BEST JAPANESE FILMS AND SERIES

Tomorrow I will focus on everything you might want to know about Japanese samurai, the real ones and films.  Today, simply the highest rated Japanese movies and series by Rotten Tomatoes.

Rotten Tomatoes best Japanese films

• 100%  The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013, animated)
• 100%  Seven Samurai (1954), maybe the best movie ever made
• 100%  Still Walking (2008), complete movie, wonderful family film
• 100%  Only Yesterday (1991, animated)

• 
  100%  Tampopo (1985), complete movie, with a younger Ken Watanabe
• 100%  Tokyo Story (1953), complete movie, said to be about the best made, by Ozu (frankly, I found this film to be drawn out and boring)
• 100%  Grave of Fireflies (1988, animated)
• 99%    Shoplifters (2018)
• 99%    Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011), one of my all-time favorites, especially since he once personally served me , and only me, for the entire lunch.

• 
  99%    The Twilight Samurai (2002)
• 98%    Your Name (2016, animated)
• 98%    Rashomon (1950), with Kurosawa, Mifune, Kyo and Shimura, who was the star of Seven Samurai and appeared in 21 of Kurosawa's 30 films, including the next one.
• 98%    Ikiru (1952)
• Three more 98% and 64 films in all.

Screen Rant has a top ten series from Japan to stream on Netflix.

• #10  Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light, RT 100/76, one season of 8 episodes from 2017.

• 
  #9    Devilman Crybaby, RT 89/84, 2018. Anime.
• #8    Many Faces of Ito:  The Movie, RT no ratings. Film.
• #7    Atelier, RT no ratings, one season of 10 episodes from 2015.
• #6    Million Yen Women, no RT, one season of four episodes, from 2017,
• #5    Midnight Diner:  Tokyo Stories, RT 100/93, two seasons of 10 episodes from 2016 and 2019.
• #4   Hibana: Spark, RT /95, one season from 2016.
• 
  #3    Erased, RT 100/94, one season of 12 episodes from 2016.
• #2    Aggretsuko, RT 95/83, five seasons of mostly 10 episodes from 2018 to 2023. Animated.
• #1    Terrace House:  Opening New Doors,  RT:  no ratings, one season from 2017.  

Hibana and Atelier got cancelled by Netflix.  Here is an article detailing why these productions (mostly series) got chopped.

The best Japanese movies available on Amazon Prime.  Has six films by Akira Kurosawa, including The Seven Samurai and Yojimbo.  Also Zatoichi.  I'll go into samurai films tomorrow.  Another Japanese list for Amazon Prime.

The best Japanese movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Disney+ this year (2023).  Includes Drive My Car and Shoplifters.  Finally, 10 Must-See Japanese Shows to Add to Your Watchlist.  #1 is James May:  Our Man in Japan.

I can go on and on, but will just stop here.  Tomorrow, everything you need to know about samurai.

Well, Cyclone Kevin was the second Category 4 storm to wipe out Vanuatu after Judy a few days ago.  Watch this on You Tube.

Our Seabourn Odyssey will be sailing in this region in a week.

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