Discover Movies

Shigeki, one of the Ainu people of northern Japan, follows the traditions of his ancestors and teaches his son Motoki about their heritage. But how can old customs be revived after centuries of suppression?

Anzai, Mutoh, Hamada, Hagiwara, and Miru are in a car headed to a love hotel used by the Sugiyama Clan for money laundering. This one night only gang succeed in robbing them blind and though they were supposed to go their separate ways after splitting the money, the five end up being hunt down by a detective hired by the clan and clan members themselves. An ending nobody ever even dreamed of.

A documentary on a live event that celebrates the shocking and bizarre underground art scene in Tokyo.

Satoshi Kuribayashi and his team filmed the insects for over an astonishing 430 days, resulting in breathtaking images and scenes from a still fairly unknown world. Watch a mantis sneak up on its prey and catch it with its razor sharp claws. Experience a deadly, thrilling wasp fight. Sit back and watch the world of the insects unfold before you like you have never experienced it before.

Born a conjoined twin due to the effects of Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War, Duc Nguyen, now a father and husband, seeks the truth about his past and contemplates the future.

Oriza Hirata is Japan's leading playwright and director, who runs his own theatrical company, Seinendan. Theatre 2 (Observational Film Series #4) examines the dynamic relationship between theatre and the society through depicting Hirata's activities. In order for his art and his not-so-commercial company to survive this highly capitalistic modern society, what kind of strategy does Hirata have and practice?

Image work of Akari Ikeda. Akari Ikeda, whose pure smile shines with big eyes that seem to be sucked in, steps into the secret sanctuary with a rainy day "barely exposed".

Caniba is a fresco about flesh and desire. It reflects on the discomfiting significance of cannibalism in human existence through the prism of one Japanese man, Issei Sagawa, and his mysterious relationship with his brother, Jun Sagawa.

Osamu Tezuka is known as the “God of Manga.” He was the genius Japanese artist who pioneered manga and anime after WWII. He’s often compared to Walt Disney, but that’s a disservice to Tezuka —that’s how much he contributed and how influential he was.

UFOs and aliens from beyond the stars are common themes in media, entertainment, and other forms of science fiction; however, many individuals have sworn they have seen UFOs and have been abducted in real life! Sit back and watch as the makers of Mazinger take you on a journey through the history of UFO lore. Could it be that UFOs are real and that aliens watch us from afar? In the end, only you can be the judge. This was used for promotion of the then upcoming animated film, "Battlefield of the Space Saucers".

KEN SAN pieces together the puzzle of the life and legacy of Japan's mythical acting icon, Ken Takakura. Collaborators, friends and family tell intimate stories of Ken's journey: how one man of quiet dignity became a cultural barrier-breaking film star.

Behind-the-scenes footage of Takayuki Suzui’s film man-hole.

During World War II, many Japanese immigrants in Santos, Brazil, were forced to move to another place. Matsubayashi draws attention to the fact that 60% of the immigrants were from Okinawa. Based on testimonies from interviewees, this film reveals the hidden historical relationship between Okinawa and Brazil.

A thorough account of the process to make Weathering with You. The crew appears to have been given unfettered access to the production allowing for a great walk through something we rarely see, production of an anime feature. From first audition of the voice actors, to cast and crew working with the director, to the animation process like compositing, background, temp work, 3D modelling, computer animation, to production meetings, to working on the songs with RADWIMPS, to finally the promotional tour of the final film this documentary covers every step.

This documentary examines the plight of Korean veterans who were conscripted into the Japanese imperial army during World War II and later left destitute in postwar Japan. Many, disabled by their service, are denied compensation because of their Korean nationality. Filmed for Japanese television, the work confronts public apathy and exposes the unresolved moral responsibility Japan bears toward those who fought in its name.

The film’s story centers on Musashi Miyamoto, one of the most famous swordsmen in Japanese history. He pioneered the Hyouhou Niten Ichi-ryuu style of two-sword fighting and wrote “The Book of Five Rings,” a book that has been compared to Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” for its insight on tactics and strategy.

Japan, 1986. At the tail end of the world tour promoting their latest album Revenge, Eurythmics tops the charts. Between concerts, pop duo Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart survey Japan's cultural soundscape with the help of Conny Plank: A world of sounds both brutally technological and highly refined by tradition.

A behind-the-scenes look at the making of Shin'ya Tsukamoto's film "Gemini".

An insight into the everyday lives of 50 inmates of a mental institution in the Chinese province of Yunnan, who are there for killing someone, committing a crime against a public official, or have a developmental disability.

After producing several experimental video art pieces, Tsuchiya first came to prominence with A New God, a personal documentary shot on video about his relationship with a right-wing, neo-nationalist punk rock band. Even though Tsuchiya is on the left, he ended up marrying the singer for that band, Karin Amamiya, who has since emerged as a spokesperson for disaffected Japanese youth in the media. The New God won an award at the 1999 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival.

The making of Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Babel is chronicled through an observational approach that captures the creative and logistical challenges of filming a deeply interconnected narrative across four continents. Directed by Carlos Armella and Pedro González-Rubio, the documentary reveals Iñárritu’s commitment to authenticity and cultural sensitivity, from collaborating with local actors and communities to meticulously recreating environments. Through behind-the-scenes footage and the director’s reflective commentary, it delves into themes of human connection, the boundaries we hold within ourselves, and the visceral nature of communication, offering profound insights into the philosophy behind the acclaimed film.

Would you like to embark on a journey to discover new attractions in Miyazaki's works? By setting a fictional city and depicting the vivid lives of the people who live there, it is as if the city really exists.― Director Hayao Miyazaki's landscapes have this power. Natsukawa Yui, and Sugimoto Tetta, will visiting the European towns and places that inspired the setting images of Hayao Miyazaki's works. In "A European Journey to Encounter Miyazaki's Works," we embark on a journey to find the scenery of Kiki's Delivery Service and Howl's Moving Castle.

Would you like to embark on a journey to discover new attractions in Miyazaki's works? By setting a fictional city and depicting the vivid lives of the people who live there, it is as if the city really exists.― Director Hayao Miyazaki's landscapes have this power. Tsuruta Mayu visiting the towns and places that inspired the setting images of Hayao Miyazaki's works and exploring their charms. Japan as Depicted by Miyazaki takes you to old Japan in search of images of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Ponyo on the Cliff

A controversial still photographer specializing in grim death portraits translates his morbid sensibilities to the moving picture to offer an affecting look at death from an entirely unique perspective. Tsurisaki Kiyotaka specializes in the kind of photography that most folks would shrink away from. Over the course of his career, Kiyotaka has photographed more than 1000 deaths, a focus that often finds him facing legal problems in his home country of Japan. In this collection of short films, the photographer shifts his focus to the subject of war to offer a startling and sobering look at the aftermath of combat. Additional images of starvation, disasters, and tragic accidents highlight the fragility of human life and the grotesqueness of death's many forms.

A group of youths try to create works they think suitable for filling up the "hollowness" of life. For example, by hiring an orchestra and having its members count the stars in the sky from dusk to dawn, they create a new kind of music. Ms. Yoko Ono, the leader of the group, who calls herself a one-time musician, poet, and painter, explains the motives of their eccentric conduct.

Labelled with the titles "Marine Mammal", "Ocean", "Life", "Myth", "Dialogue", and "Universe", six tapes containing video recordings of interviews with renown experts have been left behind by a man who has disappeared. The man's younger sister ascertains the man has gone to Micronesia. This is a hybrid documentary and drama combining real interviews and a fictional framing narrative, produced by STUDIO4°C as a tie-in with their animated movie of the comic "Children of the Sea" by Igarashi Daisuke.

EVANGELION is coming to an end. NHK spent 4 years with exclusive access to director Hideaki Anno, documenting the creative process behind the final EVANGELION: 3.0+1.0 THRICE UPON A TIME. For the first time, the camera is allowed inside Anno's studio. The documentary attempts to capture why master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (STUDIO GHIBLI) describes him as one who sheds blood for his films.

This film is a record of the first Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival. It reflects the various ways the festival was given shape by nascent global changes embodied by Perestroika, the Tiananmen Square massacre, and many other contemporaneous events.

This package captures the November 2nd Yokohama Arena performance from Naniwa Danshi's first arena tour since their debut, which ran from July to November 2022 across 9 cities nationwide for a total of 39 shows. Featuring their debut song “Ubu LOVE,” performed after making their entrance with a “Platinum Jet” reminiscent of their debut day, this live package delivers the ultimate “Debut Tour” experience! It packs in nearly all their original songs from their Johnny's Jr. days and tracks released after their CD debut. Enjoy a concert richly condensed with Naniwa Danshi's ‘Love,’ showcasing their continued growth following their debut.

A documentary showcasing the making of Sion Sono's Himizu

Sato Tadao is a giant of film criticism with over 150 published works to his name. He adored Asian cinema and referred to one Indian film, Kummatty, as his treasure. The director sets out on a journey in search of that treasure.

A film about the legacy of Edgar Cayce

An extremely lovely tribute to Ozu, on the 20th anniversary of his death. It uses a combination of footage from vintage films and new material (both interviews and Ozu-related locations) shot by Ozu's long-time camera-man (who came out of retirement to work on this). Surprisingly (or perhaps not), it focuses less on Ozu's accomplishments as a film-maker than on his impact on the lives of the people he worked with..

Directed by Arata Oshima, son of rebel filmmaker Nagisa Oshima, who had praised Sono's early work before his passing, this documentary gives insight into the man, the poet, the painter, the scriptwriter, the husband and the boy who will eventually grow up to be the Sion Sono. Lineage, history and the past meeting the present are themes in this film in which Oshima connects the dots in Sono's creative life by taking the camera to the site of his upbringing and following the production of his most recent film The Whispering Star.

The words I promised to Kin-ichi Motegi, 'This is the first and last. I tell you everything about Fishmans without telling a lie.' The friends who made the sound of Fishmans devoted their lives to music. Shinji Sato's way of life is packed in this movie for nearly three hours.

This documentary follows 200 days in the life of contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto— a leading presence in the world of modern art. He is the winner of many prestigious awards and his photographs are sold for millions of yen at overseas auctions. The film shows the sites of the Architecture series shot in southern France, the huge installation art work at 17th Biennale of Sydney, his new work Mathematics at Provence, his art studio while working on Lightning Fields, and more. It thoroughly pursues the question Sugimoto's works pose - "living in modern times, what are these works trying to tell us?" A thrilling look into the world of Hiroshi Sugimoto.

A documentary about Japanese idol group Nogizaka46. "A method to forget sadness" will show how the Nogizaka46's members were, how they really felt, and how they strived while facing the cruel world of showbiz. How were their lives off the screen? Well, find out by yourself.

School slapstick drama.

An hour-long archival documentary on the film's production.

"LIVE ATTRACTION" is the first concert released on video which contains footage from Mizuki Nana's 'Live Attratraction' Tour at Tokyo Kokusai Forum Hall C on November 30, 2002.

A promotional film by Studio Ghibli about the work on the film "The Cat Returns" (directed by Hiroyuki Morita)

Attracting 140,000 fans over two days (April 27–28, 2024), “Shinzou” was a legendary performance that established Ado the first solo female artist to perform at the iconic Japan National Stadium. The setlist featured 26 songs including her on-stage duet of “Sakura Biyori and Time Machine (with Hatsune Miku),” the highly acclaimed “DIGNITY” featuring guest guitarist Tak Matsumoto (from B’z), and “Show,” a collaboration song with Universal Studios Japan. The theatrical release promises a fresh and immersive experience for fans who missed the live event or want to relive the moment.

NHK TV special about the making of the Japanese animated film "From Up on Poppy Hill" (コクリコ坂から)

A documentary film starring Hayao Miyazaki as he follows in the footsteps of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Terror ! Wounds that led to death. The dead feel no pain. Pain! Heat! Agony! Corpses evoking the moment of death. I don't want to die like this... Why must death be so cruel... It's as if you can hear the corpses' lament... Can you endure these images reeking of death ?!

A documentary about the production of the famous Japanese animation "Millennium Actress" by genius director Satoshi Kon, a god-like work. Unfortunately, genius is always short-lived.

A tribute to the legendary Japanese film director featuring the reflections of filmmakers Lindsay Anderson, Claire Denis, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Aki Kaurismäki, Stanley Kwan, Paul Schrader, and Wim Wenders

Yasuo Ōtsuka was the mentor of Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, the man who taught them to feel the joy of animation. As the supervising animator of their films and through the creation of superb scenes such as Lupin leaping from turret to turret in Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro, Ōtsuka made the impossible believable, and touched people’s emotions. To look back at the many works he was involved in is to review the history of Japanese animation after WWII. This film is a must for anime fans who want to learn how Japanese animation evolved.

Seijun Suzuki became a cinema legend in the 1960s with a handful of pop-art films. So how can you make a portrait of this iconoclastic director without also adopting a 'style to kill' documentary convention, as well as testimonies from a variety of leading figures in contemporary Japanese and international filmmakers.

It is a typical day in the life of actor Kazuki Shimizu when a gun is found inside his bag, leading to all sorts of trouble for him. A Day of One Hero is a direct-to-video film starring Kazuki Shimizu as himself in a mockumentary of his acting career as Don "Doc" Dogoier in the Super Sentai series Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger. The film also features cameo appearances by Tokusatsu veteran actors Yoshio Yamaguchi and Nao Nagasawa.

An anthology movie containing both documentaries and dramas, all staring members of local idol units.

Diagnosed with leukemia in February 2019, Japanese competitive swimmer Rikako Ikee returns to her destiny: the center lane, in Hirokazu Kore-eda's short film for skincare brand SK-II.

Documentary about Yasuo Otsuka, famous Japanese animator and mentor of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Featuring interviews with Japanese animation legends such as Masaaki Osumi, Youichi Kotabe, Sadao Tsukioka and Isao Takahata.