Masahiro Shinoda was a pioneer in Japanese new wave noirs, and he applies his mastery of mood and character to the yazuka genre in Pale Flower. When a gangster is released from prison, he tries to find his footing in the gambling underworld of his gang when he encounters a wealthy and beautiful thrill seeker who draws him into her web. Together and apart they enter a self-destructive spiral.

Sleek and smart, director Takeshi Kitano’s film examines the extreme violence of Japanese mobs and contrasts it with the reserved nature of Japanese culture in a knock out film that redefines the yakuza genre.

While a group of gangsters wait for trouble to pass in a remote beach house, the violent habits of career criminals seep through in games and amusements — until their time is up and they can’t hide from the yakuza lifestyle any longer.

Quirky and charming, Hold Me Back feels kind of like Japan’s equivalent of Amelie — perfectly blending the loneliness and hilarity of the human experience into an unforgettable energetic romantic comedy.

Mitsuko (played by Non) is 31, single, and leads a happy life with her own imaginary counselor. When a handsome salesman enters her world… love is throws a wrench in the peaceful and solitary life she’s crafted for herself.

Kiyoshi Kurosawa breaks the mold of serial killer movies with an engrossing thriller that takes you inside the psyche of society.

When police uncover a series of murders, committed by different people using the same strange method, a gloomy detective takes on the descent into the killers’ madness while managing his wife’s own mental stability.

Eerie and masterful, Bong Jon-ho (director of Parasite) lists it as one of his all-time favorite films.