Japanese movies are always a pleasure to watch. Japanese cinema offers a diverse range of film which also gives an insight to the Japanese culture and their way of living. If we talk about the business-centric movies, these movies show the entrepreneurial spirit and the challenges faced in business landscape. They provide a window through which audience can witness the complexities that exists in the corporate world. These movies show the ambitious entrepreneurs striving to build their business in the brutal and cutthroat competitive market. From the sorrows of failure into joy and happiness of success, these movies take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. So, here is a compilation of the best business-centric Japanese movies of all time.
1. Whistleblower
Whistleblower is a mystery Japanese movie released in 2019. The film revolves around a man named Tamio Yasumi. Tamio Yasumi worked as a subsection chief for a company. Tamio had also not received a promotion for a long period. Makoto Kitagawa worked in the same company as a manager, in the same department, and is a very hardworking man. The company also holds a secret. The movie is directed by Katsuo Fukuzawa. Nomura Mansai II, Kagawa Teruyuki, and Oikawa Mitsuhiro play the leading roles in the film.
2. Shrieking In The Rain
Shrieking in the Rain was released in 2021. The movie revolves around Hayashi Hanako. Hayashi Hanako is a rookie film director striving to make it in the male-dominated genre. In summer of 1988, Hayashi is pushing the production of the edge of its capabilities. She is often criticized by her male subordinates for not meeting the desired results. This makes her to isolate herself and go trough many meltdowns. The movie is written and directed by Uchida Eiji. Matsumoto Marika plays the leading role in the film.
3. A Man Called Pirate
A Man Called Pirate was released in 2016. The film revolves around Kunioka Tetsuzo. The film is set in 1945-47, on August 15, 1945, Japan lost the World War II. Tetsuzo, who own an oil manufacturing company, lost most of his company, and some of them were missing, or they were not available. The company’s overseas branches were also off the radar. The story progresses, as Tetsuzo was undeterred by the loss of Japan and worked with his heart and soul to rebuild the largest oil company. The movie is written and directed by Yamazaki Takashi. Okada Junichi, Ayase Haruka, and Yoshioka Hidetaka played the leading roles in the film.
4. Restaurant From The Sky
Restaurant From the Sky was released in 2019. The story starts in a cattle ranch in Hokkaido where Wataru lived with his wife and daughter named Shiori. He inherited the cattle ranch from his father and ran a cheese workshop. He was not skilled enough in cheese making and often got scolded by his strict teacher. One day, a famous chef from Sapporo came and made a meal with the products they produced. They were touched by the food and wanted to open a restaurant so that other people could get the same experience. The movie is directed by Fukagawa Yoshihiro. Oizumi Yo, Honjo Manami, and Okada Masaki played the leading roles in the film.
5. Akira And Akira
Akira and Akira was released in 2022. The film revolves around Akira Yamazaki and Akira Kaido. They were the newly joined employees at the Industrial Central Bank. They were excellent at their job and were fierce rivals. They also came from different backgrounds. Akira Yamazaki’s father’s company became bankrupt when he was a child, and his family had to run away in the middle of the night. This caused him to become a banker and help people. Whereas, Akira Kaido came from a family who runs a large company. One day, due to some case, Akira Yamazaki received a demotion while Kaido still progressed. The movie is directed by Miki Takahiro. Takeuchi Ryoma and Yokohama Ryusei play the leading roles in the film.
6. Project Dreams: How To Build Mazinger Z’s Hangar
Project Dreams was released in 2020. The tells the story of employees of a construction company, who are faced with a challenge. The employees of the Maeda Corporation, whose main works includes construction of tunnels and dams, are faced with a challenge to a hangar for declared by the company’s advertising group’s leader, Asagawa. The movie is directed by Hanabusa Tsutomu. Takasugi Mahiro, Kishii Yukino, Machida Keita, Ogi Hiroaki, Kamiji Yusuke Kamiji Yusuke, Honda Chikara, and Rokkaku Seiji play the leading roles.
7. Oz Land
Oz Land was released in 2018. The film revolves around Kurumi Namihira. She got a job at a luxury hotel chain but had to work at Amusement Park Greenland. Yoshiko Ozuka worked in the same amusement park and was known as Wizard and had worked on many successful projects. Kurumi learned that if the employees give a good result, then they can transfer to higher positions. So, she works with her heart and soul to get the promotion. The film is directed by Hatano Takafumi. Haru and Nishijima Hidetoshi play the leading roles.
8. Startup Girls
Startup Girls was released in 2019. The film tells the story of two young women. Komatsu Hikari and Minamibori Nozomi are young founders of a startup. They strive to survive and build up their business in the Japanese society where traditionally entrepreneurs are not accepted. As they build their business they go through the phase of maturity along the way. The film was written by Takahashi Izumi and directed by Ikeda Chihiro. Kamishiraishi Mone and Yamazaki Hirona play the leading roles in the movie.
9. Cosmetic Wars
Cosmetic Wars was released in 2017. The film revolves around a woman named Misawa Akane. Misawa Akane is an industrial spy. She becomes an employee in a cosmetic company named Albion. She enters with an intending to steal the confidential information about their popular product. But through her journey it made her to rethink about her life and goals. The movie is directed by Suzuki Kosuke and written by Shimizu Yuuki. Omasa Aya plays the leading role in the film.
10. Zenigata
Zenigata was released in 2018. The movie revolves around two siblings. Tomio and his younger brother runs a bar named Zeingata in a backstreet of a fishing port. But at midnight the bar turns into a hub of illegal loan shark office. The two brothers lend money and charge the borrower a high interest. The film is written by Nagamori Yuji and directed by Ayabe Shinya. Otani Ryohei and Kobayashi Katsuya play the leading roles in the movie.
