Discoveries from Japan World Cinema
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1.0 2015 • Japan -
When GUTS-Select investigate mysterious disappearances, they learn it is work of an evil alien who intends to invade the Earth, called Professor Gibellus. However, just in time, a mysterious woman appears to help GUTS-Select.
Ultraman Decker Finale: Journey to Beyond
4.8 2023 • Japan -
Meowth is in charge of the Team Rocket secret base, a mysterious place full of odd gadgets and gizmos. Desperate to impress the boss, Meowth wants to use the Dancing PokéBaton—a device that lets users control Pokémon as they please—to create a show that’s sure to wow. Meanwhile, Pikachu and its friends finish up playing in the forest and stumble on the base. The gang hears Whismur, the Whisper Pokémon, crying for help—but when they try to make their rescue, the Dancing PokéBaton goes off and sends the whole group into a dancing frenzy! When a noise-loving Loudred and Ludicolo get caught up in the dancing, the madness gets even wilder! What’s going to happen to Meowth’s precious secret base?
Pokémon: Gotta Dance!
6.8 2003 • Japan -
The 3WA's Central Computer gave the Lovely Angels two cases at once! Kei and Yuri must investigate a space liner explosion and, simultaneously, find a missing scientist. It all seems easy enough, but this is actually the Angels' most dangerous mission yet – and if they're not careful, it'll be their last.
Dirty Pair: Flight 005 Conspiracy
7.2 1990 • Japan -
A giant monster sends a town's citizens into a panic, except for a girl named Yuki and her schoolmate Tetsu. Tetsu happens to have his own strange creature named Cenco as a pet. Another boy named Shuu controls the monster threatening the town, and the stage is set for a battle.
Cencoroll
6.2 2009 • Japan -
This special cut of the anime series recaps the events of the slice of life comedy where lewd manga artist Kakushi Goto tries to hide his profession from his adorable daughter, Hime. What ensues is a ton of hijinks and a lot of heart in this emotional adventure. The Kakushigoto Theatrical Edition isn’t just a recap; it also includes some all-new footage, which makes it the perfect watch for repeat viewers or those looking to experience it for the very first time.
Kakushigoto Theatrical Edition
7.1 2021 • Japan -
This story begins with a protagonist whose sense of time has halted due to the grief of losing his son, now abandoned by his wife, and his sudden cohabitation with his 17-year-old niece left behind by his sister. A man who has lost love, a woman who has renounced love, and a girl who knows nothing of love... As they confront their respective pains, their journey of discovering faint sprouts of hope in hearts as parched as summer sand is depicted—a poignant yet tender masterpiece where sorrow and warmth intertwine.
On Summer Sand
8.3 2025 • Japan -
A professor of erotic art sees his chance to practice what he teaches when by happenstance he meets a suicidal high school girl. Unsure at first how to bind and discipline his captive he is assisted by a bartender who shows him the finer details of bondage on his own slave. As he continues to subject his captive to more intense S&M training he risks both his academic position and his marriage.
Image of a Bound Girl
4.0 1980 • Japan -
Kotaro visits Komada Distillery for a project on Japanese craft whisky. Led by young female president Rui, who took over the family business, the distillery works hard to reproduce its signature whisky, Koma, which they had to stop making years ago. However, not to mention financial backing, too many clues are missing to revive the once lost whisky.
Komada – A Whisky Family
6.8 2023 • Japan -
Koji, a university student and budding photographer, is asked by a man to secretly take pictures of his wife Yurika. As a result, his relationships with a girl who visits his part-time workplace called Tominaga and his step-sister Misaki begin to change subtly.
Tokyo Park
6.2 2011 • Japan -
When Wabisuke's father-in-law unexpectedly dies, the family goes through a series of random events and occurrences as the funeral unfolds over three days in their home.
The Funeral
7.1 1984 • Japan -
Ami's friend, Yoshie, was murdered and desecrated by the Kimura Gang. She was saved and, like Ami in the previous film, received modifications from the same mechanics. Remembering her past, Yoshie decides to avenge herself and Ami.
Shyness Machine Girl
4.4 2009 • Japan -
Emu Hino, a 29-year-old virgin, witnesses a mob hit and fears that the killer will now find her and kill her. Indeed, he sets out to do so; he's Yo Hinomura, a talented potter and artist who's been conscripted against his will to be the prime hitman for the 108 Dragons, a gang within the Chinese Mafia, who are determined to push aside Tokyo's local crime lords. He breaks into her house, and she asks that he make love to her before he kills her; she connects to his inner self, and he becomes her protector. Now he must defend her against the local crime gang, who have connections with corrupt Tokyo police. Will Yo and Emu make it out alive, and will the 108 Dragons triumph?
Crying Freeman 1: Portrait of a Killer
5.9 1988 • Japan -
An aspiring hairdresser becomes the infatuation of a tricophilic man who sells hair extensions to nearby salons. The source is the corpse of a girl whose corpse continues to grow beautiful, voluminous, black hair that comes alive, either driving the extension user insane or killing them.
Exte: Hair Extensions
5.9 2007 • Japan -
Aoki is a failing novelist, and Sol is a failing pop singer. Encountering each other in South Korea, speaking different languages, they and their families somehow end up in a truck heading off into the Korean countryside.
The Asian Angel
6.8 2021 • Japan -
An asteroid collision brought with it a deadly menace known as "Shinobi." Faced with destruction, humanity retreated to land reclaimed from the sea. The one ray of hope is a device that can fight the Shinbo called "The Mechanical Divine General." Ame, the princess of the refugees, and Suō, who carries the blood of the Yagyū family, must awaken its power in order to save the world.
Neppuu Kairiku Bushi Road
6.8 2013 • Japan -
Ichi is staying at an inn when a woman dies. Her dying wish is that Ichi take her son to his father, an artist living in a nearby town. After arriving in the town, Ichi finds out that the father has been forced by a local boss to create illegal pornography to pay off his gambling debts. Ichi makes it his mission to save the man and reunite the family, even though it brings him into conflict with a samurai he sort of befriended on his way to the town.
Zatoichi Challenged
7.0 1967 • Japan -
A young boy in a peaceful seaside town gets more than he bargained for when he takes home a mysterious egg. When it hatches, out comes a baby turtle that grows into a new version of Gamera. But will it become powerful enough in time to defeat the rampaging monster Zedus?
Gamera the Brave
7.0 2006 • Japan -
In order to take over her grandmother's Dagashi store, art student Kumi Honamanuma moved to Kyoto. She met Harami Mino, K Kusanagi, Mai Haisaka, and a dog who lives in the store, which supposed to be empty. Kumi ended up living with these girls, who claim that they are heroes reincarnated to contemporary period to chase after the demon king. Harami and others seem to live in a peaceful life with no missions to to do anymore, Ran, who was demon king in the past and appears to be an elementary school girl from failing to reincarnate, one day. The story begins with Ran requesting to collect demon king's fragments.
Laidbackers
5.5 2019 • Japan -
Fumiko, mother of two and wife to an unfaithful man, shares her family life with her budding vocation as a poet. The beginning of her successful literary career coincides with her divorce and her breast cancer diagnosis. In her final stages, Fumiko meets a young journalist from Tokyo who wants to write a story on her experiences.
Forever a Woman
7.7 1955 • Japan -
The second movie based on the 1985 TV anime.
Spooky Kitaro: The Great Yokai War
7.4 1986 • Japan -
Yuki Minami, a bundle of inferiority complex, gained the ability to stop time in exchange for overflowing sexual desire. With the university entrance exams approaching and to build smooth relationships with classmates, Minami needed time. Every time time is stopped, the value of the "lust counter" engraved on the skin increases. To satisfy that tremendous sexual desire, Minami spends her days in debauchery, entrusting her body to her childhood friend, Kaburagi Shinichi. While Minami's life begins to take on color through her time-stopping ability, her heart is gradually tainted black...
Our Misconduct
0.0 2025 • Japan -
Up in Heaven, Yuki’s grandparents decide that, having turned thirteen years old, she must go down to Earth to a village that is torn by bandits and intervene to save its people. However if she does not succeed within one year she will become as insubstantial as the wind. Down in the village, Yuki is befriended by a group of orphans whose parents have all been killed by the bandits and who now subsist by begging. Yuki amazes them by taming the wild horse Blizzard. She is instrumental in getting the orphans and farmers to stand up to first the warring bandits and then Goemon, the greedy lord that owns the region. But Yuki must face her greatest challenge yet when the displeased Demon God that lives in the volcano emerges to destroy those who live beneath.
Yuki
7.3 1981 • Japan -
The Master's late-night diner welcomes a woman troubled by funeral fans, an elderly scam victim, and a noodle delivery man struggling with love.
Midnight Diner 2
7.4 2016 • Japan -
Shishio's plan is enacted while Kenshin and Misao help defend the city.
Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc: The Chirps of Light
7.3 2012 • Japan -
Wakaba Bank contract employee Rika meets university student Kota at a client's home. Unknown to her husband Masafumi, she engages in secret rendezvous with Kota, and begins to embezzle money from her clients' accounts to buy expensive cosmetics and pay off Kota's debt.
Pale Moon
6.5 2014 • Japan -
Zatoichi is a blind massage therapist and swordsman who finds out that something troubling is taking place on the outskirts of town. After discovering who the guilty parties are -- an accomplished Chinese martial artist named Wang Kang and his youthful attendant -- Zatoichi finds them and discovers that the pair's mixed up with a dangerous bunch of terrorist samurai who murdered the boy's parents. Now, Zatoichi must step in to save the day.
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman
6.8 1971 • Japan -
The film depicts carnivalesque atmosphere summed up by the cry "Ei ja nai ka" ("Why not?") in Japan in 1867 and 1868 in the days leading to the Meiji Restoration. It examines the effects of the political and social upheaval of the time, and culminates in a revelrous march on the Tokyo Imperial Palace, which turns into a massacre. Characteristically, Imamura focuses not on the leaders of the country, but on characters in the lower classes and on the fringes of society.
Eijanaika
6.2 1981 • Japan -
Legendary bicycle racer Marco Rondanini dies as team Pao Pao Beer is set to race in Japan. Team member Ciocci, close friend of Marco, starts to think about quitting. Under heavy rain, Ciocci and Pepe must put that aside as Team Pao Pao struggles to reach another victory. Pepe continues to ride his bicycle both in competition and training. He often spends time with his other team mates while they train in beautiful scenery in Japan. While in Japan a local girl helps out the team before and during the race.
Nasu: A Migratory Bird with Suitcase
6.8 2007 • Japan -
There's a war going on in ancient Kyoto. A war fought in shadows, between the forces of the Shogunate's armed enforcers, the Shinsengumi, and the vampire-like Ronin warriors known as the Rasetsu or Furies. And trapped in the middle is a young woman disguised as a man. Seeking her missing father, Chizuru Yukimura comes to Kyoto only to find her fate forever intertwined with the destinies of Shinsengumi Vice commander Toshizo Hijikata and his elite force of swordsmen. Because Chizuru's father has created a secret elixir that enhances the user's strength, speed and healing, and the furies will do anything and kill anyone in order to control that power!
Hakuouki: Wild Dance of Kyoto
6.0 2013 • Japan -
Yokiro was the most successful Geisha house in Western Japan during the first half of the 20th century and remains open to this day. At its peak, it was home to over 200 geisha, however behind the fabulous facade, there were many battles - between family members, men and women, and with the Yakuza. Momokawa was sold to Yokiro at age 12, and despite being the top geisha, her many complicated relationships provide unending challenges throughout her glamorous but turbulent life.
The Geisha
5.6 1983 • Japan -
Taking place 10 years after the Go-Onger fought the Gaiark, unprecedented peace has come to the Human World thanks to The Minister of Defense Noizumi's Isolation Barrier. But because of this, it severed the connections between the Go-Ongers and the Engines. Plus, due to the Sentai Activity Ban Law, the Go-Ongers are labelled as terrorists! Amidst that, a mysterious young boy named Souji appears to them with BeaRV's Engine Cast. Sosuke / Go-On Red and the rest save him as he was being pursued by the special police. For some reason, one standing in their way is Saki / Go-On Yellow, who parted ways with the Go-Ongers and has become part of the governments public relations office. The major incident will drag the world in and how will it involve the fate of the Go-Ongers?!
Engine Sentai Go-Onger: 10 Years Grand Prix
8.0 2018 • Japan -
Set in an academy for daughters of the rich and powerful, this murder mystery involves six girls with a dark secret. Literature club chairman Itsumi Shiraishi, has fallen to her death from the school roof. Rumours soon circulate that one of the members of the literature club is the culprit. New chairman and friend of the victim, Sayuri Sumikawa, holds a meeting and asks each member to recount their whereabouts at the time of Itsumi’s death. Who is telling a lie and what really happened to Itsumi?
The Dark Maidens
6.3 2017 • Japan -
Follow the infamous ninja bandit named Ishikawa Goemon (Yosuke Eguchi) in an epic story. One night while looting treasure from Nanban (Southern Barbarians), Goemon finds a mysterious box hidden inside a secret grave. A forgotten relic from the past containing untold powers.
Goemon
6.9 2009 • Japan -
Four years have passed since that emotional marriage proposal at Tsukushi Makino's high-school prom, and Tsukasa Dōmyōji announced his engagement to Tsukushi to the entire world. At an engagement dinner between their families, Dōmyōji's mother, who has been strongly against their relationship before, presents Tsukushi a tiara, which is estimated to be worth roughly 10 billion yen, as a token of their engagement. But that night, the tiara is stolen by somebody! Then, Dōmyōji and Tsukushi travel around the globe to Las Vegas, Hong Kong, and even a deserted island to get the tiara back—the legendary tiara that has been believed to "bring eternal love." In the meantime, where and what are the "F4" fellows, who have just gone separate ways, doing now?
Hana Yori Dango: Final
8.0 2008 • Japan -
In the not-too-distant future, androids have come into common usage. However, treating androids on the same level as humans is frowned upon, and there is constant paranoia surrounding the possibility of robots defying humans, their masters. Those who appear too trustworthy of their androids are chided and labeled as "android-holics". Rikuo Sakisaka, who has taken robots for granted for his entire life, one day discovers that Sammy, his home android, has been acting independently and coming and going on her own. He finds a strange phrase recorded in her activity log, "Are you enjoying the time of EVE?". He, along with his friend Masakazu Masaki, traces Sammy's movements and finds an unusual café. Nagi, the barista, informs them that the café's main rule is to not discriminate between humans and androids. While Rikuo tries to reveal Sammy's intentions, he begins to question the legitimacy of the fear that drives humans to regard androids as nothing more than mere tools.
Time of EVE: The Movie
7.1 2010 • Japan -
While on a cigarette break in between sets, Koji, a jazz musician, witnesses a murder and runs into a girl, Linda, who is being pursued by the killers. Mistakenly identified as prime suspects, they have to solve the crime but time is running out: Koji has to be back to perform in his club by midnight, as a very special guest will be attending.
Round About Midnight
7.0 1999 • Japan -
New film adaptation of the manga "Police Branch 82".
The Metropolitan Police Branch 82
0.0 1995 • Japan -
Hana, Hinata, Noa, Koyori, and Kanon are always good friends. Today, they are having a friendly sweets party at home with Miyako's homemade sweets! The flower-shaped cookies look just like the hair ornaments worn by Hana. The hair ornament was a precious treasure that Hana received from her grandmother when she was little, and everyone was intrigued by the story. And as "practice for the school trip," they decide to go visit Hana's grandmother's house...! The "first" outing for everyone is about to begin.
Wataten!: An Angel Flew Down to Me! - Precious Friends
5.2 2022 • Japan -
The indolent son of an oil vendor becomes a regular customer of a prostitute, racks up a mountain of debt, and is disowned by his parents.
The Oil-Hell Murder
5.9 1992 • Japan -
THE IDOLM@STER 4th ANNIVERSARY PARTY SPECIAL DREAM TOUR’S!! was a first live concert tour series that took place between May and July of 2009. There were multiple locations, different setlists, and cast members for each dates as follows: IN NAGOYA: Club Diamond Hall in Nagoya on May 17th, 2009. IN FUKUOKA: DRUM LOGOS in Fukuoka, on May 24th, 2009. IN TOKYO: JCB Hall (currently, TOKYO DOME CITY HALL) in Tokyo on May 30th, 2009. IN OSAKA: Nanba Hatch (currently, Minatomachi River Place) in Osaka on July 23rd, 2009. The tour was released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 2nd, 2009.
THE IDOLM@STER 4th ANNIVERSARY PARTY SPECIAL DREAM TOUR’S!!
0.0 2009 • Japan -
Kaze is a philandering TV producer. His wife and nine of his mistresses conspire to kill him. However each woman would rather keep him alive, as long as she was the only woman in his life.
Ten Dark Women
5.8 1961 • Japan -
Elmer is told by a traveling cat about a baby dragon who is being held captive and mistreated on the scary Wild Island. Elmer decides to investigate and battles tigers, crocodiles and gorillas in order to rescue the little dragon.
My Father's Dragon
7.5 1997 • Japan -
The first movie of Tôru Murakawa’s “Game” trilogy, in which an assassin hired to recover a kidnap victim becomes embroiled in a vicious power struggle between two large corporations over a sizable government defence contract.
The Most Dangerous Game
6.1 1978 • Japan -
A director faces creative block while working on his latest film – a reimagination of his adolescence growing up in a mountain village in rural Japan.
Pastoral: To Die in the Country
7.5 1974 • Japan -
Global political figures such as The Pope, Kim Jong Il, George W. Bush and recent Japanese Prime Ministers play riichi mahjong against each other.
The Legend of Koizumi
5.0 2010 • Japan -
People from Saitama Prefecture are persecuted and, because of this, they hide the fact that they are from there. In Tokyo, Momomi Hakuhodo is a male high school student and the son of the Tokyo governor. Physically, Momomi Hakuhodo looks like a girl. One day, he meets mysterious male transfer student Rei Asami. They are attracted to each other, but Rei Asami is from Saitama Prefecture.
Fly Me to the Saitama
6.7 2019 • Japan -
A frustrated wife who is married to a gay husband has an affair with another man. But she is set up by the husband’s parents who hire a dominatrix and a SM specialist to deal with her infidelity in a rather harsh and pervered manner.
Blue Woman
4.4 1982 • Japan -
Monster Strike: The Movie serves as a prequel to the net anime series based on the game of the same name. The anime tells the story of Ren, who returns to his hometown with no memories of having lived there. When a a cell phone repairman installs the Monster Strike app on his phone, Ren finds himself pulled into a real-world version of the game and begins piecing his memories together again.
Monster Strike The Movie: To The Place of Beginnings
3.1 2016 • Japan -
Alien invaders take over Great Mazinger who is at the entrance of a museum next to Mazinger Z as symbols of peace. Grendizer fights the evil invaders and Great Mazinger is recovered. When the Vegan empire dispatches a new general to oversee the takeover of Earth, he quickly manages to capture Koji Kabuto and, learning of Great Mazinger through interrogation, quickly commandeers it from a museum where it was kept as a symbol of peace. It is now up to Duke Fleed aboard Grendizer to stop humanity's former defender from becoming its destroyer.
UFO Robot Grendizer vs. Great Mazinger
5.8 1976 • Japan -
Set in an alternative world of Bungo Stray Dogs, this "what-if" story imagines if Atsushi Nakajima was in the Port Mafia and Ryūnosuke Akutagawa was in the Armed Detective Agency, instead of vice-versa. The story follows Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, who vows revenge on a man dressed in black in order to rescue his sister. However, as he is about to starve to death, a man from the Armed Detective Agency appears.
Bungo Stray Dogs the Movie: BEAST
8.8 2022 • Japan -
One day, Naoto receives a package. Inside he finds a book, ‘LIVE’. At the same time, he receives an image on mobile phone of his mother being kidnapped and a call from a mysterious man. “If you don’ t want us to inject the killer virus in your mother, find the hints hidden in the novel and head for the goal in the death race!” Naoto starts running to save his mother with the book in his hand.
Raining Blood
5.6 2014 • Japan -
Second Break Blade movie. The narration begins by revealing Athens invaded the Krisna Kingdom for allowing the Orlando Empire to cross into their land to attack Athens during their power struggle over Assam but the true purpose of the invasion is to take over the Krisna Quartz mines as Athens is suffering a shortage of Quartz. In the Athens capital of Ilios, Secretary of War Loquis has received news that his brother Zess has successfully reach Binonten. Meanwhile, Rygart manages to get a ceasefire between the Athens invaders and Krisna defenders and speaks with Zess.
Broken Blade: The Path of Separation
5.6 2010 • Japan -
Four years after an alternate ending to the series, in which Blade seals the Joker, the characters have moved on with their lives: Kenzaki is a garbage man, Mutsuki has graduated high school, and Kotarō has published a book about the Kamen Riders to great success. The Undead have been re-released, and a new trio of Kamen Riders—Glaive, Larc and Lance—have emerged from BOARD, now led by Tachibana. After recapturing two of the Category Aces, Kenzaki and Mutsuki join with the new Riders. When all the Undead are sealed once more, Glaive reveals himself to be the Albino Joker, a white version of the original Joker, and captures Kotarō's niece to obtain the ultimate power, sealing her in the Vanity Card. In order to free Amane from the card, Hajime is unsealed from the Joker Card and the four Riders are again united, intent on saving Amane and stopping the Albino Joker.
Kamen Rider Blade: Missing Ace
7.0 2004 • Japan -
When the elderly owner of a luxury inn passes it is left to the staff instead of his two daughters. The staff make plans to sell the inn to a gang of yakuza. But the gang sees profit in the daughters as well and brutally conditions them for sale.
Dan Oniroku: Ikenie shimai
8.0 1987 • Japan -
Hyasaka Yukari only wants one thing: to enter the college that her mom wants. One day, she meets an extravagant group that loves fashion. They were searching for a model and Yukari fits their ideal model. From now Yukari will know the world of fashion and modeling, and what she really wants.
Paradise Kiss
7.1 2011 • Japan -
Five men plot to steal a large sum of money from the local yakuza, but everything does not go as planned and the men find themselves hunted down by contract killers.
Gonin
6.6 1995 • Japan -
A terminally ill girl, who dreams of going to Finland to see the northern lights, falls in love
Snow Flower
7.5 2019 • Japan -
A large monster attacks Japan, but dies suddenly. While the people rejoice and bask in relief, the giant corpse left behind begins to slowly rot and bloat. If it explodes, the nation will be destroyed.
What to Do With the Dead Kaiju?
4.6 2022 • Japan -
A footballing law student tutors an undergraduate, developing into a romance that soon enough goes awry.
Bitterness of Youth
6.8 1974 • Japan