Three Japanese movies to watch when learning about the culture

It is not just anime. The Japanese film industry is a treasure box of tools for learners of the language and culture. Despite it being difficult to travel to Japan due to the pandemic, films act as windows into understanding language usage and cultural context that cannot be learned from books.

If you have some knowledge of the language, you could try watching films in Japanese. If you are not very confident in the language but are nevertheless interested in the culture, you could add subtitles or simply watch the scenes unfold. Either way, Japanese films tend to make you laugh and cry until the very end with their humility.

Here are three recent, highly regarded Japanese films with beautiful plots and authentic expressions of the culture.

By: Global Team

 弥生、三月　君を愛した30年

Image from TOHO

Days before their high school graduation, Yayoi and Taro lose their best friend Sakura to AIDS. Yayoi and Taro liked one another as more than friends but were unable to say so, Yayoi because she knew Sakura liked Taro, too, and Taro because he was simply afraid. Carrying the weight of their loss, they walk their separate paths.

The story follows thirty years of Yayoi and Taro’s intertwining lives as accounts of their days in March. They would meet on March 1, 1886, and graduate high school on March 4, 1888. They would go on to realize their respective dreams of becoming a teacher and a soccer player. Yayoi would experience her father’s bankruptcy, a marriage arrangement, and the loss of her husband in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Taro would see unplanned parenthood, the decline of his career, and a divorce.

The losses and happiness in Yayoi and Taro’s lives are shared among many Japanese people. The Great East Japan Earthquake is one such example. Small details such as buses, trains, school systems, and societal norms accurately demonstrate the Japanese culture. This is a thought-provoking and yet very educational film that resonates.

Watch on Amazon：弥生、三月　君を愛した30年

Trailer： 映画『弥生、三月 -君を愛した３０年-』予告

There is no official English title. Japan Times calls it All About March, while movie reviews refer to it as I Have Loved You for 30 Years. The Japanese title is pronounced Yayoi Sangatsu.

 こんな夜更けにバナナかよ

A Banana? At This Time of Night? (Image from Amazon)

Yasuaki Shikano has muscular dystrophy and a short life expectancy. He uses a wheelchair and can only move his hands and mouth at will, the latter of which he does not hesitate to use. He is very demanding and talkative.

Based on a true story, the film depicts Yasuaki and his volunteers as he manages life independent of a hospital. One-sided conversations until very late at night and seemingly impossible demands like purchasing a banana past midnight are not uncommon. There are comedic fights, romantic scenes, and life-threatening incidents, all gently enveloped by humility. Yasuaki is like a child and a teacher at once.

Yasuaki’s struggles to perform daily tasks demonstrate the fundamentals of life in Japan that people take for granted. From purchasing a banana to falling in love, the things Yasuaki is unable to do highlight the expectations underlying Japanese society. The comedic storytelling about a topic that initially seems difficult makes the culture in which it takes place very accessible.

Watch on Netflix： A Banana? At This Time of Night?

Trailer with English subtitles： A Banana? At This Time of Night? [Official Trailer] with English Subtitles

 総理の夫

First Gentleman (Image from the official website)

His very capable wife asks Hiyori Soma whether it would be inconvenient for him if she became the Prime Minister of Japan. Seeing that Hiyori does not complain in response to the question, Rinko, a national diet member in a minority party, becomes the first female Prime Minister. Hence, a bird enthusiast from a very affluent family becomes the First Gentleman.

The story follows the tumultuous first term of the Soma Cabinet. Hiyori is, without exception, assigned a PR manager and thrown into the storm of media and political relations. From media scandals to political tactics, being the First Gentleman refuses to leave Hiyori at peace. The comedic film is peppered with a seriousness that makes it all the more laughter-provoking.

The film provides an insight into the Japanese political sphere. Taxation is the primary issue explored, and viewers are shown the structure of political institutions, including the Prime Minister, cabinet, political parties, and the Diet. Learning Japanese politics from the news tends to be dull, but the film shows it does not have to be.

Trailer with English subtitles： “First Gentleman” Official trailer (Eng sub)

 A final note

The Japanese culture, as depicted in anime and Hollywood films, tends to be very stereotypical. The people do not wear kimonos and eat seaweed all the time. The three Japanese films provide insights into the culture as it really is.