Spirited Away
Miyu Irino, Rumi Hiiragi, Mari Natsuki
During her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.
Why you'll love it
Hayao Miyazaki's Academy Award-winning animated masterpiece takes viewers on a fantastical journey through the vibrant and imaginative world of Japanese folklore, following a young girl's adventures in a mysterious bathhouse for spirits.
Tokyo Story
Chishû Ryû, Chieko Higashiyama, Sô Yamamura
An old couple visit their children and grandchildren in the city, but receive little attention.
Why you'll love it
This poignant family drama from acclaimed Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu offers a moving exploration of generational gaps and the changing values of modern Japan, set against the exotic locales of 1950s Tokyo and Onomichi.
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Chloë Grace Moretz, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen
Kaguya is a beautiful young woman coveted by five nobles. To try to avoid marrying a stranger she doesn't love, she sends her suitors on seemingly impossible tasks. But she will have to face her fate and punishment for her choices.
Why you'll love it
Directed by the legendary Isao Takahata, this beautifully animated Japanese folk tale immerses viewers in the stunning natural landscapes of ancient Japan, telling the poignant story of a mysterious princess discovered as a small bamboo shoot.
Departures
Masahiro Motoki, Ryôko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki
Soon after buying an expensive cello, Daigo learns that his orchestra is disbanding. He moves back to his hometown with his wife, where he answers an ad for what Daigo thinks is a travel agency but is, in actuality, a mortuary.
Why you'll love it
This poignant Japanese drama about a cellist who becomes a professional encoffineer offers a beautiful and sensitive exploration of death, tradition, and the importance of community, set against the backdrop of Japan's stunning natural landscapes.
Tampopo
Ken Watanabe, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Nobuko Miyamoto
A truck driver stops at a small family-run noodle shop and decides to help its fledgling business. The story is intertwined with various vignettes about the relationship of love and food.
Why you'll love it
This delightful Japanese comedy, often described as a 'ramen western', follows the quest of a widow and a band of eccentric characters to find the perfect bowl of ramen, offering a unique and mouthwatering exploration of Japanese cuisine and culture.
Lost in Translation
Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi
A fading movie star falls for a lonely young woman in Tokyo.
Why you'll love it
Directed by Sofia Coppola, this romantic comedy-drama follows an aging American movie star and a young wife who form an unlikely bond while navigating the vibrant and mysterious city of Tokyo.
Battle Royale
Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Tarô Yamamoto
In a dystopian future, a group of students from a Japanese high school are forced by the government to compete in a battle, killing one another until only one is left standing.
Why you'll love it
This thrilling and controversial Japanese action film set in a dystopian future where students are forced to fight to the death on a remote island, offering a unique and chilling take on the 'teens in peril' genre.
Memoirs of a Geisha
Ziyi Zhang, Ken Watanabe, Michelle Yeoh
The heartwarming tale of Nitta Sayuri, a young Japanese woman who transcended from her fishing-village roots and became one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.
Why you'll love it
Adapted from the best-selling novel, this lush historical drama directed by Rob Marshall immerses audiences in the exotic world of 1930s Kyoto, telling the captivating story of a young woman's journey to become one of Japan's most renowned geisha.