Japanese Film

The distinguished filmmaker chronicles his life, from his birth in 1910 to the worldwide success in 1950 of his film Rashomon, and provides a provocative account of the Japanese film industry.

The "Sons of Godzilla" covers the Godzilla film sequels (not including those directed by Ishiro Honda which the author covered in "Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men") from 1955 - 1995. During that time Godzilla transformed from a metaphor for Japan's atomic devastation to a protector of that same country and a friend of children until ultimately returning to the role of a villain in the 1980s. Author Peter H. Brothers covers this amazing period involving everything from super-hero robots, smog monsters, and tag-team wrestling battles. Brothers covers the juvenile films made for kids where ...

Akira Kurosawa: The Complete Guide to the Films, Legacy, and Cinematic Genius of Japan’s Master Director is the ultimate resource for film lovers, students, and anyone interested in the legendary Japanese director whose work shaped modern cinema. From Seven Samurai to Ran, Kurosawa's storytelling, visual mastery, and philosophical depth have left a lasting mark on global filmmaking. This comprehensive guide explores Kurosawa’s life, major films, recurring themes, collaborations with actor Toshiro Mifune, and his influential adaptations of Shakespeare. Each chapter dives deep into his ...

Nanao, nicknamed Ladybug - the self-proclaimed “unluckiest assassin in the world” - boards a bullet train from Tokyo to Morioka with one simple task: Grab a suitcase and get off at the next stop. Unbeknownst to him, the deadly duo Tangerine and Lemon are also after the very same suitcase - and they are not the only dangerous passengers onboard. Satoshi, “the Prince”, with the looks of an innocent schoolboy and the mind of a viciously cunning psychopath, is also in the mix and has history with some of the others.

Brought to you by Penguin. Chris Harding's enormously enjoyable new book distils Japan's long, complex and fascinating history into the stories of twenty remarkable individuals. These vivid and entertaining portraits take the reader from the earliest written accounts of Japan right through to...

Seventy years after its November 3rd, 1954 Japanese premiere, Toho Studio's Gojira (aka Godzilla) continues to stir controversy, provoke passion, and demand debate, allowing for academic study of a film beyond bold in its concept and amazing in its execution, initiating the longest-running movie series in history. In the author's follow-up to his 2015 book detailing the origins of the first Godzilla film, he delves deeper into the mystique surrounding it making and cinematic legacy, including interviews with those who were there, bios of the entire cast, a detailed evaluation of Akira ...

Japanese animation—or anime—holds a special place in the hearts of countless fans around the globe. Since the early days of Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy to Makoto Shinkai’s astounding success with Your Name, anime has left an undeniable impact on our culture. Anime Impact explores the impression the medium has left on various fans with detailed discussions on television shows and movies from the 1960s all the way to the present.

Jun Nakayama was a silent-film star in the early days of Hollywood. By 1964, he is living in complete obscurity, until a young writer, Nick Bellinger, tracks him down for an interview. When Bellinger reveals that he has written a screenplay with Nakayama in mind, Jun is intrigued by the possibility of returning to movies. But he begins to worry that someone might delve too deeply into the past and uncover the events that abruptly ended his career in 1922. Like the changing social and racial tides in California - and the unsolved murder of his favorite director.

"Brian Nishii narrates this imaginative tale set in Japan about the complexities of death, life, and cats...A brief, charming parable." — AudioFile Magazine The international phenomenon that has sold over a million copies in Japan, If Cats Disappeared from the World--now a Japanese film--is a...

A 13th-century toxic jungle, a bathhouse for tired gods, a red haired fish girl, and a furry woodland spirit - what do these have in common? They all spring from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki, one of the greatest living animators, known worldwide for films such as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and The Wind Rises. Japanese culture and animation scholar Susan Napier explores the life and art of this extraordinary Japanese filmmaker to provide a definitive account of his oeuvre.

In this gloriously over-the-top tale, Aoyama, a widower who has lived alone with his son ever since his wife died seven years before, finally decides it is time to remarry. Since Aoyama is a bit rusty when it comes to dating, a filmmaker friend proposes that, in order to attract the perfect wife, they do a casting call for a movie they don't intend to produce. As the resumes pile up, only one of the applicants catches Aoyama's attention - Yamasaki Asami - a striking young former ballerina with a mysterious past. But she is a far cry from the innocent young woman he imagines her to be.

Discover the Invisible Architecture Behind Your Favorite Animated Films Why does a Disney movie make you feel like you can conquer the world, while a Studio Ghibli film makes you want to sit quietly in a forest? Pull back the curtain on the four creative superpowers that have defined modern storytelling: Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, and Studio Ghibli. This is not just a history book. It is a deep dive into the divergent philosophies of East and West. Explore how Disney’s "Hero’s Journey" champions the triumph of the individual, while Ghibli’s "Kishōtenketsu" structure honors the quiet ...

The “profound and moving work of the imagination” (Los Angeles Times Book Review) that inspired the classic motion picture by Steven Spielberg, tells the epic story of a young boy’s struggle to survive World War II in China. Shanghai, 1941—a city aflame from the fateful torch of Pearl...

Minolta — Innovation to Legacy: A Complete History of Cameras and Optics (Sony Continuation Chapters Included) by Siu Lun Yuen Minolta was one of the most influential yet understated innovators in the history of photography. Long before autofocus, in-body stabilisation, and intelligent camera systems became industry standards, Minolta engineers were quietly redefining how cameras should work—and how photographers should interact with them. Minolta — Innovation to Legacy tells the complete story of Minolta, from its early optical foundations to its lasting technological legacy carried ...

From the award-winning film director and New York Times bestselling author of If Cats Disappeared from the World, a surreal novelization of his hit film Exit 8, adapting the indie horror game of the same name. A path with no beginning, no end. A man with a life-changing decision to make finds...

A classic memoir of self-invention in a strange land: Ian Buruma's unflinching account of his amazing journey into the heart of Tokyo's underground culture as a young man in the 1970's When Ian Buruma arrived in Tokyo in 1975, Japan was little more than an idea in his mind, a fantasy of a...

The secrets for how to live a happy, enlightened life from three charming Buddhist monks and Toshio Suzuki, the Oscar-winning Studio Ghibli producer behind internationally beloved and acclaimed films including Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and The Boy and the Heron. One legendary filmmaker...

A fascinating journey through the wisdom and wonders of Japan In love with all things Japan or looking to absorb a little Japanese wisdom into your daily life? From the philosophies of ikigai and wabi sabi to kitsch karaoke nights and futuristic robot restaurants; traditional tea ceremonies and...

This audiobook is for those who want an easy-to-follow guide that will make learning the Japanese language both fun and simple. This audiobook is specifically created for travelers, students, and businesspeople who visit Japan.

*THE JAPANESE CRIME CLASSIC - ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD* 'One of the great masterpieces of Japanese crime fiction and one of the must-read books of this or any year' David Peace Tokyo, 1995. Five men meet at the racetrack every Sunday to bet on horses. They have little in common except a deep...