Introduction

The majestic Fantasia Film Festival is soon upon us. While there are movies from many countries screening at the festival, we’ll focus once again on what this amazing festival offers the Japanese film-fan. From their rich offer – obviously littered with hidden gems, we can already recommend 5 amazing Japanese films that one, as film-lover, should not miss.

Our recommendations

#manhole (2023) by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri [Full review forthcoming]

#Manhole is a highly engaging and twist-rich narrative that beautifully illustrates the continued importance of the image for the subject as well as the disastrous effects of the frustration of the desire to be recognized. While Kumakiri ensures that a certain mysterious atmosphere lingers with his composition, what truly breathes life into this harrowing experience are the performances of Yuta Nakajima and Nao.

Baby Assasins: 2 Babies (2023) by Yugo Sakamoto

Baby Assassins: 2 babies delivers everything that the spectator would want from a sequel to Sakamoto’s buddy-comedy: satisfying action-choreographies and a bloody great relational-comedy about the bumps that mark any amical relationship. Sakamoto’s latest film has such a irresistible charm, thanks to Akari Takaishi and Saori Izawa’s pitch-perfect performances, that even those who normally shy away of action or comedy narratives will leave satisfied.  

Mad Cats (2023) by Reiki Tsuno

Mad Cats is one hell of a ride, one satisfying exploration of the strength of the bond between a cat and its owner. Reiki Tsuno elegantly blends character-related silliness with situational tension to delivers a dose of cinematic pleasure that does not only provides the laughs but also engages the spectator with well-choreographed action. Highly recommended.  

People Who Talk To Plushies Are Kind (2023) by Yurina Kaneko

People Who Talk to Plushies Are Kind is a narrative that will surprise audiences because it utilizes the sensitive and touching sketching out of the different functions a plushie can have for a subject to deliver a biting critique on the failures of the societal Other. Kaneko convincingly shows that the symptomatic usage of the plushie attempts to repair the tensive bond with the Other or subdue its overbearing presence.

Tokyo Revengers 2 Part 1 (2023) and part 2 (2023) by Tsutomu Hanabusa

The reason why we included Tokyo Revengers 2 is simply because the first narrative was so good. While, at first glance, the movie merely seemed a watered-down movie about clashing gangs, the romantic core of the narrative ensured that it became one of the better live-action adaptations, a movie able to move the spectator and keep him engaged from start to finish. Therefore, one should not miss out on the sequels.