-themed park, a man learns his new employers are actually aliens who plan to use Ghidorah and Gigan to destroy…

In this 1971 film, the legendary blind swordsman finds himself entangled in a complex web of deceit and danger after he helps a dying woman deliver her baby. As he…

Psychedelic animation and a flying Godzilla highlight the 11th Godzilla film. Spawned from earth’s pollution, Hedorah destroys Japan, spews poison gas and fights Godzilla.

The second installment of an epic war drama explores the impact of conflict on individuals, tracing the journey of the Godai family from 1935 during Japan’s incursion into China. This…

In this 1970 film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, the legendary blind swordsman Zatoichi encounters the equally formidable one-armed swordsman, Wang Kang, played by Jimmy Wang Yu. The story unfolds as…

In this classic stop-motion animated film, viewers are taken on a whimsical journey to discover the origins of the beloved holiday figure, Santa Claus. The story follows a young Kris…

In this 1970 film directed by Kenji Misumi, the legendary blind swordsman Zatoichi finds himself entangled in a complex web of deceit and danger as he journeys to a remote…

In the summer of 1941, tensions between the United States and Japan are at a boiling point due to ongoing embargos and unsuccessful diplomatic efforts. “Tora! Tora! Tora!”—a title derived…

In this 1969 film, two iconic characters from Japanese cinema, the blind swordsman Zatoichi and the cunning ronin Yojimbo, find themselves in a small town torn apart by rival gangs….

Zatoichi finds himself compelled to kill a young man indebted to a yakuza leader. Shortly after, the man’s sister, Osode, appears with the money she earned through prostitution to settle…

This 1968 stop-motion animated film, directed by Arthur Rankin Jr., tells the heartwarming story of a young boy named Aaron, who finds himself on a journey of redemption and discovery….

The 9th Godzilla film was the last made by the original Godzilla creators, and was meant to be a grand finale. Aliens have released all the giant monsters from their…

In this 1968 film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, the legendary blind swordsman finds himself entangled in a conflict with a group of ruthless fugitives terrorizing a small village. As he…

Set in the war-torn landscape of feudal Japan, this haunting tale follows the spectral vengeance of two women who fall victim to the brutality of samurai. As they return as…

In this 1967 film, the blind swordsman finds himself entangled in a perilous journey as he promises to fulfill a dying man’s last wish to reunite a young boy with…

In this 1967 film, the legendary blind swordsman finds himself embroiled in a conflict between a group of oppressed villagers and a corrupt government official. As he navigates the treacherous…

In this 1967 film directed by Ishirô Honda, the story follows the giant ape King Kong as he becomes embroiled in a plot involving a villainous scientist and his mechanical…

A mysterious space craft kidnaps a Russian and American space capsule and brings the world on the verge of another World War. James Bond investigates the case in Japan and meets with his archenemy Blofeld. The fifth film from the legendary James Bond series starring Sean Connery as the British super agent.

The 7th film in the Godzilla series. After being caught in a storm in the south seas, several teenagers and thief arrive on an island where natives have been enslaved…

In this 1966 film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, the legendary blind swordsman Zatoichi finds himself in a small town where he learns that his trusted cane sword is on the…

In this 1966 film directed by Kazuo Ikehiro, the legendary blind swordsman Zatoichi, played by Shintaro Katsu, embarks on a spiritual journey that quickly turns into a quest for justice….

In this 1966 Japanese film directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara, a man disfigured in an industrial accident receives a lifelike mask to conceal his scars, leading him to explore themes of…

In this 1966 film directed by Tokuzō Tanaka, the blind swordsman Zatoichi, played by the iconic Shintaro Katsu, embarks on a journey that tests his moral compass and fighting prowess….

In the 6th Godzilla movie, mysterious aliens from the Planet X ask earth’s people to help them save their world from the dreaded Ghidorah (aka ”Monster Zero”) by letting them…

In this 1965 film, the legendary blind swordsman, Zatoichi, finds himself entangled in a complex web of intrigue and deception as he crosses paths with a mysterious chess expert during…

In this 1965 film directed by Kazuo Mori, the legendary blind swordsman, Zatoichi, finds himself entangled in a complex web of deceit and danger. Tasked with helping a man wrongfully…

The blind itinerant masseur and skilled swordsman, Zatoichi, finds himself near the village of his mentor, Hikonoichi, and decides to pay a visit. Upon arrival, he discovers that Hikonoichi has…

Set in 19th-century Japan, this film follows the journey of a young and arrogant doctor, Noboru Yasumoto, who is assigned to a rural clinic run by the enigmatic and compassionate…

The 5th film in the original Godzilla franchise marked a turning point in the series. Godzilla, Rodan and Mothra must put aside their quarrelsome ways to become allies and defend…

In this 1964 film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, the iconic blind swordsman, Zatoichi, finds himself embroiled in a conflict between a village and a corrupt government official. As he navigates…

This 1964 Japanese anthology film, directed by Masaki Kobayashi, is a visually stunning adaptation of Lafcadio Hearn’s collection of Japanese ghost stories. The film is divided into four distinct segments,…

While her son, Kichi, is away at war, a woman and her daughter-in-law survive by killing samurai who stray into their swamp, then selling whatever valuables they find. Both are…

In this 1964 film directed by Kenji Misumi, the legendary blind swordsman Zatoichi finds himself on a journey to escort a baby to safety after its mother is tragically killed….

In this 1964 film directed by Kazuo Ikehiro, the blind swordsman Zatoichi finds himself embroiled in a conflict between rival gangs after being saved by a kind family. As he…

In this 1964 film directed by Kazuo Ikehiro, the legendary blind swordsman Zatoichi, played by Shintaro Katsu, finds himself embroiled in a complex tale of deception and greed. The story…

In this 1964 Japanese film, a schoolteacher and amateur entomologist finds himself trapped in a remote desert village, where he is forced to assist a woman in her endless task…

In this 1963 film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, the legendary blind swordsman Zatoichi finds himself embroiled in a dangerous conflict as he travels through the Japanese countryside. The story follows…

In this 1963 film, the blind swordsman and masseur finds himself embroiled in a complex web of intrigue and danger as he navigates the challenges of being a fugitive. The…

In this 1963 film directed by Tokuzō Tanaka, the story follows the blind swordsman and masseur, Zatoichi, portrayed by Shintaro Katsu, as he returns to his hometown seeking peace and…

This gripping 1963 film, directed by Akira Kurosawa, masterfully blends elements of crime and drama as it explores the moral dilemmas faced by a wealthy executive, played by Toshiro Mifune,…

In this 1962 film, the blind swordsman Zatoichi finds himself embroiled in a complex web of intrigue and danger as he returns to a town he once knew. The story…

Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.

After a 7 year hiatus, Godzilla returned to the screen to take on King Kong in the 3rd film in the Godzilla franchise. A pharmaceutical company captures King Kong and…

In this classic 1962 film directed by Kenji Misumi, the story follows a blind masseur and skilled swordsman who becomes embroiled in a conflict between two rival gangs. The protagonist,…

In this 1961 film directed by Akira Kurosawa, a wandering and scruffy samurai, played by Toshiro Mifune, finds himself entangled in a local clan’s power struggle. The samurai, known for…

In this classic 1961 film, a wandering ronin, played by the iconic Toshiro Mifune, arrives in a small town torn apart by two rival gangs. With his cunning and swordsmanship,…

Amidst the chaos of war-torn Japan, the ‘Bahansen’ pirate ships found greater liberty on the open waters of the Seto Inland Sea during the Sengoku period. These vessels, sailing under…

In this gripping 1960 film, a young executive embarks on a quest for revenge against a corrupt corporate system that led to his father’s demise. The narrative unfolds with a…

Set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II, this film follows the journey of a Japanese soldier, Private Tamura, who is struggling to survive in the Philippines amidst the…

Set against the haunting backdrop of post-war Hiroshima, this film explores the fleeting yet profound connection between a French actress, played by Emmanuelle Riva, and a Japanese architect, portrayed by…

Set against the backdrop of World War II, this film follows Kaji, a pacifist and socialist, as he navigates the moral complexities of managing a labor camp in Japanese-occupied Manchuria….

Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this 1958 film is a captivating adventure that follows two peasants who unwittingly become involved in a daring mission to escort a princess and her general…

The narrative follows the challenges and hardships faced by a lighthouse keeper and his spouse.

This film is based on a novel by Yukio Mishima.

Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this 1956 film is a masterful adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” set in feudal Japan. The story follows a samurai, played by Toshiro Mifune, who is driven…

A 400-foot (122-meter) dinosaur-like beast, awoken from undersea hibernation off the Japanese coast by atomic-bomb testing, attacks Tokyo.

Set in the vibrant yet gritty red-light district of Tokyo, this 1956 film delves into the lives of women working in a brothel, each grappling with personal struggles and societal…

Set against the backdrop of World War II, this poignant film follows a Japanese soldier named Mizushima, who becomes separated from his unit in Burma. As he embarks on a…

Japan is thrown into a panic after several ships explode and are sunk near Odo Island. An expedition to the island led by paleontologist Professor Kyohei Yemani soon discover something…

Set in 16th-century Japan, this classic film follows a group of villagers who hire seven ronin, or masterless samurai, to protect them from marauding bandits. The story intricately weaves themes…

Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, this 1954 Japanese film is a poignant tale set in the Heian period, exploring themes of family, social injustice, and the resilience of the human spirit….

An old couple visit their children and grandchildren in the city, but the children have little time for them.

A samurai performs a heroic act by rescuing the lovely Kesa during a violent uprising. The warrior falls in love with her, but becomes distraught when he finds out that she is already married.

Set in the tumultuous period of civil war in 16th-century Japan, this film follows the intertwined fates of two ambitious peasants, Genjuro and Tobei, who are driven by dreams of…

Mr. Watanabe suddenly finds that he has terminal cancer. He vows to make his final days meaningful. His attempts to communicate his anguish to his son and daughter-in-law lead only to heartbreak. Finally, inspired by an unselfish co-worker, he turns his efforts to bringing happiness to others by building a playground in a dreary slum neighborhood. When the park is finally completed, he is able to face death with peaceful acceptance.

Set in feudal Japan, this cinematic masterpiece explores the subjective nature of truth through the recounting of a crime from multiple perspectives. The film is directed by the legendary Akira…

Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this 1949 film is a gripping crime drama that follows a young detective, played by Toshiro Mifune, as he desperately searches for his stolen gun in…

Directed by Yasujirō Ozu, this 1949 Japanese film is a poignant exploration of familial bonds and societal expectations. It stars Setsuko Hara and Chishū Ryū, who deliver compelling performances as…

Set in post-war Japan, this film follows the tumultuous relationship between a disillusioned alcoholic doctor and a young gangster suffering from tuberculosis. The doctor, played by Takashi Shimura, becomes determined…

This film, now lost, is regarded as one of Japan’s earliest entries into the Tokusatsu genre. The special effects were crafted by Fuminori Ohashi, who asserts that he served as…

Set in the bustling geisha district of Gion in Kyoto, this 1936 film explores the contrasting lives and philosophies of two sisters, Umekichi and Omocha, who work as geishas. While…