 | Story of a Prostitute (Criterion Collection)
Buy new: $26.99 / Used from: $13.00 Tragic story of a small town woman of limited means during WWII who must survive through degrading her body and heart. Amazing editing and cinematography and social commentary of how sexuality and war become so confused together.
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 | Ugetsu - Criterion Collection
Buy new: $32.49 / Used from: $22.00 An amazing ghost story with many layers and introductions into older Japan based on a wonderful novel.
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 | Picture Bride
Buy new: $17.99 / Used from: $9.01 Youki Kudoh should have played the lead in Memoirs of A Geisha -- she is the greatest Japanese actress around. This film is a beautiful love story that takes place in Hawaii in the early 20th century.
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 | Woman in the Dunes
Buy used from: $35.94 One of the most complex films I've ever seen. Existential angst, social psychology, class, sex, love and the most amazing images of land on film.
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 | Ikiru - Criterion Collection
Buy new: $25.99 / Used from: $14.99 A bittersweat love poem to life.
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 | Rashomon - Criterion Collection
Buy new: $26.99 / Used from: $15.48 I don't usually like films that deal with samuaris -- but the complex use of narrative device and the acting is very stunning.
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 | Akira Kurosawa's Dreams
Buy new: $5.79 / Used from: $4.49 Simply beautiful. I love Scorsese as Van Gogh!
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 | Tampopo
Buy new: $15.99 One of the most clever romantic comedies I've ever seen from the underrated Juzo Itami. It makes me hungry too. (I did my paper for class on him so i am biased).
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 | A Taxing Woman
Buy new: $17.99 A clever and funny introduction into the crime underworld of modern Japan with a strong female character determined to make a difference.
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 | The Funeral
Buy new: $17.99 / Used from: $17.98 A more dramatic film from the same director (Itami) dealing with the complexities of family and human relationships.
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 | Shall We Dance?
Buy new: $9.49 / Used from: $7.69 Yes it is a bit cheesy...but the dancing is great. A good way also to learn about the mundane life of a modern business man.
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 | Black Rain
Buy new: $19.99 / Used from: $31.04 One of the most powerful films about the effects of the atom bomb. One of my favorite Japanese films.
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 | The Eye
Buy new: $22.49 / Used from: $5.80 To not be a total snob -- this is the best of those horror films I've seen coming out of Japan recently.
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 | Grave of the Fireflies
Buy new: $17.49 / Used from: $10.45 So this film recently made it into the top 50 films about WWII -- and guess what -- it is an anime film. But also one of the most powerful films I've ever seen. Childhood innocence lost....sigh and cry.
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 | Tokyo Story - Criterion Collection
Buy new: $26.49 / Used from: $19.99 From one of the masters of Japanese cinema,Yasujiro Ozu. This is a story of the youth and elderly drifting apart after cultural changes.
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 | The Sea Is Watching
Buy new: $26.99 / Used from: $2.24 A more feminist film about sisterhood and survival of Geishas and women working in brothels. Written by Akira Kurosawa.
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 | Tokyo Godfathers
Buy new: $16.49 / Used from: $6.95 I'm not big on anime but I must say that this film is one of the sweetest and funniest cartoons I've ever had the pleasure to sit through.
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 | The Ballad of Narayama
Buy new: $22.49 / Used from: $12.11 Amazing insight into the cultural values of a remote Japanese village. Excellent.
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 | Princess Mononoke
Buy new: $18.49 / Used from: $10.85 Probably one of the most interesting presentations of gender roles in Japanese cinema. Don't watch the English Dubbed version!!!!! Billy Bob -- no!
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 | When a Woman Ascends the Stairs: Criterion Collection
Buy new: $35.99 / Used from: $18.95 A male Japanese filmmaker actually makes a fairly feminist film with a very complex lead female character who is struggling in the infamous Floating Weeds district in the 1960s. One of my favorites.
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