Best Japan Movies & TV Shows

Godzilla

Ford Brody, a Navy bomb expert, has just reunited with his family in San Francisco when he is forced to go to Japan to help his estranged father, Joe. Soon, both men are swept up in an escalating crisis when an ancient alpha predator arises from the sea to combat malevolent adversaries that threaten the survival of humanity. The creatures leave colossal destruction in their wake, as they make their way toward their final battleground: San Francisco.

Run time: 123m Tagline: The world ends, Godzilla begins. Release: 2014-05-14

Stars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson Al Sapienza Bryan Cranston CJ Adams David Strathairn Elizabeth Olsen James Pizzinato Juliette Binoche Ken Watanabe Sally Hawkins

The Karate Kid Part II

Summoned by his dying father, Miyagi returns to his homeland of Okinawa, with Daniel, after a 40-year exile. There he must confront Yukie, the love of his youth, and Sato, his former best friend turned vengeful rival. Sato is bent on a fight to the death, even if it means the destruction of their village. Daniel finds his own love in Yukia's niece, Kumiko, and his own enemy in Sato's nephew, the vicious Chozen. Now, far away from the tournaments, cheering crowds and safety of home, Daniel will face his greatest challenge ever when the cost of honor is life itself.

Run time: 113m Tagline: One more lesson to share. The price of honor. The power of friendship. And the way you must fight when only the winner survives. Release: 1986-06-18

Stars: Arsenio Trinidad Charlie Tanimoto Danny Kamekona Joey Miyashima Marc Hayashi Nobu McCarthy Pat Morita Ralph Macchio Tamlyn Tomita Yuji Okumoto

Shōgun

In Japan in the year 1600, at the dawn of a century-defining civil war, Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him, when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village.

Stars: Anna Sawai Cosmo Jarvis Fumi Nikaido Hiroyuki Sanada Tadanobu Asano Takehiro Hira Tommy Bastow