Reviews

Japanese cinema is frequently associated with distinguished directors such as Kurosawa, Ozu, and Mizoguchi, as well as prominent contemporary filmmakers including Kore-eda, Hamaguchi, and Fukada. But behind the camera, there are women whose powerful voices and stories shaped Japanese film history — often without the recognition they deserve. Today, I am celebrating the female directors of Japanese cinema — past and present. Chapter 1: The Early Pioneers In the early 20th cent

I can’t believe we’re already one month into 2026! If you’re a fan of Japanese movies, dramas, and anime, 2026 is shaping up to be an incredible year. From highly anticipated sequels to brand-new originals on Netflix and in theatres, there’s a lot to get excited about. Before the year truly gets going with releases, I’m breaking down the Japanese movies and TV shows I can’t wait to watch in 2026 — so stick around, because some of these might end up being in your watchlists fo

Hana Sugisaki as Ayana Tsuchida - Nippon TV This J-drama season has been relatively underwhelming for me personally, but I think I just stumbled upon a potential hit in the form of Sounds of Winter. Sounds of Winter is a quiet, introspective love story that follows Tsuchida Ayana, a 27-year-old novelist who has published two books and is working on her third. Though she has a boyfriend, her past romantic experiences — marked by breakups and emotional hurt — have left her hes