Along the way we’re treated to (with no particular ordering) nostalgia, cancer, dreams of exotic overseas locales, and more. Its plot proceeds as follows: after his fiancee runs away, a man named Sakutaro returns to his hometown and listens to audiotapes that take him back to an old flame. Without giving too much away, the film progresses through a series of flashbacks. Many staple tropes of Japanese romance got popularized as a result of this movie. The film is based on a novel called Socrates in Love, which actually sold more copies than Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood in Japan. Year: 2004 | Japanese title: 世界の中心で、愛をさけぶ (Sekai no Chūshin de, Ai o Sakebu) | Starring: Mirai Moriyama, Masami NagasawaĬrying Out For Love in the Center of the Worldis one of Japan’s most popular melodrama romances in recent memory. Warm your heart, and maybe warm your brain as well - take a look through this list and find a movie you like!

Want to watch a more timeless love story? We’ve got those too.įinally, given romance films often reflect a society’s values, we’ll also offer some insights into how these movies can help you learn more about life in Japan. Want to find a movie that came out recently? You’re in the right place. The list below attempts to represent that diversity, so you can find a suitable movie regardless of your personal tastes. While many have common tropes, Japanese romance movies aren’t completely homogeneous - there are animations, live-action films quirky stories, tearjerkers, and more.

Real-world romance might be on the decline in Japan, but there’s still an abundance of Japanese romance films that cater to a variety of situations. Whether you need a date night movie or something to get over a breakup, Cinema Escapist has compiled this list (updated for 2020) of the top 16 Japanese romance movies for your consideration.

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