Japan.



The very name summons an exotic aura in the Westerner’s imagination; for an entire book on the subject, refer to Exotic Japan: The Sensual and Visual Pleasures

Indeed the people’s culture and their values digress from the Western norm enough to merit several books on the Japanese way of life and doing business.

But the difference does not deter an appreciation. Anime is hugely popular in the U.S., spawning an industry worth $2.7 billion in the US alone way back in 2009. Kurosawa is #1 on the imDB list of Greatest Foreign Directors.



But the language barrier means that few except hardcore Japanophiles happen to explore into films from Japan beyond the frequently recommended and name-dropped. A lesser known film need not be any worse, especially if we take into account individuality of likings;



Indeed it may be that a lesser known title is exactly what a certain niche audience is looking for!



So in this spirit, here are 7 underrated movies for a fresh look on Japan and her underbelly of the occult, scandalous geishas and espionage.

1. Byaku fujin no yoren // The Legend of the White Serpent

Shiro Toyoda

1965

Romance, Fantasy

imDB

The story is of a young scholar who falls under the charm of a beautiful woman, unaware that she is in reality a White Serpent in disguise. It is based on a Chinese legend of the same name, which has evolved over the centuries to incorporate new variations.

The visuals are beautiful with impressive special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Together with a musical score by Ikuma Dan, this one takes the audience on a surreal trip of Eastern myth.

2. Shinobi no mono //The Ninja

Satsuo Yamamoto

1962

Action, Drama

imDB

Here’s a fun fact: ninjas weren’t even called ninjas in Japan. The Kanji name for the class of covert fighters is composed of two words: Shinobi, meaning ‘stealth’, and mono, meaning ‘person’. Kanji pictograms being derived from Chinese, the two words can be read as Shinobi no mono according to Japanese rules, or nin sha according to rules of traditional Chinese. However, the shorter and easier ‘ninja’ caught on with the West (read more)

America has been obsessed with ninjas for decades now, yet there’s a lot of misinformation surrounding these mythical shadow warriors. Could they really fly or run on water? Ninjutsu as an ancient discipline is rapidly dying out, to be replaced by the fabrications of pop culture.

This production has some history behind it. Head of Bujinkan Dojo martial arts organization Masaaki Hatsumi is officially credited as a ninjutsu consultant for the movie, but there are widespread rumors that his trainer and master Toshitsugu Takamatsu (“the last living true ninja”) was also involved.

As a consequence of director Satsuo’s choice to abandon flashy gimmicks for a historically accurate rendition, the the movie offers an honest glimpse of the realities facing a ninja and the tools of his trade.

The story is about a a talented young ninja who goes lone wolf against an evil warlord and his minions, for guts and glory. Great set-up for some authentic ninja action!



















This is the first of a series of eight, though only the first two were made by Satsuo . While they can be watched as standalone, they work much better together.

3. Onsen anma geisha // Hot Springs Massage Geisha

Teruo Ishii 1968 Drama imDB

The daily routine of a troupe of geishas working at a small seaside resort town is thrown overboard by the appearance of a baby in the geisha dormitory – followed by its disappearance only a few hours later.

Erotic, comical and captivating at the same time – good watch for a bored holiday afternoon.







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4. Botan-dôrô // Peony Lantern Ghost Story

Satsuo Yamamoto 1968 Horror imDB

A man falls in love with a courtesan on the night of the summer Obon festival, not knowing she is a ghost.

The movie is creepily gripping. Glimpses of sexual encounter are brief, but those brief moments are horrific.

5. Nihon jokyo-den kyokaku geisha // Samurai Geisha

Kôsaku Yamashita 1969 Action, Crime, Drama imDB

Set during the Meiji Era, the story is about popular geisha Shinji who schemes to steal a lucrative coal business from struggling miners.

Combine all-through stellar acting with a thrilling story and Takakura Ken’s violent swordplay, and you have a classic Yakuza movie!











That’s it for this lineup! Which are your favorite underrated Japanese movies? Let us know in the comments below! Thanks for reading 🙂