Film_2w_sevensamurai

The Best Japanese Films Ever Made

by Voglersama

Created 07/30/12

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35 comments
★ 20

I'm sure I may be omitting some truly great films from my list, but these are the greatest Japanese films I've seen.

35 comments

  • By Craig J. Clark
    November 19, 2012
    02:26 PM

    If you think Tatsuya Nakadai is at his creepiest in Sword of Doom, then you owe it to yourself to check out Hiroshi Teshigahara's The Face of Another.
    Reply

  • By Voglersama
    November 19, 2012
    07:25 PM

    Thanks for all the suggestions everybody! I've got a lot of movies to watch.
    Reply

  • By Steven M.
    November 20, 2012
    03:08 AM

    Great List. However, it is missing my all-time favorite film, Red Beard by Akira Kurosawa. Maybe you've seen it already?
    Reply

  • By Bryan_Y
    November 21, 2012
    11:38 PM

    I really encourage you to watch Ozu, Naruse, Kinoshita, Teshigahara and Shinoda. Some specific recommendations would be: Early Summer - Ozu When a Woman Ascends the Stairs - Naruse Twenty-four Eyes - Kinoshita The Face of Another - Teshigahara Pale Flower - Shinoda You will be impressed, emotionally moved, and intellectually stimulated.
    Reply

  • By giovanni robbiano
    November 22, 2012
    02:04 PM

    and how about imamura, both pornographers and venegance is mine are masterpieces.
    Reply

  • By Andrew D.
    November 24, 2012
    12:27 PM

    Seijun Suzuki is a great director and you should check out more of his work, Tokyo Drifter is one of my favorite films but check out Branded to Kill I personally think it's Suzuki's best.
    Reply

  • By MrDude_o_o
    November 24, 2012
    01:50 PM

    Nice picks. I believe soon Mizoguchi will be in this list too. ;)
    Reply

  • By Marcus Hambright
    November 25, 2012
    10:29 PM

    Woman in the Dunes is amazing. I'd recommend the whole Teshigahara box. and Ugetsu. so good...
    Reply

  • By Sleestak
    November 26, 2012
    05:02 PM

    Nice one! Be sure to check out Gate of Flesh, In the Realm of the Senses, I Hate but Love and Crazed Fruit. Also Kurosawa kicked ass with Drunken Angel.
    Reply

  • By Alex W.
    November 26, 2012
    09:09 PM

    Ikiru is one of the most overrated films of all time.
    Reply

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    • By Alex W.
      November 26, 2012
      09:13 PM

      That's too harsh. But, it definitely gets undue praise.

  • By ethan2
    November 28, 2012
    02:12 AM

    i saw a b&w japanese film recently but neither know the name or the director's. it concerned a woman who was cast out by a lord. finally accepted by a family, then the lord wanted her returned. many of the family wanted her returned for its honour. she decided not to go. warriors were sent to take her. her decision was defended by the head of the family. she thrust a one of the warrior's blades into her as he held it. anyone know the name of the film or director?
    Reply

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    • By Voglersama
      November 30, 2012
      04:39 AM

      I think it's Samurai Rebellion that your thinking of.

    • By Voglersama
      November 30, 2012
      04:40 AM

      It's directed by Masaki Kobayashi.

  • By high_noon
    December 02, 2012
    03:05 AM

    Wow! The 'So far' seems quite far to me. Can't add anything but, as reinforcement for total newbies, 'Rashomon' is iconic. The topic here is timeless, from 12th century Japan to current day. Others at the top of my list (a huge tie) are 'Woman of the Dunes', 'Ran', & 'The Human Condition'. Also please don't overlook 'Grave of the Fireflies'. By the 2nd viewing those characters will no longer be animated. They will be living, breathing, suffering human beings!
    Reply

  • By Nina
    December 15, 2012
    02:56 AM

    I also loved Rashomon but don't really attribute that to Kurosawa as much considering he just brought the original words to life. So maybe I love the story more I guess haha. Great list though!
    Reply

  • By Ken
    December 19, 2012
    11:58 PM

    Nice List however Godzilla is way over-rated you are definitely missing Ozu - Floating Weeds (1959) is one of the most visually beautiful films I have seen - also see it with Roger Ebert's commentary - Criterion Collection, Ozu's Tokyo Story and Early Summer (I am in Love with Setsuko Hara). Akira and Miyazaki's work - My neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away Grave of the Fireflies Burmese Harp Chushingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki
    Reply

  • By Richard Trondsen
    December 23, 2012
    05:16 PM

    Excellent list. Some great ones that are missing; Vengeance Is Mine, Onibaba, Gate of Flesh, Youth of the Beast, Branded to Kill, Fires On the Plain, In the Realm of the Senses, and Three Outlaw Samurai. And yes, Harakiri is absolutely amazing.
    Reply

  • By Ken
    December 28, 2012
    12:53 PM

    Must add Ozu's Late Spring, Early Summer, Tokyo Story, and most of all Floating Weeds. Kurosawa's Stray Dog, Red Beard, Dersu Uzala. Kobayashi's Samurai Rebellion. Mizoguchi's Sansho the Bailiff. Inagaki's Chushingura. Teshigahara's Woman in the Dunes. Takahata's Graveyard of the Fireflies
    Reply

  • By Bryan_Y
    January 27, 2013
    12:35 AM

    I must say, you've received some excellent advice here (some of which is mine in an earlier comment), but your wish list isn't reflecting it! Seriously man, you need to add Late Ozu, Floating Weeds, An Autumn Afternoon, Early Summer, Late Spring, Naruse's When a Woman Ascends the Stairs, Kinoshita's Twenty-four Eyes, Kobayashi's The Human Condition, Teshigahara's Woman in the Dunes and The Face of Another, Postwar Kurosawa (No Regrets for our Youth, The Idiot...), and others... Start plumping up that wish list!
    Reply

  • By fluffhead
    March 02, 2013
    04:07 PM

    You're off to a great start! Seven Samurai was the first Criterion I purchased in Blu-ray. I recently saw the Japanese version of Godzilla (Gojira) for the first time, and must say I have a brand new respect for it, I wouldn't put on my best Japanese film list, but it definitly has some merit. I would pretty much echo what's been recommended by the others, especially the Teshigahara trilogy; Pitfall, Woman in the Dunes & Face of Another! Esp. Woman in the Dunes! They are about as far from "traditional" Japanese films as you can get. Also Kon Ichikawa's The Burmese Harp and Fires on the Plain. I really liked Nagisa Oshima's Empire of Passion, even more than his Realm of the Senses. Oh, I also loved Ikiru, it is one of my favorite Kurosawa films, although not everyone agree's.
    Reply

  • By Sam Rasnake
    March 02, 2013
    04:40 PM

    Good list. Rashomon is one of my ten favoirte films. I would suggest any of the films by Ozu and Mizoguchi. You'll enjoy their works.
    Reply

  • By Eric
    March 16, 2013
    09:32 AM

    Good list (and you freely admitted these were the films you had seen so far). "Throne of Blood" is my favorite Kurosawa film --- I LOVE the atmosphere of it and the blend of Shakespeare and Noh Theater elements. Also, some excellent suggestions from people who obviously have a wide knowledge of Japanese cinema. Did I miss something or did no one mention "Ugetsu"? Generally considered the greatest by Mizoguchi and also one of my favorite Japanese movies. Thanks to all of the above for their recommendations. This website visit WILL boost up my Netflix queue.
    Reply

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