Below are listed some of the best love story films of Japanese which were released in recent years.
1. My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday
2016 released, My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday, directed by Takahiro Miki, is not your typical love story. Starring Sota Fukashi and Nana Komatsu in the leads, the film tells the story of two people, Takotoshi, an undergraduate student majoring in visual arts, who falls in love at first with Emi Fukaju. The storyline with a slice of time-traveling keeps the viewers engaged till the end. If you are looking for a bitter-sweet melancholic drama, My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday is highly recommended!
2. I Want To Eat Your Pancreas
Are you looking for a tearjerker? Then 2017 released I Want to Eat Your Pancreas should be on your list. The aloof protagonist Shiga Haruki discovers that his popular classmate, Yamauchi Sakura suffers from pancreatic disease and that her time left is finite. Yamauchi pursues Haruki to help her to complete her bucket list. Slowly romance blossoms between them. The film is full of longing and the actors Minami and Kitamura Takumi did exceptionally well.
3. Your Name
Your Name, directed by Makoto Shinkai, set a cultural phenomenon in Japan. 2016 released animated romantic fantasy film feature two body-swapping teenagers who gradually develop a special connection with each other. The film highlights the social realities and emotional exploration of issues that haunt the Japanese today, making it a visual treat.
4. Daytime Shooting Star
Daytime Shooting Star tells the story of naïve Yosana Suzume, our protagonist. Suzame starts to live with her uncle after her parents relocate to Bangladesh for work. On her way, she meets a mysterious man who helps her with directions to reach home. Later, it turns out that the man is her homeroom teacher Shishio, who is a friend of her uncle. Frequent interactions lead Suzume to develop feelings for Shishio, who initially rejects her but later starts dating.
Were you looking for a love triangle with good-looking leads? Then go for Daytime Shooting Star…. you’ll like it!
5. Tonight, At The Movies
Tonight, at the Movies is a 2020 released romantic fantasy film starring Haruka Ayase and Kentaro Sakaguchi in the leads. The film follows the story of an aspiring filmmaker Kenji, whose dream heroine Princess Miyuki from an old cinema materializes in the real world with all her monochrome glory. Unsurprisingly love blossoms between them. The film succeeds in bringing the essence of a fairy tale romance and nostalgia with the help of excellent actors and good direction.
6. Your Lie In April
2016 released Your Lie in April is a Japanese youth romance film starring Suzu Hirose and Kento Yamazaki in the leads. Kosei Arima is a piano prodigy who went through psychological trauma after his mother’s demise. He then meets the free-spirited Kaori Miyazono, who loves to play the violin. Kaori convinces Kosei to be her accompanist for a recital. Slowly and steadily, love blossoms between the pair. Their love story gets more complicated when a friend of Kosie falls for Kaori. But then, when has love been easy?
A story with a musical background, sentimental storyline, and excellent is bound to make magic. Your Lie in April is a beautiful romance drama and highly watchable.
7. Josee, The Tiger, And The Fish
Kotaro Tamura’s ‘Josee, the Tiger and the Fish’ is a 2020 Japanese animated rom-com drama film. Two people with different backgrounds with their insecurities meet in a chance encounter and eventually get along and become lovers. The anime stars the voice of Taishi Nagakawa and Kaya Kiyohara, which enhances the captivating plot.
8. One Week Friends
Shosuke Murakami’s 2017 release One Week Friends, starring Haruna Kawaguchi and Kento Yamazaki, is a heart-rending love story. High school student Yuki falls in love with his classmate Kaori who suffers from retrograde and anterograde amnesia, making her forget any memory when a week starts. If you are looking for an emotional heart-touching drama with a not-so-complicated plot, then One Week Friends is a good choice!
9. The 100th Love With You
The 100th Love with You, directed by Sho Tshukikawa, is a 2017 romantic drama film starring Miwa and Kentaro Sakaguchi in the lead. The film revolves around two college students Aoi and Riku, who get involved in a time-traveling scenario. During the course, they experience a whirlwind romance that may or may not have an expiry date. If you wish to see a typical Japanese youth romance with a musical, dreamy and time-traveling twist, The 100th Love with You is a must-watch!
10. Our Meal For Tomorrow
Masahide’s Our Meal for Tomorrow shows the love story between the outgoing high school student Koharu Uemura and the downcast loner Ryoto Hayama. The film stars Yuto Nakajima and Yuko Araki in the leads. The fantastic chemistry and good storyline with a thread of philosophical underpinnings make the film worth watching.
