#akira kurosawa

Obviously, all of us are into anime. But how many of us are into Japanese cinema that does NOT involve high school students saving the planet from giant alien robots?

In their Saturday evening panel Japanese Cinema 102: Where to go After Kurosawa, hosts Liz and Zod shared their list of the best Japanese directors–and titles–this side of famed filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. Here is just a sampling of their recommendations.

Yasujiro Ozu
This postwar filmmaker is noted for his very intense films that stay with the viewer long after seeing them. Film critics consider him just as iconic as Kurosawa.

• Tokyo Story (Ozu’s most well-known work in North America)
• Tokyo Twilight
• Early Spring, Late Spring, End of Summer (trilogy)

Shohei Imamura
Born into an upper-class family, Imamura found himself dealing with Japan’s black market following World War II. As such, he gained an appreciation for the country’s underground culture that is reflected in his work.

• Pigs and Battleships (this explores the strained relationship between the U.S. and Japan after the war)
• Insect Woman
• Intentions of Murder

Seijun Suzuki

An artist with an eye for style, Suzuki tends to lean toward yakuza fare in his work. Considered a cult filmmaker in Japanese society, noted American directors like Jim Jarmusch and even Quentin Tarantino have cited him as inspiration.

• Branded to Kill
• Gates of Flesh
• Lupin III: Legend of Gold Babylon (yes, he was one of many directors to tackle Lupin III)

Takashi Miike

Dubbed by Zod the “James Patterson of directors,” Miike is notable for putting out a slew of movies every year. As a result, his library is vast, varied, and the most accessible for North American audiences.

• Audition
• Ichi the Killer
• Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (yes, he is behind the 2018 live-action version of the popular manga and anime)

Hirokazu Kore-eda

Dubbed by Roger Ebert as the “heir to [Yasujiro] Ozu,” Kore-eda is noted for being empathetic and really digging into the lives of his characters, many of whom tend not to live the best lives.

• Maborosi
• Nobody Knows
• Shoplifters (this title earned him the Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars)

In addition to directors with storied bodies of work, Liz and Zod also shared some titles that fans of Japanese cinema would definitely take to.

Godzilla (Ishiro Honda) - Do I even need to explain this movie?
Hausu (Nobuhiko Obayashi) - A supernatural horror film that is unlike anything else in the genre, in Japan or any other country. How many characters in horror flicks have gotten eaten by a haunted piano?
Kamikaze Girls (Tetsuya Nakashima) - Unlike most other entries on this list, Kamikaze Girls is a sweet film that will leave its viewers with a warm feeling. Liz even shared an anecdote about a former roommate who, despite not being into Japanese cinema at all, absolutely adored this picture.

–Mike Fenn, AB staff blogger