Movies that capture the atmosphere of the city.
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Rashomon (1950)
Akira Kurosawa’s tale of a crime told from four different perspectives. “Rashomon” is now Hollywood slang for this kind of storytelling.
Godzilla (1954)
Quintessential monster movie has spawned over two dozen sequels. The original Godzilla was a prehistoric creature brought to life after the atomic bombings of WWII; now he’s a hero.
Tokyo Pop (1988)
Feel-good comedy about an American singer who finds love and success ephemeral in Tokyo’s music scene.
A Taxing Woman (Marusa no Onna) (1987)
Nobuko Miyamoto plays a tax inspector who tangles with yakuza (gangsters) and shows them who’s boss. Directed by Juzo Itami.
Akira (1988)
Touchstone film of anime (Japanese animation), directed by Katsuhiro Otomo and based on his manga (comics). Grim story of biker gangs and overlords in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo.
Shall We Dance? (1996)
Director Masayuki Suo’s lyrical story of a salaryman (office worker) who rediscovers life, love, and lilt through ballroom dancing.
The Iron Chef (Japanese TV series 1993-1999)
This show, set in the “kitchen stadium,” elevated cooking from art to kitschy competition; created a sensation on both sides of the Pacific.
Lost in Translation (2003)
The definitive Tokyo film of the last decade, directed by Sofia Coppola. Bill Murray plays an unhappy actor who meets an abandoned young newlywed (Scarlett Johansson’s breakout role) at the Park Hyatt hotel.
Zatoichi (2003)
Filmmaker and TV personality “Beat” Takeshi Kitano directed and starred in this multiple-award-winning samurai/martial arts drama about a blind swordsman, based on a classic TV series.
Nobody Knows (Dare mo Shiranai) (2004)
Hirokazu Koreeda’s depressing drama of four young brothers and sisters forced to fend for themselves. A Cannes Film Festival award winner for its young star, Yuya Yagira.
Babel (2006)
Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu’s masterpiece of interwoven dramas set in the U.S., Mexico, Morocco, and Tokyo. Rinko Kikuchi gives a fearless performance as a deaf Tokyo high school girl.
