Japanese movies are known for their enriched Japanese culture. In Japanese film you can find traces of their rich culture with other elements like romance, drama, thriller and comedy. With time, Japanese movies have gained recognition from around the globe and represented the country in world stage. From decades women in the direction felid of Japanese movies have showcased their talent. Many award-winning movies have impressed both viewers and critics. The storyline and plot of these movies have left a mark on the Japanese entertainment industry. So, here is a compilation of Japanese films directed by women.
1. Sweet Bean
Sweet Bean is a Japanese drama film released in 2015 and directed by Naomi Kawase. The story revolves around a dorayaki shop owner named Sentaro, who had his shop in the outskirts of Tokyo. Locals and school kids frequently visited the shop. One day, an older woman came to Sentaro for a part-time job. Sentaro rejecter her as he thought the work will be exhausting far an older woman, but he changed his mind after tasting her bean paste. After selling the dorayaki using bean paste made by the old lady, the shop became famous, and people started flocking to get their hands on one. Things began to change when people saw the symptoms of leprosy on the older woman’s hand.
2. Radiance
Radiance is a Japanese romantic film released in 2017 and directed by Naomi Kawase. The film revolves around a girl named Masako, who is passionate about her work and creates audio descriptions for movies for blind people. Her passion and commitment towards her work helps her to give that texture and depth in her works. She first tests her work on ten blind individuals. She then meets Masaya, a passionate photographer who is unfortunately, losing his eyesight. Masaya was the only one who criticized Masako’s work and helped her to see the coldness in her descriptions.
3. Bread Of Happiness
Bread of Happiness is a Japanese drama film released in 2012 and directed by Yukiko Mishima. The film tells the story of a couple, Rei and Nao. Together they run a restaurant named Mani on the shores of lake Hokkaido. Nao is the baker, who bakes fresh breads for the restaurant and Rei is the chef who prepares food there. The restaurant is blessed by beautiful scenery throughout the year and the costumer who visit the restaurant leave with a happy heart.
4. A Stitch Of Life
A Stitch of Life is a drama film released in 2015 and directed by Mishima Yukiko. The movie revolves around the life of a seamstress named Ichie. Ichie inherited her grandmother’s dressmaking shop. She was famous in the area for making beautiful western-style dresses. Following her grandmother’s footsteps, she avoided branding and mass productions and only make unique and custom-made dresses.
5. Dear Etranger
Dear Etranger is a Japanese family drama movie released in 2017 and directed by Mishima Yukiko. The story revolves around a family of a 40 years old Makoto Tanaka. Makoto Tanaka is remarried to Nanae. The family lived an everyday life with two daughters from Nanae’s prior marriage. But things started to change when Nanae got pregnant. Makoto’s step daughter, on learning the news began to rebel against her parents. Looking at the circumstances, Makoto asks Nanae to abort the child.
6. xxxHOLiC
xxxHOLiC is a Japanese mystery thriller film released in 2022 and directed by Ninagawa Mika. The film revolves around the story of a high school student named Watanuki Kimihiro. Watanuki can to see spirits and monsters around him. One day while returning to his home, he encountered another evil spirit and his feet led him to a strange shop. The owner of the peculiar shop was a lady named Ichihara Yuko. She offers Watanuki to help him get rid of the spirits but wanted the similar exchange from him. So, he started to work temporarily in her shop. Then he began to encounter more supernatural events.
7. Helter Skelter
Helter Skelter is a psychological drama film released in 2012 and directed by Ninagawa Mika. The film tells the story of a supermodel named Liliko. Liliko transformed her body from head to toe with the help of plastic surgeries to rise to the peak of her career. But, soon her body starts to break down due to the adverse effects of all the surgeries. In frustration and desperation, she began to lash out on her manager, company and public. Later, she realizes that she will not be able to keep up with her current lifestyle. Then an inspector started to investigate mysterious suicide that are occurring in the area, suspects the foul play by cosmetic surgeries.
8. Under The Open Sky
Under The Open Sky is a Japanese drama film released in 2021 and directed by Miwa Nishikawa. The story revolves around the life of a former yakuza gang member. Masao Mikami was just released after serving 13 years in prison for murder. After his release, he wanted to meet his long-lost mother, with whom he was separated as a child. So, an attempt to find his mother, applies for a TV show and meets a TV director named Tsunoda. He also finds it challenging to settle in the new world because of his records.
9. The Long Excuse
The Long Excuse is a drama film released in 2016 and directed by Miwa Nishikawa. The story revolves around the life of a celebrity writer named Sachio Kinugasa. Sachio had fallen out of love with his wife named, Natsuko Kinugasa. One day,8 Sachio heard the news of his wife passing away in a bus accident. But he did not feel any guilt or grief about it. He then meets Yoichi Omiya, who is Natsuko’s friend’s husband. He was in deep sorrow after the death of his wife in the same bus accident and was unable to take care of his two daughters. Sachio decided to help him in taking care of the daughters and soon realizes, this is his way of dealing with his wife’s death.
10. Dream For Sale
Dream For Sale is a Japanese film released in 2012 and directed by Miwa Nishikawa. The movie revolves around the lives of a husband and wife named Kan and Sato. Kan and Sato had recently bought a restaurant as it was their dream to run one. But after loosing that restaurant in a fire, their dream came crashing down and now they were in a financial loss. To regain their lost assets, they turned to illegal ways. They started conning young ladies to extract money from them to invest in their restaurant.
