Japanese love films are often distinguished by unusual style and presentation. Nevertheless, each film is a specific story in which feelings, struggle and loyalty are closely intertwined. A selection of the best psychological Japanese love films (according to the editors of the portal) will allow you to plunge into the abyss of passion and centuries-old traditions that will not leave anyone indifferent.
20. Love Letter (1995)
Despite the fact that her fiancé Hiroko died two years ago in the mountains, she can’t accept the fact that he is no longer alive. On a visit to the mother, Itsuki looks at an old school album, in which she finds the address where her dead fiance lived.
In a fit of despair, she writes a letter and sends it to the specified address, knowing full well that there will be no answer. However, soon Hiroko receives a mysterious letter, on which is the signature of her dead groom Itsuki ...
19. The Paradise Kiss (2011)
Yukari has always been a diligent girl. She went to school perfectly well, never performed rash acts, and at the age of 18 she prepares for the most important event of her life - entering a prestigious university. She is secretly in love with her classmate, which he does not even suspect.
One fine day, a guy with a pronounced appearance and piercing approaches her, or rather, impudently demands that Yukari become a fashion model for the fashion brand ParadiseKiss. The girl does not even suspect how this youth brand for bold and ambitious people will change not only her character, but also her life.
18. Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
A little girl named Chio, still in her childhood, is sent to a geisha house, where she quickly learns all the subtleties of the profession. Over time, she turns into a real woman who enjoys great success among noble men. Becoming a geisha, she received the name Sayuri. Having perfectly mastered the art of seduction, Sayuri can easily drive any man crazy. But in her heart there lives the love of a single man, upon whom her charms do not work. Can she find her happiness in such a difficult post-war period?
17. Samurai’s Daughter (1937)
A young specialist named Teuro returns to his homeland after studying in Europe. There he mastered the profession of agronomist and tasted the spirit of individual freedom, after which the Japanese life seemed to him closed and close.
The conflict of interests of traditional society and modern views almost lead Teuro to big troubles, but he managed to avoid them thanks to his older comrades, as well as to a German girl named Gerd. They are the ones who help Teuro understand how strong his delusions were.
16. The Incredible Love Story (2009)
Because of his dementia, Yojin, along with his grandmother, is all the time growing and selling vegetables in his village. His business is not going very well, but soon a woman named Machiko arrives in the village. She lost her lover, so she is forced to get a job in kindergarten.
The idiot Yojin does not attract her at all, but he soon discovers that if you pour yourself with special chemicals, his behavior changes completely. He becomes completely normal, and even Machico sees in him a rather funny and interesting guy ...
15. Love and Honor (2006)
The protagonist of the film is a samurai, who must perform not the most pleasant and decent work in his clan. He has to constantly check the food for the presence of poison.
Once he eats sashimi with poisonous fish, after which he completely loses his sight. This threatens the whole future of the family. Samurai's wife decides to help at any cost, therefore she asks for help from the best warrior of the country. Will a blind samurai be able to take the defense of a stronger warrior without losing his honor and dignity?
14. The story of his beloved wife (1954)
As a student, Keito rents a room in the Ishikawa family, after which love arises between him and the daughter of the head of the Takako family. When the father finds out about this, he forbids his daughter to see Keito because he is poor. Soon Takako leaves the house only to be with his beloved.
They move to Kyoto, but Keito continues to harass. It is very difficult for him to find a job in a profession, but soon he meets with the famous director Sakaguchi, and this acquaintance will turn his life ...
13. Only the sea knows (2002)
Oshin works as a geisha in a Japanese brothel. She dreams of breaking free and starting a new life. One day she meets a samurai named Fusanosuke, who is hiding from the law. He says that he killed one powerful person.
The girl believes him and does not blame her for what she has done, so soon real feelings arise between her and Fusanosuke. They fall in love with each other, no matter what. Will their relationship be able to pass the test of time, especially if the past will pursue at every turn?
12. Light snow (1983)
Despite the impact of the war years on Japan, four sisters from a noble family continue to struggle and defend traditions. They do not want to put up with the fact that in the modern world everything is solved with the help of power and money, and the career is in the first place.
On their way there will be many trials, because the tough time will regularly make itself known. But only thanks to the interrelationship between the sisters and unbreakable support will they be able to overcome any difficulties and find true happiness ...
11. Time (2006)
Despite the fact that young people meet for two years, the girl is constantly worried about the fact that the guy can get away from her, and therefore involuntarily rolls constant tantrums. This state of affairs leads to the fact that her beloved Chi-Wu is gradually moving away from her.
Their sex life comes to a standstill, because Chi-Wu reciprocates only when Si-Hee invites him to introduce another woman in her place. The desire to constantly receive new emotions from each other will lead this pair to completely unpredictable things, among which an operation to change the appearance will not be the strangest decision ...
10. Shinobi (2005)
Japan in 1614 was finally able to unite under the leadership of the first Shogun Tokugawa. Representatives of the two clans - Gennoska and Oboro - are burdened with a heavy burden, because only they can put the eternal conflict between the Iga and Koga clans.
Only with the help of their love will be able to stop the bloodshed between the ninja clans. However, Tokugawa organizes a conspiracy that rekindles the confrontation. Gennoske believes that the only way to resolve the issue is peace, while Oboro used to solving all conflicts only with the help of force. Will they be able to maintain their feelings during the open hostility of their clans?
9. Norwegian Forest (2010)
When a 37-year-old man named Torah, while waiting at the Hamburg airport, hears the melody from the song "Norwegian Forest" by Beetles, he immediately mentally returns to the 60s when he was a student in Tokyo.
His life changes dramatically after the Torah’s best friend commits suicide. Unable to withstand the death of Kizuki, the young man decides to go to a place where he will not know anyone that will allow to survive this tragic event. Soon, Toru meets a girlfriend of a deceased friend and love flares up between them, but in their relationship there will always be riddles that they cannot get rid of ...
8. Hiroshima, my love (1959)
Difficult and overflowing with dramatic events, the love story of a Japanese architect and a French film actress who are trying to build relationships in post-war Hiroshima. Despite the feelings, the society itself and their environment constantly do not allow them to forget about what they had to go through.
Will they be able to clear themselves from the memory of the past and forget the cruel events that took place in their lives, or will they forever remain an insurmountable barrier in the relationship between Ella and Louis?
7. Empty House (2004)
For a whole day, Tae-bitch drives around the city on his motorcycle and hangs advertising posters on houses. In the evening he will tear down the poster in the house in which there is no owner, after which he will temporarily stop there.
He performs various jobs, fixes appliances and even erases things. In one of the houses the young man notices a sad woman who constantly suffers the beating of her husband. Sun-hwa decides to run away from home with the Tae-bitch, constantly changing one dwelling to another. Will she be able to endure the way of life so familiar to him?
6. Patema opposite (2013)
An unknown catastrophe divided all of humanity into two groups. For some, there was the usual gravity, and for others - the opposite. In order not to fly to heaven, the second people are forced to live underground. Both societies know almost nothing about the existence of each other and almost never intersect.
Nevertheless, among the people living on the surface, there is a legend, according to which once sinners flew straight to heaven. That is why in their society it is necessary to always look to the ground, and it’s simply unacceptable to look to the sky ...
5. Scenes by the sea (1991)
Shigeru is deaf and dumb since birth. When he looks at the huge waves rising at sea, he does not hear their noise at all, but this does not prevent him from being totally fascinated by the greatness of the water element.
One day, Shigeru finds a surfboard and immediately realizes that this is exactly what he has been searching for all his life. Thanks to her, he can merge with the object of his admiration in a single stream. Only the deaf-and-dumb Takako companion who follows Shiger everywhere, truly understands the young man ...
4. My girlfriend is a cyborg (2006)
In the life of a student named Jiro, there were no bright events, but that all changed when She appeared. Incredibly beautiful girl with a cold look, who is always dressed in a fitting costume of anime character.
As it turned out, she arrived from the future, from where 80-year-old Jiro himself sent her to protect her from injury in a local shootout. As he communicates, the young man realizes that he irrevocably falls in love with her, but it soon turns out that the cyborg girl hides some details of his future from Jiro ...
3. The sky of love (2007)
This is the story of a girl named Mika. She studies in high school and is completely inexperienced in love relationships. While all her friends and classmates are constantly talking about guys, Mika is constantly shy and feels like a black sheep.
One day in her life there will be a real handsome Hiro, who by all means intends to get Micah's heart. Will they be able to build relationships and successfully pass all the trials that fate has prepared for them on their way?
2. Dolls (2002)
Despite the fact that Matsumoto and Sawako were the perfect couple, the young man decided to leave his beloved for the sake of a marriage of convenience. Shortly before the wedding, Matsumoto learns that Sawako is crazy.
Old Hiro is a respected Yakuza boss who has everything you can wish for. But for 30 more years everything was different, because he was an ordinary factory worker. Hiro traded a girl who brought him breakfast in the park for career and fame. Now he returns to the park where it all began.
Haruna Yamaguchi constantly sits on the beach and looks into the sea. More recently, she was a famous pop star, but after a tragic incident she was forced to step back from everyone and constantly walk with her face covered with a bandage. Despite this, her faithful fan, Nukui, is going to prove her loyalty to a girl even in this situation.
Three completely different love stories ...
1. The Empire of Passion (1978)
In 1895, in a village near Tokyo, a woman and her lover decided to kill her husband. After their deed, they got rid of the body, throwing it into the old well. For three years, they met in secret from everyone.
The spirit of her late husband constantly appeared not only to the murderers, but also to other villagers. He helped expose their crime, after which the couple was executed. All this time, their passion did not fade, and the last love meeting took place right at the bottom of the well, next to the remains of the murdered lover.
And what are the most interesting Japanese films about relationships and love you know and love? Share the names of these pictures in the comments!
