Japan is recognized for having one of the largest and oldest film industries. It is the fourth largest country in terms of feature films produced as of 2021. The Japanese film industry has always had an immense impact on cinema. Over the years, Japan has showcased outstanding classics with blockbuster hits like Seven Samurai, Sand Castle, Harakiri, and Godzilla, to name a few, which take the cake of being some of the most beloved masterpieces. In 2020 Japanese cinema took a hit like any other, having the dates of the movies moved around on the calendar. But don't worry, for Japanese film enthusiasts, 2021 looks promising. Here's a selection of 10 Japanese movies, some of which have been already released, so you don't have to wait for long.
1. Wheel Of Fortune And Fantasy (2021)
Winner of the Silver Bear at this year's Berlin Film Festival, "Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy," directed and written by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi. The movie is 121-minutes long, yet it consists of three short stories, sewn together but presented as one package.
2. Last Of The Wolves (2021)
Directed by Kazuya Shiraishi, "Last of the Wolves" follows a story where after Shogo Ogami died in Hiroshima, Detective Shuichi Hioka successfully implements Shogo Ogami's strategy to manage the yakuza to prevent future gang battles and protect innocent people. Shuichi Hioka controls the criminal groups, but the situation changes dramatically when one terrible individual is freed from jail.
3. The Great Yokai War: Guardians (2021)
Yokai is the collective term for Japanese mythical entities. It roughly translates as "strange apparition." In "The Great Yokai War: Guardian," a brilliantly entertaining fantasy-adventure directed by the talented Takashi Miike, a plethora of creatures from Japanese legend come to life in the Nagano area of Japan and morphs into Yokaiju, a catastrophic force of nature that leaves nothing but calamity and destruction in its trail. Join Kei Watanabe in his journey to save both yokai and mankind.
4. Remain In Twilight (2021)
Daigo Matsui's "Remain in Twilight" is an adaptation of a play inspired by the loss of a friend, making this emotional endeavor one of his most successful to date. Six high-school friends reunite five years later for a mutual friend's wedding. They reunite as if not long had passed and recall their high school days, assuming that their friendships will last forever. But wait, there's a twist: they can see and touch one of their friends who shouldn't be here. To uncover further, check out this comedic yet supernatural film.
5. Gekijôban: Signal (2021)
If you're a drama enthusiast, you've probably heard of one of the most successful Japanese dramas', Signal. What's thrilling is that Hajime Hashimoto directed a film that follows the drama's plot. A limousine taxi driver causes an accident on a highway, leading to the death of a high-level government official. Kento Saegusa (Kentaro Sakaguchi) and Misaki Sakurai (Michiko Kichise), members of the cold case investigation team, have reservations about the case. Once again, the walkie-talkie switches on, connecting the past with the future.
6. Cube (2021)
Several strangers awaken in a prison of cubic cells, not remembering how they got there. They must work together, evading the fatal traps, and find an escape route. Rings a bell? Cube 2021 will be a remake of the 1997's fantasy- thriller by Vincenzo Natali. Starring Suda Masaki, Okada Masaki, Tashiro Hikaru, Saito Takumi, Yoshida Kotaro, and Anne as the trapped six, Cube is produced by one of the major Japanese movies distributors and producer, Shochiku.
"Cube" is set to premiere in Japan on October 22, 2021, and Shochiku distributes it.
7. Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai (2021)
The film was supposed to be released in May 2020; however, it was pushed back to October 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Set in the 19th century, "Moeyo Ken" chronicles the life of Toshizo Hijikata (Junichi Okada). He was the Shinsengumi's vice-commander and fought against the Meiji Restoration. Junichi Okada, Kou Shibasaki, Ryohei Suzuki, Ryosuke Yamada, and Hideaki Ito are cast.
'Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai' will be released across Japan on October 15, 2021.
8. The Method Of Repulsing The Dove (2021)
The film is based on Shogo Sato's 2014 novel "Hato no Gekitaiho" and is, directed by Hideta Takahata.
Shinichi Tsuda (Tatsuya Fujiwara) is a literary genius. He is the recipient of the renowned Naoki Literature Prize. He allows his editor Nahomi Torikai (Tao Tsuchiya), to read his latest work one day. The novel is centered on Shinichi Tsuda's incident in a tiny town in Toyama Prefecture. Even though Nahomi Torikai is impressed by the new novel, she gets a strange feeling. She investigates whether the narrative is a work of fiction based on the author's own experience.
"The Method of Repulsing the Dove" will be screened on August 27, 2021.
9. Zero-One Others: Kamen Rider Vulcan & Valkyrie (2021)
Following Zero-One Others: Kamen Rider Metsuboujinrai's theater releases, a fresh take was announced for the Kamen Rider Zero-One series Zero-One Others: Kamen Rider Vulcan & Valkyrie. The Isamu Fuwa/Kamen rider Vulcan and Yua Yaiba/Kamen rider Valkyrie will return to Ryutaro Okada and Hiroe Igeta. Yua Yaiba was commanded to exterminate Kamen Rider Metsuoijinrai by Shigeru Daimonji, National Secretary of Defense. While she hesitates to carry out this command, the Rider sets its eyes on Valkyrie herself. What happens to Yua, who acts on her righteousness by refusing to battle Kamen Rider Metsuboujinrai and Isamu, who is committed to completing his ultimate duty as Kamen Rider Vulcan?
Find out on August 27, 2021
10. Mamoranakatta Monotachi-e (2021)
The cinematic version of Shichiri Nakayama's most selling mystery novel 'Mamoranakatta monotachi-e' follows a story of a string of murders occurring 9 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake in Miyagi Prefecture, where victims are bound and left to starve. It is suspected that the same perpetrator killed the two victims. In the homicides, Yasuhisa Tone, who was released from prison, emerges as a suspect. The detective discovers that the two victims had a similar connection and investigates Yasuhisa Tone.
The movie will be in theaters on October 1, 2021.
