A thread for anyone who wants to take a dive into the magnificent Japanese cinema. From arthouse to Samurai Films to horror to anime. I am starting with 24 directors (twitter limit), will keep adding more. Feel free to share Let’s begin with the trinity- Kurosawa, Ozu, Mizoguchi.
1. AKIRA KUROSAWA
Masterpieces: Rashomon. Seven Samurai. Throne of Blood. Ikiru. Ran. Yojimbo.
Deep Dive: High and Low. Kagemusha. Red Beard. Sanjuro. Stray Dog. The Bad Sleep Well. Hidden Fortress. The Lower Depths. Dreams.
Early Gems: No Regrets For Our Youth. Drunken Angel
Masterpieces: Rashomon. Seven Samurai. Throne of Blood. Ikiru. Ran. Yojimbo.
Deep Dive: High and Low. Kagemusha. Red Beard. Sanjuro. Stray Dog. The Bad Sleep Well. Hidden Fortress. The Lower Depths. Dreams.
Early Gems: No Regrets For Our Youth. Drunken Angel
2. YASUJIRO OZU
Masterpieces: Tokyo Story. Late Spring. Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice. Autumn Afternoon.
Deep Dive: Floating Weeds. Tokyo Twilight. Early Summer. Early Spring. Record of a Tenement Gentleman.
Early Gems: I Was Born But. Dragnet Girl.
Masterpieces: Tokyo Story. Late Spring. Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice. Autumn Afternoon.
Deep Dive: Floating Weeds. Tokyo Twilight. Early Summer. Early Spring. Record of a Tenement Gentleman.
Early Gems: I Was Born But. Dragnet Girl.
3. KENJI MIZOGUCHI
Masterpieces: Ugetsu. Sansho the Bailiff. Crucified Lovers. The Life of Oharu.
Deep Dive: Street of Shame. 47 Ronin. Sisters of the Gion. Story of Last Chrysanthemums. Osaka Elegy. Miss Oyu. Utamaro and His Five Women.
Early Gem: Water Magician.
Masterpieces: Ugetsu. Sansho the Bailiff. Crucified Lovers. The Life of Oharu.
Deep Dive: Street of Shame. 47 Ronin. Sisters of the Gion. Story of Last Chrysanthemums. Osaka Elegy. Miss Oyu. Utamaro and His Five Women.
Early Gem: Water Magician.
With the big 3 out, we come to possibly the GREATEST, surely the most underrated Japanese director.
4. MASAKI KOBAYASHI
Masterpieces: Harakiri. Samurai Rebellion. Kwaidan. The Human Condition I, II & III.
Deep Dive: Thick Walled Room. Black River.
Early Gem: I Will Buy You
4. MASAKI KOBAYASHI
Masterpieces: Harakiri. Samurai Rebellion. Kwaidan. The Human Condition I, II & III.
Deep Dive: Thick Walled Room. Black River.
Early Gem: I Will Buy You
5. HIROSHI TESHIGAHARA
Possibly the brightest of all Japanese New Wave filmmakers (more of which later).
Masterpiece: Woman in the Dunes. (An outright masterpiece of cinema. One of the greatest films ever)
Essentials: Pitfall. The Face of Another.
Deep Dive: Rikyu
Possibly the brightest of all Japanese New Wave filmmakers (more of which later).
Masterpiece: Woman in the Dunes. (An outright masterpiece of cinema. One of the greatest films ever)
Essentials: Pitfall. The Face of Another.
Deep Dive: Rikyu
Enough masters, lets talk about some hardcore action filmmakers.
6. KIHACHI OKAMOTO
Masterpieces: The Sword of Doom (possibly the greatest Samurai action film ever)
Deep Dive: Kill. Samurai Assassin. Human Bullet. Zatoichi vs Yojimbo.
Desperado Outpost. Japan’s Longest Day.
6. KIHACHI OKAMOTO
Masterpieces: The Sword of Doom (possibly the greatest Samurai action film ever)
Deep Dive: Kill. Samurai Assassin. Human Bullet. Zatoichi vs Yojimbo.
Desperado Outpost. Japan’s Longest Day.
7. KENJI MISUMI
Creator of 2 massive action franchise - Zatoichi and Lone Wolf and Cub (LWaC) series.
Essentials: Tale of Zatoichi. LWaC: Baby Cart at the River Styx. LWaC: Sword of Vengeance.
Deep Dive: Fight Zatoichi Fight. LWaC: Baby Cart to Hades. Zatoichi & Chess Expert
Creator of 2 massive action franchise - Zatoichi and Lone Wolf and Cub (LWaC) series.
Essentials: Tale of Zatoichi. LWaC: Baby Cart at the River Styx. LWaC: Sword of Vengeance.
Deep Dive: Fight Zatoichi Fight. LWaC: Baby Cart to Hades. Zatoichi & Chess Expert
8. HIDEO GOSHA
Another master of Chambara (swordfight) action flick.
Essentials: Three Outlaw Samurai. Goyokin. Sword of the Beast.
Deep Dive: Hitokori. Bandits vs Samurai Squadron. Hunter in the Dark. Samurai Wolf.
Another master of Chambara (swordfight) action flick.
Essentials: Three Outlaw Samurai. Goyokin. Sword of the Beast.
Deep Dive: Hitokori. Bandits vs Samurai Squadron. Hunter in the Dark. Samurai Wolf.
9. HIROSHI INAGAKI
Famous for the Samurai trilogy starring Mifune, Inagaki was one of the major directors of Chambara.
Essentials: Musashi Miyamoto trilogy (also known as The Samurai trilogy)
Deep Dive: Rickshaw Man. Chushingura. Samurai Banners.
Famous for the Samurai trilogy starring Mifune, Inagaki was one of the major directors of Chambara.
Essentials: Musashi Miyamoto trilogy (also known as The Samurai trilogy)
Deep Dive: Rickshaw Man. Chushingura. Samurai Banners.
From action lets shift our attention to classical Japanese horror. A genre that would much later become their calling card.
10. KANETO SHINDO
The master of horror.
Masterpiece: Onibaba.
Essentials: Kuroneko. The Naked Island.
Deep Dive: Children of Hiroshima.
10. KANETO SHINDO
The master of horror.
Masterpiece: Onibaba.
Essentials: Kuroneko. The Naked Island.
Deep Dive: Children of Hiroshima.
11. KON ICHIKAWA
If there was a 2nd tier of Japanese Masters after the trinity & Kobayashi, then Ichikawa would be the first on that list. His films are brutal yet humanist.
Masterpieces: The Burmese Harp. Fires on the Plain.
Deep Dive: An Actor’s Revenge. Makioka Sisters.
If there was a 2nd tier of Japanese Masters after the trinity & Kobayashi, then Ichikawa would be the first on that list. His films are brutal yet humanist.
Masterpieces: The Burmese Harp. Fires on the Plain.
Deep Dive: An Actor’s Revenge. Makioka Sisters.
12. MIKIO NARUSE
A contemporary of the trinity. Naruse created women characters like none. Master. Massively Underrated.
Masterpiece: When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Essentials: Floating Clouds. Late Chrysanthemums. Repast.
Early Gem: Wife, Be like a Rose!
A contemporary of the trinity. Naruse created women characters like none. Master. Massively Underrated.
Masterpiece: When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Essentials: Floating Clouds. Late Chrysanthemums. Repast.
Early Gem: Wife, Be like a Rose!
13. KEISUKE KINOSHITA
Another underrated master. Quite popular in Japan. Hardly known outside. Staunch melodramatist.
Masterpieces: Twenty Four Eyes. Ballad of Narayama.
Deep Dive: She Was Like a Wild Chrysanthemum. Carmen Comes Home. A Legend Or Was it.
Another underrated master. Quite popular in Japan. Hardly known outside. Staunch melodramatist.
Masterpieces: Twenty Four Eyes. Ballad of Narayama.
Deep Dive: She Was Like a Wild Chrysanthemum. Carmen Comes Home. A Legend Or Was it.
14. TEINOSUKE KINUGASA
A master of the Japanese silent era who made truly experimental films.
Masterpiece: A Page of Madness.
Essentials: Crossroads. Gate of Hell.
A master of the Japanese silent era who made truly experimental films.
Masterpiece: A Page of Madness.
Essentials: Crossroads. Gate of Hell.
15. SHINYA TSUKAMOTO
Talking of experimental - the wildest Japanese filmmaker of all time. The ultra stylist - Shinya Tsukamoto.
Masterpiece: Tetsuo:The Iron Man
Essentials: A Snake of June. Tokyo Fist. Bullet Ballet. Kotoko.
Early Gem: The Adventure of Denchu-Kozo (short).
Talking of experimental - the wildest Japanese filmmaker of all time. The ultra stylist - Shinya Tsukamoto.
Masterpiece: Tetsuo:The Iron Man
Essentials: A Snake of June. Tokyo Fist. Bullet Ballet. Kotoko.
Early Gem: The Adventure of Denchu-Kozo (short).
16. KOJI WAKAMATSU
Speaking of cult, Wakamatsu - the radical exploitation filmmaker whose films are the best of the Japanese “Pink genre” - Sex. Violence. Politics.
Masterpiece: Go Go Second Time Virgin.
Essentials: The Embryo Hunts in Secret. Ecstacy of Angels.Violated Angels
Speaking of cult, Wakamatsu - the radical exploitation filmmaker whose films are the best of the Japanese “Pink genre” - Sex. Violence. Politics.
Masterpiece: Go Go Second Time Virgin.
Essentials: The Embryo Hunts in Secret. Ecstacy of Angels.Violated Angels
17. SION SONO
When it comes to cult and style, there is no one brighter than Sion Sono in the current Japanese cinema. My absolute favourite.
Masterpiece: Love Exposure.
Essentials: Cold Fish. Guilty of Romance. Tokyo Tribe. Tag. Why Don’t You Play in Hell. Strange Circus.
When it comes to cult and style, there is no one brighter than Sion Sono in the current Japanese cinema. My absolute favourite.
Masterpiece: Love Exposure.
Essentials: Cold Fish. Guilty of Romance. Tokyo Tribe. Tag. Why Don’t You Play in Hell. Strange Circus.
18. KINJI FUKASAKU
The master of Yakuza films (Japanese Gangster Picture). Known for the spectacular Yakuza Papers series.
Masterpiece: Battles Without Honour and Humanity. Battle Royale.
Essentials: Yakuza Papers Series. Shogun’s Samurai. Yakuza Graveyard.
The master of Yakuza films (Japanese Gangster Picture). Known for the spectacular Yakuza Papers series.
Masterpiece: Battles Without Honour and Humanity. Battle Royale.
Essentials: Yakuza Papers Series. Shogun’s Samurai. Yakuza Graveyard.
19. SEIJUN SUZUKI
Stylish. Ultracool. Suzuki is famous for his visual style and uncompromising vision.
Masterpiece: Branded to Kill
Essentials: Tokyo Drifter. Youth of the Beast. Pistol Opera. Fighting Elegy. Gate of Flesh.
Stylish. Ultracool. Suzuki is famous for his visual style and uncompromising vision.
Masterpiece: Branded to Kill
Essentials: Tokyo Drifter. Youth of the Beast. Pistol Opera. Fighting Elegy. Gate of Flesh.
From cult and experimental, let’s move to Japanese New Wave. The most prominent director would be
20. NAGISA OSHIMA
Essentials: In the Realm of Senses. Death By Hanging. Ceremony. Man Who Left His Will on Film. Empire of Passion.
Early Gem: Cruel Story of Youth. Sun’s Burial
20. NAGISA OSHIMA
Essentials: In the Realm of Senses. Death By Hanging. Ceremony. Man Who Left His Will on Film. Empire of Passion.
Early Gem: Cruel Story of Youth. Sun’s Burial
21. YOSHISHIGE YOSHIDA
Perhaps the most “arty” of the entire New Wave lot. Pretentious or high art, you can take a call.
Masterpieces: Eros + Massacre. Heroic Purgatory.
Essentials: Woman of the Lake. Coup de tat.
Perhaps the most “arty” of the entire New Wave lot. Pretentious or high art, you can take a call.
Masterpieces: Eros + Massacre. Heroic Purgatory.
Essentials: Woman of the Lake. Coup de tat.
22. TOSHIO MATSUMOTO
The definitive avant garde filmmaker of Japan whose work inspired none other than Stanley Kubrick.
Essentials: Funeral Parade of the Roses (outstanding queer film, was big influence on the style in A Clockwork Orange). Demons.
Shorts: Atman.
The definitive avant garde filmmaker of Japan whose work inspired none other than Stanley Kubrick.
Essentials: Funeral Parade of the Roses (outstanding queer film, was big influence on the style in A Clockwork Orange). Demons.
Shorts: Atman.
23. MASAHIRO SHINODA
Shinoda’s films are some of the best of the new wave. Constantly experimenting with form.
Essentials: Pale Flower. Double Suicide. Assassin. Silence.
Early Gem: Killers on Parade.
Shinoda’s films are some of the best of the new wave. Constantly experimenting with form.
Essentials: Pale Flower. Double Suicide. Assassin. Silence.
Early Gem: Killers on Parade.
24. SHOHEI IMAMURA
Twice palm d’or winner.
Essentials: Ballad of Narayama. Vengeance is Mine. Black Rain.
Early Gems: Pigs and Battleships. The Pornographers. Intention of Murder.
Twice palm d’or winner.
Essentials: Ballad of Narayama. Vengeance is Mine. Black Rain.
Early Gems: Pigs and Battleships. The Pornographers. Intention of Murder.
25. TOMU UCHIDA
Another master from the 30s and 40s who made a number of popular genre films well into the 60s.
Masterpieces: A Fugitive From the Past. Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji.
Essentials: The Master Spearman. The Outsiders. Mad Fox. Killing in Yoshiwara.
Early Gem: Earth
Another master from the 30s and 40s who made a number of popular genre films well into the 60s.
Masterpieces: A Fugitive From the Past. Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji.
Essentials: The Master Spearman. The Outsiders. Mad Fox. Killing in Yoshiwara.
Early Gem: Earth
26. ISHIRO HONDA
The legend who created a monster to beat all monsters. The Godzilla. I have seen only two of but there are Godzilla fans out there who can guide you much more in detail. @filmobjective
Essentials: Godzilla. Mothra.
The legend who created a monster to beat all monsters. The Godzilla. I have seen only two of but there are Godzilla fans out there who can guide you much more in detail. @filmobjective
Essentials: Godzilla. Mothra.
27. YOJI YAMADA
Director who made the ultimate Samurai masterpiece in the 2000s. Also director of the longest running film series. The Tora-San series. Japan’s own Chaplin. 48 films!
Masterpiece: Twilight Samurai. The Hidden Blade.
Deep Dive: Tora-San series. Love and Honor.
Director who made the ultimate Samurai masterpiece in the 2000s. Also director of the longest running film series. The Tora-San series. Japan’s own Chaplin. 48 films!
Masterpiece: Twilight Samurai. The Hidden Blade.
Deep Dive: Tora-San series. Love and Honor.
28. SADAO YAMANAKA
Few of his films survive, yet revered as a master of early Japanese cinema. His film Humanity and Paper Balloons is one of the first classics of Japan.
Masterpiece: Humanity and Paper Balloons
Essential: Tange Sazen and the Pot Worth a Million Ryu
Few of his films survive, yet revered as a master of early Japanese cinema. His film Humanity and Paper Balloons is one of the first classics of Japan.
Masterpiece: Humanity and Paper Balloons
Essential: Tange Sazen and the Pot Worth a Million Ryu
29. HAYAO MIYAZAKI
He might even be the first name in many lists. Surely would rank among top 5 Japanese filmmakers ever. I’m not much of an anime fan, but can see the greatness.
Masterpieces: Spirited Away. Kiki’s Delivery Service. Princess Mononoke. Nausica.
Essentials: All.
He might even be the first name in many lists. Surely would rank among top 5 Japanese filmmakers ever. I’m not much of an anime fan, but can see the greatness.
Masterpieces: Spirited Away. Kiki’s Delivery Service. Princess Mononoke. Nausica.
Essentials: All.
30. SATOSHI KON
The other genius of Anime who probably made even more exciting films.
Masterpieces: Paprika. Perfect Blue.
Essentials: Tokyo Godfathers. Millennium Actress. Memories. And the rest.
*On a side note: Katsuhiro Otomo’s cyberpunk AKIRA. A bonafide anime classic.
The other genius of Anime who probably made even more exciting films.
Masterpieces: Paprika. Perfect Blue.
Essentials: Tokyo Godfathers. Millennium Actress. Memories. And the rest.
*On a side note: Katsuhiro Otomo’s cyberpunk AKIRA. A bonafide anime classic.
31. Coming to some B movie masters-
KAZUO MORI
Famous for making a few Zatoichi sequels with legendary Shintaro Katsu and films with titles like Samurai Vendetta!
Masterpiece: Samurai Vendetta
Essentials: Tale of Zatoichi Continues. Blind Menace. Vendetta of a Samurai.
KAZUO MORI
Famous for making a few Zatoichi sequels with legendary Shintaro Katsu and films with titles like Samurai Vendetta!
Masterpiece: Samurai Vendetta
Essentials: Tale of Zatoichi Continues. Blind Menace. Vendetta of a Samurai.
32. SOGO ISHII
The Godfather of Cyberpunk. His classic biker movie CRAZY THUNDER ROAD came way before Terminator or Tetsuo and laid the groundworks for an entire genre.
Masterpiece: Crazy Thunder Road.
Essentials: Burst City. Labyrinth of Dreams. Electric Dragon 80.
The Godfather of Cyberpunk. His classic biker movie CRAZY THUNDER ROAD came way before Terminator or Tetsuo and laid the groundworks for an entire genre.
Masterpiece: Crazy Thunder Road.
Essentials: Burst City. Labyrinth of Dreams. Electric Dragon 80.
33. SHOZIN FUKUI
Talking of Cyberpunk, another founding father of the genre. He was on the crew of Tsukamoto’s Tetsuo and went on to make his own classic - 964 Pinochchio!
Masterpiece: 964 Pinochchio. Rubber’s Lover.
Deep Dive: Gerorisuto (short)
Talking of Cyberpunk, another founding father of the genre. He was on the crew of Tsukamoto’s Tetsuo and went on to make his own classic - 964 Pinochchio!
Masterpiece: 964 Pinochchio. Rubber’s Lover.
Deep Dive: Gerorisuto (short)
34. YOSHIHIRO NISHIMURA
From the fathers we come to the child of Cyberpunk. Who added violence and gore to the mix. Creating the genre now known as splatterpunk.
Essentials: Tokyo Gore Police. Meatball Machine.
Early Gem: Anatomia Extinction
From the fathers we come to the child of Cyberpunk. Who added violence and gore to the mix. Creating the genre now known as splatterpunk.
Essentials: Tokyo Gore Police. Meatball Machine.
Early Gem: Anatomia Extinction
Moving from Cyberpunk to Noodle Western!
35. JUZO ITAMI
Made Tempopo -smash hit comedy western set in Japan. Also popular films on Yakuza who eventually threw him off the rooftop to his untimely death!
Best Work: Tempopo.
Deep Dive: Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion. Funeral
35. JUZO ITAMI
Made Tempopo -smash hit comedy western set in Japan. Also popular films on Yakuza who eventually threw him off the rooftop to his untimely death!
Best Work: Tempopo.
Deep Dive: Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion. Funeral
36. KAZUHIKO HASEGAWA
Hasegawa only made two films. Both made in late 70s, but rank among the greatest of Japan. His first was a film about killing parents! And the second about a youth who makes his own atomic bomb!
Masterpieces: Killer Youth. The Man Who Stole the Sun.
Hasegawa only made two films. Both made in late 70s, but rank among the greatest of Japan. His first was a film about killing parents! And the second about a youth who makes his own atomic bomb!
Masterpieces: Killer Youth. The Man Who Stole the Sun.
37. YOSHIHIRO NAKAMURA
FISH STORY completely blew me away. One of the great films of last 15 years. Discovered him thanks to @Massawyrm
Masterpiece: Fish Story
Essentials: A Boy and His Samurai. Golden Slumber.
Early Gem: Foreign Duck Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker
FISH STORY completely blew me away. One of the great films of last 15 years. Discovered him thanks to @Massawyrm
Masterpiece: Fish Story
Essentials: A Boy and His Samurai. Golden Slumber.
Early Gem: Foreign Duck Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker
38. SHINJI SOMAI
A prominent director from the 80s, Shinji Somai who made radical films like Sailor Suit and Machine Gun went on to influence many of the current masters.
Masterpiece: Typhoon Club.
Essentials: Love Hotel. Moving.
Early Gem: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun.
A prominent director from the 80s, Shinji Somai who made radical films like Sailor Suit and Machine Gun went on to influence many of the current masters.
Masterpiece: Typhoon Club.
Essentials: Love Hotel. Moving.
Early Gem: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun.
39. SHUNJI IWAI
Another maverick who made potent films around adolescence and problems of the youth.
Essentials: All About Lily Chou Chou. Hanna and Alice. Love Letter.
Another maverick who made potent films around adolescence and problems of the youth.
Essentials: All About Lily Chou Chou. Hanna and Alice. Love Letter.
40. SHINJI AOYAMA
A hardcore cinephile and a film critic, Eureka is director Shinji Aoyama’s masterpiece that won top prizes at Cannes 2000.
Masterpiece: Eureka.
Deep Dive: Tokyo Park. Sad Vacation. Helpless.
A hardcore cinephile and a film critic, Eureka is director Shinji Aoyama’s masterpiece that won top prizes at Cannes 2000.
Masterpiece: Eureka.
Deep Dive: Tokyo Park. Sad Vacation. Helpless.
41. NOBUHIKO OBAYASHI
Experimental to the core. His debut film House is his masterwork and an outright cult horror film for ages. An explosive mix of style and editing.
Masterpiece: House.
Deep Dive: Hanagatami. Labyrinth of Cinema.
Early Gem: Emotion (short).
Experimental to the core. His debut film House is his masterwork and an outright cult horror film for ages. An explosive mix of style and editing.
Masterpiece: House.
Deep Dive: Hanagatami. Labyrinth of Cinema.
Early Gem: Emotion (short).
If classical Japanese cinema was about Jidaigeki, then the current is largely Japanese Horror.
42. KIYOSHI KUROSAWA
The ultimate master of J Horror.
Masterpiece: Cure. Pulse.
Essential: Creepy. Loft. Retribution. Doppleganger. Tokyo Sonata.
Early Gem:Guard from Underground
42. KIYOSHI KUROSAWA
The ultimate master of J Horror.
Masterpiece: Cure. Pulse.
Essential: Creepy. Loft. Retribution. Doppleganger. Tokyo Sonata.
Early Gem:Guard from Underground
43. HIDEO NAKATA
Speaking of J Horror, the obvious one - Hideo Nakata. The man behind international smash hits like Ringu and Dark Water.
Essentials: Ringu. Ringu 2. Dark Water.
Speaking of J Horror, the obvious one - Hideo Nakata. The man behind international smash hits like Ringu and Dark Water.
Essentials: Ringu. Ringu 2. Dark Water.
44. TAKASHI SHIMIZU
Shimizu was another J Horror maverick who broke out with his signature film Ju-On (Grudge). Made some solidly terrifying film.
Essentials: Ju-On. Oxhead Village. Suicide Forest Village. Howling Village.
Shimizu was another J Horror maverick who broke out with his signature film Ju-On (Grudge). Made some solidly terrifying film.
Essentials: Ju-On. Oxhead Village. Suicide Forest Village. Howling Village.
45. TAKASHI MIIKE
Outside of Kurosawa, perhaps the most famous director on this list. J Horror, Samurai, Cyberpunk, Splatterpunk - master of all.
Masterpice: Audition. Ichi the Killer. 13 Assassins.
Essentials: Gozu. Blade of Immortal. Graveyard of Honor. Dead or Alive.
Outside of Kurosawa, perhaps the most famous director on this list. J Horror, Samurai, Cyberpunk, Splatterpunk - master of all.
Masterpice: Audition. Ichi the Killer. 13 Assassins.
Essentials: Gozu. Blade of Immortal. Graveyard of Honor. Dead or Alive.
46. TAKESHI KITANO
From Takashi we come to another superstar with a similar sounding name. Takeshi Kitano. Comedian turned director of some ultracool ultraviolent films.
Masterpiece: Hana-Bi. Sonatine. Zatoichi.
Essentials: Outrage. Boiling Point. Violent Cop.Beyond Outrage.
From Takashi we come to another superstar with a similar sounding name. Takeshi Kitano. Comedian turned director of some ultracool ultraviolent films.
Masterpiece: Hana-Bi. Sonatine. Zatoichi.
Essentials: Outrage. Boiling Point. Violent Cop.Beyond Outrage.
From J horror we move back in time to cover some other mavericks left.
47. TADASHI IMAI
Often made films with sharp critique of the traditionalSamurai code of honour. I have seen only two. You can explore the rest.
Masterpiece: Bushido, Samurai Saga. Until We Meet Again.
47. TADASHI IMAI
Often made films with sharp critique of the traditionalSamurai code of honour. I have seen only two. You can explore the rest.
Masterpiece: Bushido, Samurai Saga. Until We Meet Again.
48. YASUZO MASUMURA
Another maverick who made some really risque films revered by many contemporary filmmakers. I have only seen Blind Beast - his erotic masterwork which I am frankly not too keen on. But he is a very imp filmmaker to explore.
Essential: Blind Beast.
Another maverick who made some really risque films revered by many contemporary filmmakers. I have only seen Blind Beast - his erotic masterwork which I am frankly not too keen on. But he is a very imp filmmaker to explore.
Essential: Blind Beast.
49. TOSHIYA FUJITA
Tha man who famously made the Lady Snowblood films. Direct inspiration for Tarantino’s Kill Bill films.
Essentials: Lady Snowblood films. Stray Cat Rock films.
Tha man who famously made the Lady Snowblood films. Direct inspiration for Tarantino’s Kill Bill films.
Essentials: Lady Snowblood films. Stray Cat Rock films.
50. YUZO KAWASHIMA
Contemporary of the holy trinity, Kawashima made films like Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate that are constantly polled in the top 10 of the Japanese films ever.
Masterpiece: Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate. Suzaki Paradise: Red Light.
Contemporary of the holy trinity, Kawashima made films like Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate that are constantly polled in the top 10 of the Japanese films ever.
Masterpiece: Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate. Suzaki Paradise: Red Light.
Time to conclude this list with the master of avant garde
51. SHUJI TERAYAMA
Japan’s own Cocteau - poet, rebel, filmmaker, stylist all in one.A Da Vinci. Prophet of the underground.
Masterpieces: Emperor Tomato Ketchup. Pastoral. Throw Away Your Books. Butterfly Dress Pledge.
51. SHUJI TERAYAMA
Japan’s own Cocteau - poet, rebel, filmmaker, stylist all in one.A Da Vinci. Prophet of the underground.
Masterpieces: Emperor Tomato Ketchup. Pastoral. Throw Away Your Books. Butterfly Dress Pledge.
This list, like all lists, is in no way absolute. There are surely more filmmakers out of it, than on it! Japanese filmmakers are a prolific lot thanks to their studio system. Most directors have 50s and 100s of films of which very few get outside distribution. (1)..
However, word of mouth and recommendation has always been the best source for these lists. You get a recco, then you go deeper and make your own reccos, that’s how masterpieces get discovered decades after their release. So I am sure many masterpieces are still missing..(2)
Also missing are lot of big names, studio giants who would mean much more to a Japanese audience than outsiders. Then there are outstanding filmmakers like Kawase, Yamashita, Tanaka, Nomura etc whose work I am yet to see. (3)
Japanese cinema IMHO is on par with American cinema. It has learnt from the west and also taught them so much in return. Experimented. Created so many genres. Styles that would later become part of Hollywood mainstream. Masters, mavericks, rebels, psychos Japan had it all. (4)
It was a pleasure making this list. There are no rankings. Only a journey through various genres, styles, movements. I have gone back and forth many times. You can choose to watch them in a completely different order. Anyway, enough cinephiling, time to get back to the script ;)
52. NOBUO NAKAGAWA
I knew I had missed someone too important. The master of classical, folk horror - Nobuo Nakagawa. Some call him the greatest horror filmmaker ever from Japan.
Masterpiece: Jigoku. The Ghost of Yotsuya.
Deep Dive: Black Cat Mansion. The Ghost of Kasane.
I knew I had missed someone too important. The master of classical, folk horror - Nobuo Nakagawa. Some call him the greatest horror filmmaker ever from Japan.
Masterpiece: Jigoku. The Ghost of Yotsuya.
Deep Dive: Black Cat Mansion. The Ghost of Kasane.
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