Over the last nine decades more than 70 international productions have been “set” in Japan. Looking at those stats now, it seems rather poor but that is more to do with the country’s heavy red-tape in giving permission for movies to be shot in public places. Consequently, many of them have been filmed in the back of taxis (driving through the neon lights), hotels, temples or done guerilla-style! Failing that, they just faked Japanese locations without even entering the country!

All but a few of them have been reviewed on Tokyo Fox over the last two decades (there are still a few that I just cannot get hold of in any way!) so click on the title to see my critique of any that may interest you. Just be aware that some of them are quite old and my opinion may have changed a bit! Please let me know of any omissions or whatever in the comments. I will try to keep this updated as time goes by…

A. Austin Powers In Goldmember (2002)

B. Babel (2006); The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958); Batman Ninja (2018); Black Rain (1989); Blood On The Sun (1945); The Bridges At Toko-Ri (1954); Bullet Train (2022); The Bushido Blade (1981)

C. Cars 2 (2011); The Challenge (1982); The Cove (2009)

D. Destination Tokyo (1943)

E. Earthquake Bird (2019); Emperor (2013); Enter The Void (2009)

F. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006); Fear And Trembling (2003); The Forest (2016)

G. Godzilla (2014); The Grudge (2004); The Grudge 2 (2006), Gung Ho (1986)

H. Hacksaw Ridge (2016); House of Bamboo (1955); The Hunted (1995)

I. Into The Sun (2005); Isle Of Dogs (2018)

J. Jackass: The Movie (2002);  Joe Butterfly (1957); John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

K. The Karate Kid Part II (1986); Kate (2021); Kill Bill Volume I (2003)

L. The Last Samurai (2003); Letters From Iwo Jima (2006); Lost Girls & Love Hotels (2020); Lost In Translation (2003)

M. Marines, Let’s Go (1961); Mastermind (1976); Memoirs of a Geisha (2005); Minamata (2020); Mr Baseball (1992)

N.

O.

P. People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan (2021); Predator Killer of Killers (2025)

Q.

R. Rain Fall (2009); The Ramen Girl (2008), Rhapsody In August (1991)

S. Sayonara (1957); The Sea Of Trees (2015); Shutter (2008); Silence (2016); Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021); Stopover Tokyo (1957); Stratosphere Girl (2004)

T. The Teahouse Of The August Moon (1956); Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993);  Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944); Tokyo Pop (1988); Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970); Touch (2024); The Toxic Avenger Part II (1989)

U. Unbroken (2014)

V.

W. Walk Don’t Run (1966); The Walking Major (1970); Wasabi (2001); The Wolverine (2013)

X.

Y. The Yakuza (1974); You Only Live Twice (1967)

 Z.

# 3 Ninja’s Kick Back (1994); 47 Rōnin (2013)

Click here to read ‘TF Top 10……Films To Feature “Japan” Very Briefly!’

Click here to read ‘TF Top 10……Films Set In Japan From The 2010s’

Click here to read ‘TF Top 20……Films Set In Japan From The 2000s’

Click here to read ‘TF Top 10……Films Set In Japan From The 1980s & 1990s’