J-Movies

Recommended Japanese Movies - Available overseas!

… with understandable Japanese…

The films below are good Japanese films, but are also comparatively easy for a student of Japanese to understand. Unlike classic Kurosawa samurai flicks, the characters speak calm, clear, standard Japanese. Also unlike Anime, the conversations are rooted in reality, to the vocabulary you hear may actually be stuff in your textbook. Give them a try! Most of these can be found at your local Blockbuster, or other movie rental store.

Shall We Dance is classic. Two of the Japanese classes that I have taken in university made Shall We Dance required viewing. The story is easy to follow, and there aren’t any crazy dialects, or overly strange conversation topics to confuse a learner of Japanese. I personally recommend it highly!

Tanpopo, while obviously a comedy, Tanpopo will give you a serious look at how a Ramen shop is run in Japan.
Some of my Japanese friends say that working in a Ramen shop, a serious Ramen shop, is one of the toughest part time jobs a kid can have in Japan. If it’s anything like what is shown in this movie, I can understand why.

Kikujiro is, I believe, the only non-violent movie I have seen directed by Beat Takeshi. This movie is really funny though, quality stuff. It gives you a good look into what a typical summer is like in Japan. Crazy characters, funny events, and a realistic look at Japan make this one natsukashii for anyone who has visited Japan before.

Ichi the Killer

Ichi the Killer almost needs no introduction. By director Miike Takashi, it is a classic Japanese film based on an insane manga.

Audition

This movie is an unique suspense/horror flick, not like anything you’ll see from Hollywood… This is also a Takashi Miike movie. However, despite it’s creepiness there is a lot of regular one on one conversation between the main characters. Very easy to follow, until the end when things go insane…

Happiness of the Katakuri’s

Another film by Miike, but completely different than Audition and Ichi the Killer. Happiness is almost devoid of violence, and is in fact extremely funny. It’s kind of like a twisted musical… See it for yourself.