Music is such a wonderful thing. It has the ability to take you anywhere. It can help you when you are feeling down, or it can help you when you are feeling happy. Like, for instance, there are some days when only music can pinpoint how you are feeling, and you search for the perfect song. And when you finally find it, all is right in the world.
Here are four Japanese movies that shows no matter what life throws at you, music can find a way to bring a healing element into your life.
Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
1. Riding Alone For Thousands Of Miles
What’s It About: Takata Gouichi lives in a small village. He earns his living as a fisherman. Ever since the passing of his wife, he has been on poor terms with his son, Kenichi. When coming home from work one day, Gouichi recieves notice from his daughter-in-law that his son has fallen ill and has terminal liver cancer. Gouichi immediately travels to Tokyo to see his son. Kenichi refuses to see his father. Rie gives Gouichi a videotape so that he can learn more about his son. While watching the tape, Gouichi learns about an opera singer from the Yunnan Province, a remote village in the Southern China region. Gouichi feels like a failure as a father, and makes it his mission to film the opera star, Li Jiamin and hope to regain favor from his son.
Starring: Ken Takakura, Shinobu Terajima, Kiichi Nakai
Where To Watch: Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Watch The Trailer Here:
2. Departures
What’s It About: Daigo Kobayashi is a cellist. He loves his career and the music that he gives to the world. Suddenly, Daigo gets notice that his orchestra is disbanding and he finds himself unemployed. Daigo and his wife move back to his hometown of Yamagata, where they live in his former childhood home. His mother left him the home shortly before her passing several years earlier. While in Yamagata, Daigo has to find a new job. He applies for a job “assisting departures”. Thinking is for a travel agency, Daigo takes applies for the job. When Daigo finds out the real job requirements, he soon learns he will have to face new challenges.
Starring: Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki
Where To Watch: Tubi, Google Play Movies & TV, Vudu
Watch The Trailer Here:
3. Cafe Lumiere
What’s It About: Yoko Inoue is a single, pregnant young woman. She lives alone in Tokyo. She is doing research on a Taiwanese composer, Jiang Wenye, who rose to fame in the 1930’s and is now starting to get popular again. She is looking for a small cafe the composeer used to visit. Despite her being cared for by her parents, Yoko is lonely. She befriends the owner of a second-hand bookstore. The two grow close and the bookstore owner soon finds himself falling in love her. Yoko gradually begins to re-evaluate everything in her life.
Starring: Tadanobu Asano, Kimiko Yo, Yo Hitoto
Where To Watch: Available on DVD on Amazon
Watch The Trailer Here: (French Subtitles)
4. We Are Little Zombies
What’s It About: Four children, Hikaru, Takemura, Ishi, and Ikuko meet outside of a creamatorium where their parents funerals are being held. Not trusting adults, the children soon decide to process their grief, anger and loss by forming a garage band. They call themselves the Little Zombies. People soon become addicted to their music. The band goes goes around meeting people that can help shape their future. They are forging their own path in life.
Starring: Rinko Kikuchi, Jun Murakami, Sosuke Ikematsu
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, Vudu
Watch The Trailer Here:
