Japanese movies to know more Japan society

If you want to understand Japan beyond the tourist brochures and anime, here are some films that provide insightful perspectives on Japanese life:

🎬 Shoplifters (万引き家族)
Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, this Palme d'Or-winning film explores the lives of a family living in poverty in Tokyo. They resort to shoplifting to make ends meet, raising questions about morality, family bonds, and societal neglect. The film offers a poignant look at the underprivileged in modern Japan.

🎬 Ikiru (生きる)
A classic by Akira Kurosawa, Ikiru tells the story of a bureaucrat diagnosed with terminal cancer who seeks meaning in his life. The film critiques the inefficiencies of bureaucracy and the alienation of individuals within it, reflecting on the human desire for purpose.

🎬 Tokyo Sonata (トウキョウ・ソナタ)
Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, this film examines the breakdown of a family as the father loses his job and hides it from his family. It offers a critique of Japan's corporate culture and the pressures it places on individuals and families.

🎬 Departures (おくりびと)
This Academy Award-winning film by Yōjirō Takita follows a man who returns to his hometown and becomes a "nokanshi," a traditional Japanese funeral professional. It explores themes of life, death, and the rituals that honor the deceased, shedding light on Japanese attitudes toward death and the afterlife.

These films provide a window into the complexities of Japanese society, offering narratives that are both compelling and thought-provoking. Whether you're interested in family dynamics, societal norms, or cultural traditions, these movies offer valuable insights into the Japanese way of life.

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫