World Wars have gathered many countries to suffer devastating situations. The alliances, the strategy, and the soldiers mattered a lot during the war periods. The killing of humanity over victory was always the end of these wars. Japan being one of these countries, it’s obvious to have a Japanese perspective towards the battles that took place ages ago through the entertainment medium. These movies are important in Japan to look through the past they have experienced, but a non-Japanese can also watch to learn about both sides' situations in the long run of these war movies. Japan has been in World Wars, the Sino-Japanese war, the attacks, and the battles of islands.
1. Battle Of Okinawa (1971)
The battle of Okinawa was the last severe battle of World War II fought between the U.S and the Japanese army. The movie adapts the name of the Okinawa battle and highlights the Japanese perspective of this war which caused horror. It has war, action, and drama fusion. The battle of Okinawa film can get you to one side of the war’s idea.
Directed By: Kihachi Okamoto
2. The Eternal Zero (2013)
Based on a novel, The Eternal Zero is a story of two siblings researching and unrevealing their grandfather, Miyabe’s history as a Kamikaze pilot. Late Miyabe died in the Pacific War. He has a lot of surprising facts about his personality, unknown to his grandchildren. The silent truth then comes up as a shock!
Directed By: Takashi Yamazaki
3. Oba, The Last Samurai (2011)
It’s almost the end of World War II, but the captain of the troop and his reduced team of 47 on the Saipan island decide to dedicate their last fight against the U.S-controlled area/island. The battle of Saipan is in remembrance of the loss of the Japanese and the U.S victory.
Directed By: Hideyuki Hirayama
4. Letters From Iwo Jima
The film by an American filmmaker gave a Japanese perspective to the war fought on Iwo Jima island. The number of late soldiers is numerous for both armies. Hence, the movie touches on the anti-war ideology and the letters from the legendary soldiers.
Directed By: Clint Eastwood
5. In This Corner Of The World
Even if the story is a visual animated translation of the script, the wartime situations faced by this 18-year-old married girl, Suzu, are heartbreaking but beautiful to watch. She lives on the outskirts of Hiroshima city, with the naval base with her husband, who works as a civilian secretary for the military tribunal. If you like watching war movies and animation creations, watch Suzu's attempts to maintain peace during the outburst of the Pacific war in the 1930s.
Directed By: Sunao Katabuchi
6. The Wind Rises
It is a story of a real-life historical man, Jiro Horikoshi, and a bit fictionalized animated piece by Hayao Miyazaki. Jiro dreams of becoming a pilot, but his eyesight doesn’t support his dreams. He is now known for designing the ‘Zero’ fighter plane during World War II. He then served as Japan’s chief engineer of many Japanese fighter designs during WW2.
Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki
7. Sea Without Exit
You have an ambition of pursuing a career, but things change, and you have no option but to do a different job. Hurts? Yes, but this story has a boy with the ambition to play Baseball and a pitcher. His injuries and the WW2 wave throw his desire to serve in the navy. A part of the film will give you a glimpse of navy training and ocean wars.
Directed By: Kiyoshi Sasabe
8. Isoroku
Isoroku Yamamoto was a real-life strategist and a Combined Fleet Commander in the Japanese war period. Known for his legendary contribution to the Pearl Harbor Attack, this movie is a view and short combined life story of Isoroku and his contribution to many Japanese war missions, attacks, and alliances.
Directed By: Izuru Narushima
9. The Human Condition
It’s a trilogy film adapted from the novel, The Human Condition. The names of these three sub-films are- No Greater Love (1959), Road to Eternity(1959), and A Soldier's Prayer (1961). All three parts encircled the experience of a Japanese soldier named Kaji. He, who is not willing to join the military, suffers a lot during wartime. There could have been many Kajis in those periods.
Directed By: Masaki Kobayashi
10. Japan's Longest Day (1967)
The film’s longest day refers to the ending day/period of the Pacific War or World War II after the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This long day starts from the 14th Aug of 1945 to the 15th Aug of 1945, the day before surrender. In the film, you will see the broadcasting of the peaceful surrender by Japan's emperor- Hirohito, and the army on another side willing to fight until the death. If you are unknown to this historical event, watch Japan's Longest Day.
Directed By: Kihachi Okamoto
