Loosely based on Coffinman, a memoir by Shinmon Aoki, the film follows a young man who returns to his hometown after a failed career as a cellist and stumbles across work as a nōkanshi—a traditional Japanese ritual mortician. He is subjected to prejudice from those around him, including from his wife, because of strong social taboos against people who deal with death. Eventually he earns their respect and learns the importance of interpersonal connections through the beauty and dignity of his work—via Wikipedia.

Director: Takita Yojiro

Starred: Masahiro Motoki, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Ryoko Hirosue, Yoshiyuki and Sasano Takashi

Genre: Drama

Country: Japan

Year: 2008

Runtime: 130 min.

Set in Tokyo at an unspecified point in the near future when the Japanese yen has become the strongest currency in the world, the film follows sixteen-year-old orphan Ageha, who is adopted by the Chinese prostitute Glico. Japan has been overrun by immigrants, both legal and illegal, and owing to a sudden twist of fate, they are each given a chance to realize their various dreams.

Director: Shunji Iwai

Starring: Hiroshi Mikami, Chara, Ayumi Itô

Genre: Drama

Country: Japan

Year: 1996

Runtime: 148 min.