Japanese films about hope

List of the best Japanese films about hope according to the audience: Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary, Mitsuko Delivers, A Letter to Momo, First Love, Closest Love To Heaven, Norwegian Wood, Ajin, One Week Friends, Legend of the Millennium Dragon, Howl's Moving Castle.

In the top there are new films of 2023, a plot description and trailers for films that have already been released.

Country
Markimdb: 5.4
Genrefantasy, adventure, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration01:33

Warriors called "Saints" are the champions of hope who have always appeared since the Age of Myth whenever evil threatens the world. In this present day story, many years since the long fought "Holy War" we find Saori Kido, a girl troubled by her mysterious powers. She is saved by a boy, Seiya "Bronze Saint" from a sudden attack by an assassin, through the accident Saori realizes her destiny and mission and decides to go to "Sanctuary" with Seiya and his company of Bronze Saints. In Sanctuary they confront "Pope" and wage a desperate battle against the greatest Saints, the "Gold Saints".

Markimdb: 6.3
Genrecomedy
CountryJapan
Duration01:49

Mitsuko is 24, heavily pregnant and estranged from the American father of her child. Her parents believe she is happy and successful in America and are unaware that she has secretly returned to Tokyo. Making the biggest decisions on the slightest whim, she moves back into the tenement street where she lived as a child. The move changes lives, reignites old romances and creates a supportive circle of love that may be exactly what Mitsuko needs.

Markimdb: 7.3
Genrefantasy, comedy, drama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration02:00

Clinging to an unfinished letter written by her recently deceased father, young Momo moves with her mother from bustling Tokyo to the remote Japanese island of Shio. Upon their arrival, she begins to explore her new habitat, meeting local children and learning their routines and customs. However, it's not long before several bizarre occurrences crop up around the previously tranquil island. Orchards are found ransacked, prized trinkets start disappearing and, worst of all, each morning after her mother leaves for work, Momo hears strange mumblings coming from the attic of their home. Annoyed by these creepy goings-on and her mother's refusal to believe them, Momo embarks on a strange and supernatural adventure to discover the source of the mischief, which leads her to a trio of troublesome imps: the flatulent lizard Kawa, the childlike Mame and their hulking ogre leader Iwa. Momo also learns that her visit to the island is in some way connected to her father's mysterious letter.

Markimdb: 6.7
Genreaction, crime
CountryJapan

A young boxer and a call girl get caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo.

Markimdb: 6.3
Genrecomedy, melodrama
CountryJapan

Nino is a quiet outcast with only a bird for a friend. Kira is a popular boy with a big secret. Even though they live next to each other, they have never spoken. But when Nino learns Kira's secret, everything begins to change, and what starts as a hesitant friendship grows into something more... but how long can it last?

Markimdb: 6.3
Genremelodrama, drama
CountryJapan
Duration02:13

Set in the 1960s, high school student Toru Watanabe loses his only friend Kizuki after he commits suicide. Toru, now looking for a new life, enters a university in Tokyo. By chance, Toru meets Kizuki's ex-girlfriend Naoko in the university. They grow close because they both share the same loss. As Toru and Naoko grow even closer, Naoko's sense of loss also grows. After Naoko's 20th birthday, she leaves for a sanitarium in Kyoto. Watanabe, devastated by the situation, meets pure-hearted Midori during the spring semester. Midori looks like a small animal that just came into the world ...

Markimdb: 7.6
Genrehorror, fantastic, action, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration01:33

17 years ago, immortals first appeared on the battlefields of Africa. Later, rare, unknown new immortal lifeforms began appearing among humans, and they became known as "Ajin" (demi-humans). Just before summer vacation, a Japanese high school student is instantly killed in a traffic accident on his way home from school. However, he is revived, and a price is placed on his head. Thus begins a boy's life on the run from all of humankind.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama
CountryJapan
Duration01:03

High school student Yuki Hase (Kento Yamazaki) wants to become close with classmate Kaori Fujimiya (Haruna Kawaguchi) who is alway by herself. Kaori Fujimiya refuses to become close with Yuki Hase, because she forgets her friends every new Monday. Even though Kaori tells Yuki why she doesn't want to become friends, Yuki still wants to become close to her.

Markimdb: 5.6
Genrefantasy, adventure, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration01:34

A spectacular journey of an unwilling young hero thrust into a mysterious past full of monsters, dragons, and strange hidden powers. Through a series of out of this world battles and adventures, Jun, a shy middle school boy, is transformed into a hero destined to battle evil and ensure harmony and tranquility in the world.

Markimdb: 8.2
Genrefantasy, melodrama, adventure, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration01:59

    When Sophie, a shy young woman, is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking home.

    Markimdb: 7.1
    Genredrama
    CountryJapan

    A 21-year-old girl is released from prison, only to deal with the neighborhood gossip about her and family conflicts. She decides to save one million yen, move to where no one knows her and keep repeating the process.

    Markimdb: 6.3
    Genrecomedy, drama
    CountryUSA, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan
    Duration01:39

      After withdrawing to the Chateau Marmont, a passionless Hollywood actor reexamines his life when his eleven-year-old daughter surprises him with a visit.

      Markimdb: 7
      Genrecomedy, drama
      CountryJapan

      Young women in a small Japanese town look to revive their home's declining fortunes by building a Hawaiian village tourist attraction.

      Markimdb: 7.4
      Genrefantasy, melodrama, drama, adventure, cartoon, anime
      CountryJapan
      Duration01:52

      A story of encounters and partings interwoven between people; this is a human drama with feelings that touch one's heart gradually, which everyone has experienced at least once.

      Markimdb: 7.3
      Genrefantastic, melodrama, adventure, cartoon, anime
      CountryJapan
      Duration01:39

      In an underground world where tunnels extend everywhere, even though they live in dark and confined spaces, people wear protective clothes and lead quiet and enjoyable lives. Patema, a princess in her underground village, loves to explore the tunnels. Her favorite place is a "danger zone" that her village prohibits people from entering. Even though she's scolded, Patema's curiosity can't be held back. No one ever explained what the supposed danger was. On her usual trip to the "danger zone," Patema faces unexpected events. When hidden secrets come to light, the story begins to unfold.

      Markimdb: 7.1
      Genreaction, crime
      CountryJapan

      After yakuza boss Kurata dissolves his own criminal empire, a rival kingpin offers a position to Kurata's top operative, Tetsuya "Phoenix Tetsu" Hondo. When the fiercely loyal Tetsu declines, Otsuka taps unstoppable Tatsuzo the "Viper", a ruthless gun-for-hire, to assassinate him. As the Viper trails his target through the countryside, the agile Phoenix Tetsu grows concerned that one of his former associates has betrayed him.

      Markimdb: 7.4
      Genremelodrama, drama, cartoon, anime
      CountryJapan
      Duration01:31

      A group of Yokohama students fight to save their school's clubhouse from the wrecking ball during preparations for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. While working there, Umi and Shun gradually become attracted to each other but have to face a sudden trial. Even so, they keep going without fleeing the difficulties of reality.

      Markimdb: 7.4
      Genredrama
      CountryJapan
      Duration02:23

      Kanichiro Yoshimura is a Samurai and Family man who can no longer support his wife and children on the the low pay he receives from his small town clan, he is forced by the love for his family to leave for the city in search of higher pay to support them.

      Markimdb: 7.7
      Genrefantasy, comedy, adventure, cartoon, anime
      CountryJapan
      Duration01:43

      The film follows Nishi, a loser who has a crush on his childhood girlfriend. After an encounter with the Japanese mafia, the film follows Nishi as he journeys to heaven and back, and ends up trapped in an even more unlikely place.

      Markimdb: 6.9
      Genrefantasy, melodrama, drama
      CountryJapan
      Duration02:05

      A life-size, inflatable sex doll suddenly comes to life one day. Without her owner knowing, she goes for a walk around town and falls in love with Junichi. She starts to date Junichi and gets a job at the same store where he works. Everything seems to be going perfect for her until something unexpected happens.

      Markimdb: 5.9
      Genremelodrama, drama
      CountryJapan

      Natsume Mochizuki works as a teen model in Tokyo, but she learns that she has to move to her father's hometown of Ukigumo. She is in a desperate situation because she can't do the things she wants to do in Ukigumo. One day, she meets Koichiro Hasegawa. He is the successor of the Hasegawa family. His family is wealthy and is respected in the area. Natsume Mochizuki and Koichiro Hasegawa become attracted to each other, but something changes their fate.

      Markimdb: 7.8
      Genredrama, cartoon, biography, history, anime
      CountryJapan
      Duration02:06

      A lifelong love of flight inspires Japanese aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi, whose storied career includes the creation of the A-6M World War II fighter plane.

      Markimdb: 6.4
      Genrefantastic, action, adventure, cartoon, anime
      CountryJapan
      Duration01:48

      Space Pirate Captain Harlock and his fearless crew face off against the space invaders who seek to conquer the planet Earth.

      Markimdb: 7.3
      Genrecomedy, drama
      CountryJapan
      Duration01:59

      Machisu is a painter. He never had the success he thinks he is entitled to. Regardless of this, he always remains trying to be successful. His wife Sachiko keeps supporting him, despite all setbacks. Machisu, the only son of a rich collector, has a childs love for painting. Praise from a famous artist friend of his father inspires the young boy to dream of becoming a painter himself. s a young man, poor loner Machisu manages to attend art school with money earned from working. He is introduced to an unconventional world of bold creativity but he also gets his first bitter taste of harsh criticism from a dealer. Encouragement comes in the form of attractive clerk Sachiko who is convinced that she alone understands him. Marriage is soon followed by a daughter, as love and hope drive Machisu to commit even more deeply to his art ...

      Markimdb: 8.2
      Genrefantastic, action, drama, adventure, cartoon, anime
      CountryJapan

      Compilation of episodes 1-2 of the Space Battleship Yamato 2199 TV anime.

      Markimdb: 7.7
      Genrecomedy, drama
      CountryJapan
      Duration02:01

      Brash, loudmouthed and opportunistic, Kikujiro is the unlikely companion for Masao who is determined to see the mother he has never met. The two begin a series of adventures which soon turns out to be a whimsical journey of laughter and tears with a wide array of surprises and unique characters along the way.

      Markimdb: 7
      Genredrama
      CountryJapan
      Duration01:50

      A single woman runs an unconventional service that rents housecats to lonely people.

      Markimdb: 8
      Genredrama, music
      CountryJapan
      Duration02:10

      Daigo, a cellist, is laid off from his orchestra and moves with his wife back to his small hometown where the living is cheaper. Thinking he’s applying for a job at a travel agency he finds he’s being interviewed for work with departures of a more permanent nature – as an undertaker’s assistant.

      Markimdb: 8.5
      Genredrama, military, history
      CountryJapan

      During the Second World War, Japanese conscientious objector Kaji works as a supervisor in a Manchurian prison camp. He hopes to avoid duty as a soldier, but he also hopes to be helpful to the welfare of his prisoners. But an escape attempt by Chinese prisoners results in Kaji's arrest for collusion. He faces the possibility of transferral to combat--or worse.

      Markimdb: 7.7
      Genredrama
      CountryJapan

      A poor factory worker, visiting the Tokyo son she has skimped to educate, finds even a college degree doesn't make a difference in Depression era Japan.

      Markimdb: 7.1
      Genreaction, drama
      CountryChina, Japan, France
      Duration02:13

      Four independent stories set in modern China about random acts of violence.

      Markimdb: 7
      Genremelodrama, drama
      CountryJapan

      Based on Akira Kurosawa's final unproduced script, this Edo-period drama takes place almost entirely inside an ocean-village brothel. O-Shin is a young brothel worker who one night helps a young samurai escape from his pursuers. Against the warnings of her fellow workers, particularly Kikuno and the brothel's owner, O-Shin falls in love with the samurai.

      Markimdb: 7
      Genreaction, thriller, drama, crime, history
      CountryJapan
      Duration02:15

      Set in Hokkaido, Japan in the 1880s. Jubei Kamata (Ken Watanabe), who is on the side of the Edo shogunate government, kills many people. His name is infamous in Kyoto. When the battle at Goryoukaku is about to be finished, Jubei disappears. 10 years later, Jubei lives with his kid in relative peace. He is barely able to make a living. Protecting his dead wife's grave, Jubei has decided to never pick up a sword again, but due to poverty he has no choice but to pick the sword again. Jubei becomes a bounty hunter.

      Markimdb: 5.9
      Genreaction, drama
      CountryJapan
      Duration02:09

      While a menacing typhoon approaches, an accident at the giant natural gas plant Regalia occurs. Japan Coast Guard rescue divers Daisuke Senzaki (Hideaki Ito), Tetsuya Yoshioka (Ryuta Sato) and engineer Hiroshiichirou Sakuragi (Masaya Kato) head together to the gas plant. During their rescue efforts an explosion occurs that traps Daisuke, Natsu Nishizawa Kazue Fukiishi and worker Hisayoneo Kizima (Gaku Hamada). Daisuke then looks for a way out for his party with a man he just meets Takuya Hotori. Because of the typhoon, even a helicopter cannot approach the Regalia. Meanwhile, at the head office of the Japan Coast Guard, the Japanese coast guard tries to find a way to rescue the trapped people, but the government officials put national interests first. Tension arises between these two parties. Daisuke's wife Tamakisai Senzaki (Ai Kato) prays for the safe return of Daisuke not only for her sake, but for their new born son.

      Markimdb: 8.6
      Genremelodrama, drama, cartoon, music, anime
      CountryJapan

      Kousei Arima was a genius pianist until his mother's sudden death took away his ability to play. Each day was dull for Kousei. But, then he meets a violinist named Kaori Miyazono who has an eccentric playing style. Can the heartfelt sounds of the girl's violin lead the boy to play the piano again?

      Markimdb: 7.5
      Genremelodrama, cartoon, anime
      CountryJapan
      Duration00:46

      Takao, who is training to become a shoemaker, skipped school and is sketching shoes in a Japanese-style garden. He meets a mysterious woman, Yukino, who is older than him. Then, without arranging the times, the two start to see each other again and again, but only on rainy days. They deepen their relationship and open up to each other. But the end of the rainy season soon approaches...

      Markimdb: 5.4
      Genrehorror, fantastic, action, thriller, fantasy, drama
      CountryJapan

      Now a member of Anteiku, Ken Kaneki grows closer to the ghouls around him. Determined to protect his new home against anti-ghoul forces, he trains his powers in secret. But when the infamous gourmet, Shu Tsukiyama, wishes to savour some half-ghoul flavour, Kaneki's training is put to test of a lifetime.

      Markimdb: 6.7
      Genrefantastic, melodrama, cartoon, anime
      CountryJapan

      Year 2027, The city of Kyoto has undergone tremendous advancement. Within the city lives Naomi Katagaki, an introvert and Ruri Ichigyō, a girl with a cold personality. Both share a love for reading books. Despite having similar interests, Naomi is afraid to approach Ruri due to her unfriendly nature. One day, as Naomi goes out for a walk, a crimson aurora pierces through the sky for a brief moment. Shortly after, he sees a three-legged crow and a mysterious man who reveals himself to be Naomi from 10 years in the future, explaining that he has come to change a tragic event that happens to Ruri shortly after they start dating. Naomi follows his future self's instructions and starts getting closer to Ruri, determined to save her. With the help of his future self, Naomi begins his preparations to save Ruri. Will he be able to change the future?

      Markimdb: 6.3
      Genrefantasy, comedy, family, cartoon
      CountryFrance, Japan, USA

      The Grinch hatches a scheme to ruin Christmas when the residents of Whoville plan their annual holiday celebration.

      Markimdb: 5.6
      Genrefantastic, action, fantasy, cartoon, anime
      CountryJapan, USA
      Duration02:03

      Gorilla Grodd's time displacement machine transports many of Batman's worst enemies to feudal Japan —along with the Dark Knight and a few of his allies. The villains take over the forms of the feudal lords that rule the divided land, with the Joker taking the lead among the warring factions. As his traditional high-tech weaponry is exhausted almost immediately, Batman must rely on his intellect and his allies —including Catwoman and the extended Bat-family— to restore order to the land, and return to present-day Gotham City.

      Markimdb: 7.1
      Genrefantastic, action, thriller, cartoon, detective, anime
      CountryJapan

      Posing as lovers on vacation, Motoko and Batou work to try to stop a terrorist organization whose symbol is the Scrasath. Meanwhile, Togusa investigates a murder of a man who possessed a prosthetic leg manufactured by the Mermaid's Leg corporation.

      Markimdb: 6.2
      Genrethriller, crime
      CountryJapan
      Duration02:04

      Ninagawa is a powerful man in Japanese politics and with top economic connections.His granddaughter is then murdered. The suspect is Kunihide Kiyomaru (Tatsuya Fujiwara). Kunihide Kiyomaru has a prior conviction for assaulting and killing a girl 8 years ago. The police could never apprehend the suspect in the prior killing.

      Markimdb: 6.8
      Genreaction, thriller, comedy, melodrama, drama
      CountryJapan

      A detective probes the brutal murder of a woman in a red light district while a housewife hides her double life as a prostitute from her husband.

      Markimdb: 7.3
      Genreaction, melodrama, drama, detective, military, history
      CountryJapan
      Duration02:24

      A young man Kentaro Saeki (Haruma Miura) keeps failing his bar test and does not know what to do any more. His older sister Keiko is a freelance writer. Kentaro and Keiko begin to search for information on their grandfather Kyuzo Miyabe (Junichi Okada) who dead in the special forces during World War II. Their grandfather Kyuzo Miyabe was terrified of death and obsessed with life. Why did he join the special forces? According to his fellow navy soldiers, Kyuzo Miyabe was a genius and also a coward. Kentaro and Keiko then discovers the shocking truth which has been sealed for 60 years.

      Markimdb: 6.2
      Genreaction, comedy, crime
      CountryJapan

      Fable is a legendary yakuza hitman equal to none—but his boss orders him and his sultry associate to lay low and learn how to live a "normal life" in Osaka.

      Markimdb: 6.5
      Genrefantastic, comedy, drama
      CountryJapan

      In an alternate Japan, territorial street gangs form opposing factions collectively known as the Tokyo Tribes. The simmering tension between them is about to boil over into all-out war.

      Markimdb: 7.3
      Genredrama
      CountryJapan
      Duration01:16

      When technical illustrator Tony Takitani asks his wife to resist her all-consuming obsession for designer clothes, the consequences are tragic.

      Markimdb: 6.8
      Genrefantasy, adventure, cartoon, music, anime
      CountryJapan, USA
      Duration01:02

      In an small fishing village, a gloomy middle school student named Kai meets a mermaid named Lu.

      Markimdb: 7.4
      Genrecomedy, melodrama, cartoon, anime
      CountryJapan

      Yuuta and Rikka are in their third year of high school. One day in Spring, Touka declares that she will take Rikka to Italy with her, as her job has stabilized there and thinks they should migrate together as a family. Touka is also worried about Rikka not being competent enough to advance to universities in Japan. The gangs from the club suggested Yuuta, who doesn't want to be separated, to elope with Rikka!! A runaway drama throughout Japan begins.

      Markimdb: 5.7
      Genrehorror
      CountryJapan

      Mirai and Haruna are shooting a show streamed on smartphones which introduces different viewer submitted videos. That day the videos were all of paranormal phenomena, carefully selected alleged accurate accounts of haunted occurrences. In the middle of one video, the image gets interrupted, immediately turning back on to show a footage that was not in the script. The video capture an urban legend rumoured at Haruna’s school. A psychic on the show assesses that a certain demonological ritual must be performed in order to rid the school of this phenomena. The director, agents and the two girls go to the school accordingly to find there is more to the video than meets the eye…




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