As people across Australia and beyond are being encouraged to spend more time inside, we don’t want that to keep you from getting your J-film fix! While the idea of being stuck behind closed doors and four walls may sound downright boring or even petrifying, we at JFF Australia have scoured the internet for streaming services offering a great selection of J-films and series to help ease your idle time at home twiddling your thumbs.
Here are our top picks!
JFF ONLINE [Free]
Did you miss out on some films at JFF 2019? We have great news for you: the Japanese Film Festival Online website has launched a new free film streaming service called JFF Online, where you can stream 12 films from Moosic Lab film projects for three months, only outside of Japan.
We recommend JFF Australia 2019 highlights Moonless Dawn and Rent a Friend – if you missed them during the festival period, now’s your chance to check them out! All films on JFF Online include English subtitles for easy viewing.
SBS On Demand [Free]
Looking for more free flicks? Why not check out SBS On Demand, a free Australian streaming service. All you need to do is sign up to access an array of tv shows and films – no credit card required!
Departures
2009 Academy Award-winner for Best Foreign Language Film about a depressed cellist who starts a job preparing dead bodies for funerals.
Shin Godzilla
Neon Genesis Evangelion director Hideki Anno’s take on Godzilla has a healthy serving of social commentary and some wild monster designs, making it an absolute must-see.
Tokyo Ghoul Live Action
Based on the manga series Tokyo Ghoul, this film is chock full of ghoulish action!
Outrage Coda
Love yakuza flicks? Don’t miss this third and final film in Takeshi Kitano’s Outrage series.
Our Little Sister
Director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s 2015 film about three sisters who discover they have a forth half-sister after their father passes away.
Nobody Knows
Another acclaimed human drama by Hirokazu Kore-eda about a preteen boy who must take care of his three younger siblings after his mother abandons them.
Hanabi
A 1997 crime drama film written, directed by and starring Takeshi Kitano with music by Joe Hisaishi of Studio Ghibli fame.
Destination Flavour Japan
While not a Japanese film or series per se, this lovely culinary series features flavours of Japan with host Adam Liaw.
Image above: © 2008 Departures Film Partners
MUBI [A$1 for the first 3 months, A$9.99/month after]
MUBI is a premium streaming service offering a rotating selection of 30 hand-picked films (not exclusively Japanese) to watch or download including cult classics, independent films and award-winning masterpieces fresh off the festival circuit.
Right now you can sign up to MUBI for just A$1 for the first three months!
Current J-films on offer:
Domains
The background of a horrible crime where a woman murders her friend’s child is told through actors rehearsing the script of the story.
Hungry Soul
The first part of director Yuzo Kawashima’s romantic melodrama about women in postwar Japan.
Hungry Soul part 2
The conclusion of Hungry Soul’s story following two women who struggle to break free of the social restrictions of conservative 1950s Japan.
Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate
Another classic film by Yuzo Kawashima that was named the fourth-best Japanese film ever by Kinema Junpo!
Image above: © 日活
Amazon Prime [First 30 days free, A$6.99/month after]
Already a favourite in other countries, Amazon Prime is a new player in the Australian streaming services game, offering a wide range of Japanese-related content. Level up your knowledge of Japanese history and culture with their collection of TV shows and films about WW2 and Hiroshima, or dive into some anime gems or documentaries. If you’re not already a member of Amazon Prime, your first month will be free!
Japan and World War II
A 3-hour documentary about Japan during World War II.
Japan Savoring Sake
Sake-fans shouldn’t miss out on this culinary trip to Japan all about sake.
Koi
A documentary focusing on two very different men dealing with the aftermath of the 2011 tsunami in Japan.
Fukuyadou Honpo – Kyoto Love Story Season 1
A romantic drama about the lives of three sisters and a sweets shop in Kyoto with over 450 years of history.
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Season 1
A heartwarming anime series about grown-up geeks in Japan, aka otaku, navigating romantic relationships. This series is also a manga and was adapted into a live-action musical in 2019!
Just Meet: Tadao Ando
Follow Tadao Ando, one of the most influential architects in the world, through the process of his work and his way of appreciating life, architecture and more.
Image above: © ふじた・一迅社／「ヲタ恋」製作委員会
Netflix [Plans start from A$9.99/month]
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