Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "japanese-history"
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1. The Last Samurai (2003)
R | 154 min | Action, Drama
Nathan Algren, a US army veteran, is hired by the Japanese emperor to train his army in the modern warfare techniques. Nathan finds himself trapped in a struggle between two eras and two worlds.
Director: Edward Zwick | Stars: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, William Atherton
Votes: 470,768 | Gross: $111.11M
2. Silence (I) (2016)
R | 161 min | Drama, History
In the 17th century, two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to Japan in an attempt to locate their mentor, who is rumored to have committed apostasy, and to propagate Catholicism.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson, Tadanobu Asano
Votes: 122,903 | Gross: $7.10M
3. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
R | 141 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.
Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Ryô Kase
Votes: 169,985 | Gross: $13.76M
4. Man Behind the Sun (1988)
Not Rated | 105 min | Drama, History, Horror
Japanese troops round up Chinese and Russian prisoners of war and take them to unit 731, where they're horribly tortured and experimented on to test new biological weapons.
Director: Tun-Fei Mou | Stars: Gang Wang, Dai Yao Wu, Runshen Wang, Zhe Quan
Votes: 7,269
5. Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980)
PG | 162 min | Drama, History, War
A petty thief with an utter resemblance to a samurai warlord is hired as the lord's double. When the warlord later dies the thief is forced to take up arms in his place.
Director: Akira Kurosawa | Stars: Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Ken'ichi Hagiwara, Jinpachi Nezu
Votes: 38,156
6. Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan (2021– )
TV-MA | 44 min | Documentary, Action, Adventure
An exploration of the warring kingdoms of feudal Japan when several powerful warlords fought to become absolute ruler.
Stars: Hiro Kanagawa, Hayate Masao, Stephen Turnbull, Nathan Ledbetter
Votes: 5,139
7. Kubi (2023)
131 min | Action, Drama, History
Lord Oda Nobunaga plans to control Japan where rival warlords battle by waging war against several clans. His vassal Araki Murashige stages a rebellion and promptly disappears.
Director: Takeshi Kitano | Stars: Takeaki Abe, Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Tadanobu Asano, Ken'ichi Endô
Votes: 364
8. Rurôni Kenshin: Sai shûshô - The Beginning (2021)
TV-MA | 137 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Before becoming a protector, Kenshin is a fearsome assassin known as Battosai, but his story changes when he meets the gentle Tomoe Yukishiro.
Director: Keishi Otomo | Stars: Takeru Satoh, Kasumi Arimura, Yôsuke Eguchi, Kazuki Kitamura
Votes: 10,785
9. Emperor (2012)
PG-13 | 105 min | Drama, History, War
As the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II, General Fellers is tasked with deciding if Emperor Hirohito will be hanged as a war criminal. Influencing his ruling is his quest to find Aya, an exchange student he met years earlier in the U.S.
Director: Peter Webber | Stars: Matthew Fox, Colin Moy, Tommy Lee Jones, Eriko Hatsune
Votes: 14,844 | Gross: $3.35M
10. Yamato (2005)
145 min | Drama, History, War
The movie follows 3 Japanese friends from embarking on Yamato, the world's largest battleship, until it's sunk 3 1/2 years later on April 7, 1945 on it's way to Okinawa to stop American advance at the end of WWII.
Director: Jun'ya Satô | Stars: Takashi Sorimachi, Shidô Nakamura, Kyôka Suzuki, Ken'ichi Matsuyama
Votes: 2,408
11. Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)
Not Rated | 93 min | Action, Adventure, Biography
Depicts the early life of the legendary warrior Musashi Miyamoto; his years as an aspiring warrior, an outlaw and finally a true samurai.
Director: Hiroshi Inagaki | Stars: Toshirô Mifune, Mariko Okada, Rentarô Mikuni, Kurôemon Onoe
Votes: 9,505
12. The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958)
TV-G | 105 min | Adventure, Drama, History
In 1856, the first U.S. Consul General to Japan encounters the hostility of the local authorities and the love of a young geisha.
Director: John Huston | Stars: John Wayne, Eiko Ando, Sam Jaffe, Sô Yamamura
Votes: 2,188
13. Nanking (2007)
R | 88 min | Biography, History, War
Through readings of historical account by actors and the testimony of survivors, the events of the Nanjing Massacre are recounted.
Directors: Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman | Stars: Hugo Armstrong, Rosalind Chao, Stephen Dorff, John Getz
Votes: 3,586 | Gross: $0.16M
14. Sekigahara (2017)
150 min | Drama, History, War
A depiction of Japan's 17th Century Battle of Sekigahara where the Army of the East takes up arms against the Army of the West.
Director: Masato Harada | Stars: Jun'ichi Okada, Koji Yakusho, Kasumi Arimura, Takehiro Hira
Votes: 868
15. Samurai Marathon (2019)
TV-14 | 103 min | Action, Adventure, History
In 1855, a daimyo sends his men on a grueling marathon to discover if they're tough enough to face the newly arrived Americans. Misunderstanding his intent, the Shogun dispatches assassins.
Director: Bernard Rose | Stars: Takeru Satoh, Nana Komatsu, Mirai Moriyama, Shôta Sometani
Votes: 1,184
16. When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2002)
Not Rated | 143 min | Drama, History
A samurai goes to extraordinary lengths to provide for his family.
Director: Yôjirô Takita | Stars: Kiichi Nakai, Kôichi Satô, Yui Natsukawa, Takehiro Murata
Votes: 5,359
17. Fukushima 50 (2020)
TV-PG | 122 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi facility in Japan risk their lives and stay at the nuclear power plant to prevent total destruction after the region is devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
Director: Setsurô Wakamatsu | Stars: Ken Watanabe, Takumi Saitô, Riho Yoshioka, Tomorô Taguchi
Votes: 3,365
18. Tokyo Trial (2016)
200 min | Drama, History
A historical drama that focuses on a decade-long investigation into events in the Pacific during and after WWII.
Stars: Tim Ahern, Paul Freeman, Serge Hazanavicius, Marcel Hensema
Votes: 1,974
19. Heaven and Earth (1990)
PG-13 | 125 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
In 16th century Japan, two samurai engage in massive battles across the countryside, one attempting to conquer and the other attempting to defend his land while repressing his love for a woman after taking a vow of celibacy.
Director: Haruki Kadokawa | Stars: Takaaki Enoki, Masahiko Tsugawa, Atsuko Asano, Naomi Zaizen
Votes: 1,140 | Gross: $0.31M
20. The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013)
Not Rated | 118 min | Documentary
Follows the routines of those employed at Studio Ghibli, including filmmakers Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki as they work to release two films simultaneously, The Wind Rises and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.
Director: Mami Sunada | Stars: Hayao Miyazaki, Yumiko Miyoshi, Toshio Suzuki, Shinsuke Nonaka
Votes: 5,658
21. Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet (2011)
140 min | Biography, Drama, History
The life of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto from the early 1930's to his death at the hands of the US military in 1943.
Director: Izuru Narushima | Stars: Koji Yakusho, Hiroshi Abe, Shûichi Azumaya, Mitsugorô Bandô
Votes: 1,256
22. Flying Colors (2015)
117 min | Comedy, Drama
Fact-based tale of a slacker high-school girl, years behind in her studies, who decides to start working hard and pass the entrance exams to a prestigious university in Japan.
Director: Nobuhiro Doi | Stars: Kasumi Arimura, Nanami Abe, Morio Agata, Atsushi Itô
Votes: 3,999
23. Ryômaden (2010– )
45 min | Drama, History, War
The story focuses on the life of Sakamoto Ryoma, who lived from 1835 to 1867. He was an important leader in the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa Bakufu, eventually bringing about the Meiji Restoration.
Stars: Masaharu Fukuyama, Shimba Tsuchiya, Masaomi Kondô, Teruyuki Kagawa
Votes: 363
24. Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955)
TV-PG | 104 min | Action, Adventure, Biography
Musashi Miyamoto returns to Kyoto after years of absence. After a series of fights against the Yoshioka School, he challenges its master to a duel.
Director: Hiroshi Inagaki | Stars: Toshirô Mifune, Mariko Okada, Kôji Tsuruta, Kaoru Yachigusa
Votes: 6,957
25. Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956)
TV-PG | 105 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Musashi Miyamoto is challenged to a duel by a confident swordsman Sasaki Kojiro. He agrees to fight him in a year's time.
Director: Hiroshi Inagaki | Stars: Toshirô Mifune, Mariko Okada, Kôji Tsuruta, Kaoru Yachigusa
Votes: 6,697
26. Himiko (1974)
100 min | Drama, Fantasy, History
A freestyle, imagined telling of the life of shaman queen Himiko, who falls in love with her half-brother, making her powers weaken thus putting her position to risk.
Director: Masahiro Shinoda | Stars: Shima Iwashita, Masao Kusakari, Rie Yokoyama, Chôichirô Kawarasaki
Votes: 732
27. Shinsengumi! (2004– )
45 min | Drama, History, War
Japan, July 1853. Scores of people lined the beaches at Uraga Harbor near the Shogunate Capitol of Edo. They came to get a glimpse of the American Fleet of Commodore Perry's infamous Black ... See full summary »
Stars: Kôji Yamamoto, Shingo Katori, Takayuki Takuma, Kôen Okumura
Votes: 156
28. Sword of Honor (1996 Video)
R | 97 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
Officer Johnny Lee sets out to avenge his partner's mysterious death. With the help of his partner's sister and an ancient sword, Lee becomes a one man deadly strike force.
Director: Robert Tiffe | Stars: Steven Vincent Leigh, Angelo Tiffe, Sophia Crawford, Jerry Tiffe
Votes: 174
29. The Tale of Genji (1987)
110 min | Animation, Drama, History
An animated film based on the novel by Murasaki Shikibu, written over 1000 years ago. Genji, the son of the emperor, is the talk of the Kyoto nobility for his charm and good looks, yet he ... See full summary »
Director: Gisaburô Sugii | Stars: Morio Kazama, Miwako Kaji, Reiko Tajima, Jun Fubuki
Votes: 291
30. Japan's Longest Day (1967)
157 min | Drama, History, War
A dramatization of the 24-hour period in which the Japanese government was deadlocked over the decision to accept or reject the Allies' demand for an unconditional surrender following the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Director: Kihachi Okamoto | Stars: Seiji Miyaguchi, Rokkô Toura, Chishû Ryû, Sô Yamamura
Votes: 1,012
31. The Emperor in August (2015)
135 min | Drama, History
The War ended on August 15th, 1945. What took place in Japan on the previous night? The unknown destiny of the day is unveiled.
Director: Masato Harada | Stars: Koji Yakusho, Masahiro Motoki, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Shin'ichi Tsutsumi
Votes: 713
32. Hitokiri (1969)
140 min | Action, Biography, Drama
A destitute ronin allies himself with an established clan, but its ruthless leader tries to turn him into a mindless killer.
Director: Hideo Gosha | Stars: Shintarô Katsu, Tatsuya Nakadai, Yukio Mishima, Yûjirô Ishihara
Votes: 1,227
33. Bethune: The Making of a Hero (1990)
115 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
Canadian surgeon Dr. Norman Bethune (Donald Sutherland) journeys 1,500 miles into China to reach Mao Zedong's eighth route Army in the Wu Tai mountains where he will build hospitals, ... See full summary »
Director: Phillip Borsos | Stars: Donald Sutherland, Helen Mirren, Helen Shaver, Colm Feore
Votes: 414
34. Lady Ninja Kasumi Volume 4: Birth of a Ninja (2007)
75 min | Action, History
Director: Hiroyuki Kawasaki | Stars: Akiho Yoshizawa, Yui Komiya, Miho Yoshino, Mankichi Maeda
Votes: 24
35. The Emperor's Cook (2015)
54 min | Biography, Drama, History
A young man named Akiyama Tokuzo cannot find his passion for living. One day he tasted meat cutlet for the first time and have been absorbed to learn about Western style cuisine. He set out... See full summary »
Stars: Takeru Satoh, Haru Kuroki, Sei Ashina, Ryû Morioka
Votes: 732
36. Izo (2004)
Not Rated | 128 min | Action, Drama, Fantasy
An executed samurai takes an existential journey throughout time, space and eternity in search of bloody vengeance.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Kazuya Nakayama, Kaori Momoi, Ryûhei Matsuda, Ryôsuke Miki
Votes: 4,747
37. Kirin ga kuru (2020– )
45 min | Drama
"Kirin ga Kuru" revolves around the life of Mitsuhide Akechi (Hiroki Hasegawa). He was a samurai and a general during the Sengoku period.
Stars: Hiroki Hasegawa, Ebizô Ichikawa, Mugi Kadowaki, Shôta Sometani
Votes: 55
38. Atsuhime (2008)
45 min | Drama, History
The 47th NHK Taiga Drama is a life story of Atsuhime who was born in Kagoshima Prefecture, then called Satsuma, and became the wife of Tokugawa Iesada, the 13th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Stars: Takehiro Hira, Aoi Miyazaki, Yumiko Takahashi, Marina Kozawa
Votes: 253
39. Manga Mito Kômon (1981–1982)
30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Special Agent Mito Komon and his brave companions travel across the country to see people's problems closely and manage possible governmental local rulers' cruelties.
Stars: Toshiya Sugita, Hirotaka Suzuoki, Masaru Ikeda, Youko Matsuoka
Votes: 633
40. United Red Army (2007)
Not Rated | 190 min | Crime, Drama
The film outlines Japanese students movements in the 60s, then shows the formation of the Japanese United Red Army, a communist armed resistance group.
Director: Kôji Wakamatsu | Stars: Maki Sakai, Arata Iura, Akie Namiki, Gô Jibiki
Votes: 882 | Gross: $0.00M
41. The Story of Yanagawa's Canals (1987)
167 min | Documentary, History
A live-action documentary film, this independent film was produced by Nibariki (Miyazaki's personal office), with the revenue from Nausicaä. At first, it was supposed to be an animated film... See full summary »
Director: Isao Takahata
Votes: 199
42. Touken Ranbu: The Movie (2018)
101 min | Action, Drama, Fantasy
A sage travels to the past and collects a set of legendary swords, which he brings to life as a gang of talented but dysfunctional young men, to fight a battle against evil.
Director: Saiji Yakumo | Stars: Yoshihiko Aramaki, Yûta Chatani, Tomoki Hirose, Masami Horiuchi
Votes: 87
43. Kamakuradono no 13-nin (2022)
Drama, History
A story of Hojo Yoshitoki, and 12 other lords who supported Minamoto no Yoritomo as he became the founder and first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate.
Stars: Shun Oguri, Eiko Koike, Kôji Yamamoto, Yô Ôizumi
Votes: 77
44. The Floating Castle (2012)
144 min | Comedy, Drama, History
In the year 1590, powerful daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi nears his plan to unify all of Japan, but he comes across a floating fortress known as Oshi Castle. Narita Nagachika must use his army to defend the castle.
Directors: Shinji Higuchi, Isshin Inudô | Stars: Takehiro Hira, Takayuki Yamada, Hiroki Narimiya, Mana Ashida
Votes: 613
45. Rikyu (1989)
135 min | Biography, Drama, History
Legendary tea master Sen no Rikyu is faced with his warmongering lord's unrealistic pretensions.
Director: Hiroshi Teshigahara | Stars: Rentarô Mikuni, Yoshiko Mita, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kyôko Kishida
Votes: 831
46. Battle of Okinawa (1971)
TV-14 | 149 min | Drama, History, War
Told from the Japanese perspective, this war drama captures the events of World War II's Battle of Okinawa - a massive amphibious assault by U.S. troops that left more than 150,000 Japanese civilians dead.
Director: Kihachi Okamoto | Stars: Keiju Kobayashi, Yûzô Kayama, Tetsurô Tanba, Tatsuya Nakadai
Votes: 467
47. Death of a Tea Master (1989)
107 min | Biography, Drama, History
Years after the death of legendary tea master Rikyu, his disciple Honkakubo attempts to resolve the mystery of the master's death.
Director: Kei Kumai | Stars: Eiji Okuda, Toshirô Mifune, Kinnosuke Nakamura, Gô Katô
Votes: 379
48. Yoshitsune (2005– )
Action, Biography, Drama
Fictionalized account of the last years of Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-1189), one of the great folk heroes of Japan, and the political intrigues that sealed his fate.
Stars: Hideaki Takizawa, Noriko Nakagoshi, Mutsumi Fujita, Tatsuo Ito
Votes: 100
49. Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor (1969)
122 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Feudal Japan. Kamo Serizawa and Isami Kondo turn a collection of student fencers into a band of assassins known as the Shinsen Group, devoted to the Tokugawa shogunate and to an elegant ... See full summary »
Director: Tadashi Sawashima | Stars: Toshirô Mifune, Keiju Kobayashi, Kin'ya Kitaôji, Rentarô Mikuni
Votes: 465
50. Gô-hime (1992)
142 min | Drama, History
Chronicles the trials and tribulations of Oribe, the successor to tea-master Rikyu, Usu, his gardener, and Princess Goh, who attempt to balance artistic expression and duty amid political intrigue in feudal Japan.
Director: Hiroshi Teshigahara | Stars: Rie Miyazawa, Tatsuya Nakadai, Toshiya Nagasawa, Kôshirô Matsumoto
Votes: 272