Winter Days– From the recently passed Director Isao Takahata of Studio Ghibli fame, the film is based on one of the renku (collaborative linked poems) in the 1684 collection of the same name by the 17th-century Japanese poet Bashō.

The Tale of Princess Kaguya– Takahata’s last film, based on the folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, the movie features breathtaking animation and an emotional story.

The Makioka Sisters– Adapted from Junichiro Tanizaki’s classic novel, the film follows the decline of the once-prominent Makioka family.

Tokyo Olympiad– This impressionistic documentary of the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics pays as much attention to the crowds and workers as it does to the actual competitive events.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi– In this documentary, revered sushi chef Jiro Ono strives for perfection in his work, while his eldest son, Yoshikazu, has trouble living up to his father’s legacy.

The Twilight Samurai– Nominated for the academy award for foreign film in 2002, this historical drama follows Seibei Iguchi a low ranking samurai turned bureaucrat and the subsequent turmoil that ensues in his life.

YOJIMBO– In this comedic samurai film directed by Akira Kurosawa a rōnin arrives in a small town where competing crime lords vie for supremacy. The two bosses each try to hire the newcomer as a bodyguard.

Godzilla– The original monster movie, a fire-breathing behemoth terrorizes Japan after a bomb awakens it from its centuries long sleep.

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness- A documentary offering an inside look at Japan’s most famous animation company, Studio Ghibli.

Tokyo Idols– A recent documentary examining Idol culture.

 

Which movie do you want to see for our movie night? (映画会で見たい映画を選んでください) * Winter Days (冬の日) The Tale of Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語) The Makioka Sisters (細雪) Tokyo Olympiad (東京オリンピック) Jiro Dreams of Sushi (二郎は鮨の夢を見る) The Twilight Samurai (たそがれ清兵衛) Yojimbo (用心棒) Godzilla The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (夢と狂気の王国) Tokyo Idols