Every culture upgrade in its way naturally. Japanese culture includes architecture, arts, traditions, handicrafts, cuisine, cinema, and worldwide pop culture like animes and dramas of Japan, especially the traditional attire. The cultural perspective possesses Japanese values and ethics of Japan, such as respecting others and the elderly, working in a team, etc. Japan lives with many aesthetic and artistic places and temples, shrines and museums, pathways, and shooting locations. Every movie has a cultural aspect to point out, but here are some of them projecting on a particular section.
1. Jiro Dreams Of Sushi
Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a documentary film about a real-life Japanese chef, Jiro Ono. He is one of the best Sushi chefs. This documentary talks about his hard work for his restaurant and serving people, but Yoshikazu, his eldest, finds it hard to continue his father's legacy. And that is the goodwill in his name and Sukiyabashi Jiro, a Japanese sushi restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo. This film is culturally inclusive because Japan and Japanese food are never apart. They have to go hand in hand. Legacy
Directed By: David Gelb
2. Tokyo Story
It’s a 1953 drama film by Yasujirō, who focuses the spotlight on a drifted-apart family and their sentiments. An old couple travels from the village to Tokyo to meet their children and have a good time to spend. These one-sided feelings don’t match those of their children, who are busy enough to have a normal conversation with them. The cultural aspect lies in this aesthetic representation of families and modern life in Japan.
Directed By: Yasujirō Ozu
3. Tampopo
Juzo Itami was a well-known director and writer of all his films who left one of his masterpieces, Tampopo. It is a comedy food film which will digest your laughter now and then. It is about a roadside Ramen noodle shop owner who is a single mother and two truck drivers teaching her recipes. Noodles being the staple food o Japanese cuisine, this movie deserves here, as it also tops the food film lists.
Directed By: Juzo Itami
4. The Garden Of Words
Takao is the 15-year-old student who skips his class, while Yukino, an aged woman, does the same with her work. Both end up on the sitting benches of the park. It's the rainy season, and they visit the park often. Takao has no support from his family for his interest in shoe-making, and Yukino often gets bullied by the students as a teacher. The film outlines beautiful locations such as parks, typical dwellings, and shoe-making Japanese tradition.
Directed By: Makoto Shinkai
5. Battle Royale
Battle Royale, based on the 1999 novel by Koushun Takami, is an action-thriller film that follows a group of high school students who get forced to fight to the death by the Japanese dictatorship government. After being sent to the deserted island, their mission is to kill each other without breaking the rules and be the last man standing. The last man standing is allowed to leave the island. This film drew controversy and got banned from several countries.
Directed By: Kinji Fukasaku
6. Tokyo Idols
This documentary film touches on pop-culture idols, their fanbase, and a cultural phenomenon between men and women, especially the Idols. The documentary portrays an Idol’s (Rio) journey of everyday hard work and the world of the fans. Mostly they are men, also known as Otaku fans. Watching this film tells you a lot about Japan’s music culture and the culture they receive in response.
Directed By: Kyoko Miyake
7. Lost In Translation
It is a romantic drama comedy starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. The location of movie takes place in Japan and the U.S.A. We can see a bit of how foreigners pursue Japanese culture. Bob Harris visits Tokyo for an ad film and meets Charlotte, a recent college graduate. The story conveys the meaningful bond created between them.
Directed By: Sofia Coppola
8. Spirited Away
Spirited away is a Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. This movie depicts the story of a ten-year-old daughter named Chihiro. The storyline tells us that Chihiro and her parents go to the supernatural amusement park, where her parents turn into pigs. Chihiro should free herself and her parents with the help of a mysterious man named Haku. Spirited away is one of the top-rated movies, which won many awards for animation.
Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki
9. Seven Samurai
Seven Samurai is an action drama movie released in 1956, directed by Akira Kurosawa. The movie plot takes us back to the 1500 century in a village where some bandits threaten villagers. The village head hires seven samurais, which protect them from those bandits. This movie won many Academy and Bafta awards for art direction and costume design. Takashi Shimura got nominated for best foreign actor at the Bafta awards.
Directed By: Akira Kurosawa
10. Rashomon
Story of four men and four different versions of a man's murder and his wife's rape. Not emphasizing particular Japanese culture, the film did become a cultural influence in Japan and can relate to many parts of current Japan. But the film certainly did influence the international audience through the Japanese film culture. The movie got an Oscar nomination but won BAFTA and Blue Ribbon-like awards.
Directed By: Akira Kurosawa
