The Japan Society Review

Directed by Sang-il Lee Kokuho is a raw and visually stunning drama that traces a young man’s rise through the demanding world of post‑war kabuki, revealing the beauty and brutality. Review by Rachel Pratt

Directed by Gakuryu Ishii This film follows a series of mysterious events orbiting a young diver in Fukuoka, unfolding through a spiritual, meditative filmmaking style that immerses the viewer completely in its enigmatic world. Review by Lachlan Evans

Directed by Kei Ishikawa At its core, this is a film about the past we wish we could rewrite, a haunting reflection on memory and post‑war Japan. Review by Mayumi Donovan

Directed by Clair Titley The Contestant is a documentary film that revisits a reality TV programme that aired in Japan in 1998, blending original footage with recent interviews with those involved. Review by Mayumi Donovan

Directed by Neo Sora A dystopian drama that touches on issues we’re facing today all seen through the eyes of a group of high school friends in Tokyo. Review by Mayumi Donovan

Directed by Amélie Ravalec A great way to understand the background of Japanese underground art after World War II, and how it has influenced generations of artists since then. Review by Mayumi Donovan

Directed by Kitano Takeshi A visceral and darkly comic historical epic, Kubi deconstructs samurai-era masculinity and homoerotic power dynamics. Review by Mayumi Donovan

Directed by Ito Shiori The Oscar-nominated documentary in which Japanese journalist and filmmaker Ito Shiori seeks to expose the truth about the sexual assault she suffered in 2015. Review by Mayumi Donovan

Directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s new film is without doubt one of the most divisive films of the year. With awards at BFI London Film Festival and Venice Film Festival in 2023 but also with many finding the film puzzling, wanting, or even lacking. Review by Michael Tsang

Directed by Miyazaki Hayao Released in Japan as How Do You Live? (Kimitachi wa do ikiru ka), the film might not be Miyazaki’s final film, but it certainly feels like a swan song and an homage to his illustrious career. Review by Shehrazade Zafar-Arif