Japanese army movies and TV shows

The list contains the best, new and most relevant japanese army movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out serious, realistic, captivating, epic, disturbing and bleak films and TV shows about / with japanese army, soldier, military, world war two, war, japanese soldier, world war, battles, death and army plots mostly in Drama, War and History genres shot in USA, Japan, China and other countries.
japanese army
 91
japanese army movies
TOP 10 movies tagged as japanese army: City of Life and Death (2009), Battle of Changsha (2014), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), God of War (2017), The Battle of Okinawa (1971), Empire of the Sun (1987), To End All Wars (2001), The Eight Hundred (2020), Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983), The Great Raid (2005).

List of japanese army movies

Watch Trailers From This List to Choose a Movie
City of Life and Death (2009)
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 132 min.
Story: City of Life and Death takes place in 1937, during the height of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Imperial Japanese Army has just captured the then-capital of the Republic of China, Nanjing. What followed was known as the Nanking Massacre, or the ...
Style: disturbing, rough, bleak, black and white, tense ...
Plot: world war two, japanese army, sino japanese war, sexual abuse, war crime, japanese occupation of china, war atrocity, atrocity, japanese occupation, life is a bitch, mass murder, wartime ...
Time: 1930s, year 2009, 2010s, year 1938, 20th century ...
Place: china, asia, shanghai
Is relevant ?
Battle of Changsha (2014)
Genre: History, Romance, War
Country: China
TV show
Story: In 1938 October, the Japanese captured Wuhan Changsha, on the verge of death or destruction. City tea Xiang Hu family, under the support of grandson Xue Junshan, leave no stone unturned for Hu Jia's pet a pair of twins Xiangxiang and Xiaoman ...
Style: tear jerker
Plot: sino japanese war, world war two, chinese history, death, chinese army, wartime, true love, engagement, best friend, old friend, wedding planning, army ...
Time: year 1937
Place: china
Is relevant ?
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 141 min.
Story: The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.
Style: bleak, realistic, epic, contemplative, disturbing ...
Audience: family outing, adult
Plot: world war two, war, military, japanese history, battles, survival, anti war, japanese army, imperial japan, brutality, japanese military, violence ...
Time: 1940s, 20th century, year 2006, 2000s, ancient times ...
Place: japan, asia, nebraska, tokyo
Is relevant ?
 6.4
 2K
God of War (2017)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 128 min.
Story: During the 16th century, pirates rule the Chinese coastline, pillaging the small villages and terrorizing the citizens. When maverick leader Commander Yu enlists the help of a sharp young general, they devise a plan to defeat the pirates. A violent ...
Style: exciting, captivating
Plot: martial arts, chinese history, sword fight, pirate, protection, kingdom, medieval, squad, kung fu, japanese man, katana, baby ...
Time: 16th century
Place: ancient china
Is relevant ?
The Battle of Okinawa (1971)
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 149 min.
Story: The Americans are swiftly closing on Okinawa, an island just south of the Japanese mainland. The Imperial command sends top generals and several army divisions to defend it at all costs. The mission quickly degenerates as vital resources and troops ...
Plot: world war two, japanese army, japanese military, military, u.s. navy, japanese soldier, japanese navy, pacific war, young soldier, american soldier, u.s. army, brutality ...
Time: 1940s, year 1945
Place: okinawa japan, japan, usa, tokyo
Is relevant ?
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun (1972)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 96 min.
Story: A war widow determined to clear the name of her disgraced husband, who was court-martialed for desertion and executed. Official records have been destroyed, and the ministry that distributes benefits continues to deny her a pension. Twenty-six years ...
Style: thought provoking, serious, disturbing, captivating, emotional ...
Plot: world war two, military, life is a bitch, haunted by the past, heroic mission, survival, danger, dealing with death, obsessive quest, truth, japanese army, war crime ...
Time: 70s, 1940s, year 1972, post world war two
Place: japan, asia
Is relevant ?
Empire of the Sun (1987)
Genre: Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 153 min.
Story: Jamie Graham, a privileged English boy, is living in Shanghai when the Japanese invade and force all foreigners into prison camps. Jamie is captured with an American sailor named Basie, who looks out for him while they are in the camp together. Even ...
Style: sad, emotional, heartbreaking, period piece, realistic ...
Audience: family friendly, family outing, teens, teen drama
Plot: world war two, child protagonist, coming of age, childhood, pow, captivity, japanese army, peasant, survival, child, young heroes, world war ...
Time: 1940s, 20th century, year 1987, year 1945
Place: china, japan, asia, indochina, hong kong ...
Is relevant ?
To End All Wars (2001)
Genre: Action, Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 125 min.
Story: Based on a real-life story, this drama focuses on a small group of Allied soldiers in Burma who are held captive by the Japanese. Capt. Ernest Gordon (Ciaran McMenamin), Lt. Jim Reardon (Kiefer Sutherland) and Maj. Ian Campbell (Robert Carlyle) are ...
Style: harsh, suspenseful, tense, serious, rough ...
Plot: world war two, war, pow, military, prisoners of war, prisoner of war camp, jungle, christian, soldier, war crime, hopes, leadership ...
Time: 1940s, year 1943, 20th century, year 1942
Place: japan, asia, hawaii, scotland, burma ...
Is relevant ?
The Eight Hundred (2020)
Genre: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: China
Duration: 149 min.
Story: In 1937, eight hundred Chinese soldiers fight under siege from a warehouse in the middle of the Shanghai battlefield, completely surrounded by the Japanese army.
Style: bleak, suspense, suspenseful
Audience: adult
Plot: chinese history, sino japanese war, japanese soldier, world war two, chinese army, siege, military, warehouse, military life, war, blood, military officer ...
Time: 1930s, 20th century, year 1937
Place: shanghai, china
Is relevant ?
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Genre: Drama, War
Country: UK, New Zealand, Japan
Duration: 123 min.
Story: In 1942, British soldier Jack Celliers comes to a japanese prison camp. The camp is run by Yonoi, who has a firm belief in discipline, honour and glory. In his view, the allied prisoners are cowards when they chose to surrender instead of commiting ...
Style: disturbing, psychological, realistic, bleak, experimental ...
Plot: world war two, prison, pow, war crime, christmas, anti war, war, samurai, japanese occupation, imperial japan, prison escape, prisoner of war camp ...
Time: 1940s, year 1983, year 1936, 20th century, year 1946 ...
Place: asia, southeast asia, britain, japan, australia ...
Is relevant ?
 6.6
 24K
The Great Raid (2005)
Genre: Action, Drama, War
Country: USA, Australia
Duration: 132 min.
Story: As World War II rages, the elite Sixth Ranger Battalion is given a mission of heroic proportions: push 30 miles behind enemy lines and liberate over 500 American prisoners of war.
Style: tense, harsh, rough, suspenseful, realistic ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: military, war, rescue mission, pow, world war two, prisoner of war camp, prison, special forces, prison escape, world war, escape attempt, military life ...
Time: 1940s, year 2005, 20th century
Place: the philippines, asia, pearl harbor, manila philippines
Is relevant ?
 7.5
 194K
Battle Royale (2000)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 114 min.
Story: In the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill each other under the revolutionary "Battle Royale" act.
Style: disturbing, suspense, bleak, bloody, exciting ...
Audience: teens, boys' night, adult
Plot: game of death, survival, death, dystopia, suicide, gory, desperation, cruelty, social commentary, school class, dystopian future, contests and competitions ...
Time: future, year 2000, distant future, 2000s, near future
Place: japan, asia, east asia
Is relevant ?
 7.2
 7K
The Tiger (2015)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: South Korea
Duration: 139 min.
Story: While the Kingdom of Korea is under occupation by the Japanese, an old and experience hunter is challenged by the hunt of the last tiger.
Style: atmospheric, harsh, scenic, stylized, realistic ...
Plot: hunting, tiger, survival, snow, medieval, hunter, occupation, japanese occupation, violence, japanese occupation of korea, life & death, tough heroes ...
Time: 1920s
Place: korea, china, south korea
Is relevant ?
 7.6
 13K
My Way (2011)
Genre: Action, Drama, War
Country: South Korea
Duration: 137 min.
Story: Jun-shik, who works for Tatsuo’s grandfather’s farm while Korea is colonized by Japan, dreams about participating in the Tokyo Olympics as a marathon runner. Tatsuo also aims to become a marathon runner, so the two become rivals. But the war ...
Style: tense, serious, captivating, rough, touching ...
Plot: world war two, military, war, occupation, japanese occupation of korea, military life, battles, life is a bitch, captivity, rivalry, soldier, confined ...
Time: 1940s, 20th century, 2010s, year 1944, 1930s
Place: somalia, asia, korea, south korea, mongolia ...
Is relevant ?
In the Realm of the Senses (1976)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan, France
Duration: 109 min.
Story: Based on a true story set in pre-war Japan, a man and one of his servants begin a torrid affair. Their desire becomes a sexual obsession so strong that to intensify their ardor, they forsake all, even life itself.
Style: sexy, erotic, sexual, controversial, disturbing ...
Audience: adult
Plot: obsession, sex, sex scene, erotica, sexual perversion, bdsm, jealousy, sexual relations, passion, lust, explicit sex, unsimulated sex ...
Time: 1930s, pre world war two, year 1976, 20th century, year 1936
Place: japan, asia, east asia
Is relevant ?
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 170 min.
Story: Based on the graphic novel by James Jones, The Thin Red Line tells the story of a group of men, an Army Rifle company called C-for-Charlie, who change, suffer, and ultimately make essential discoveries about themselves during the fierce World War II ...
Style: epic, visually stunning, visual, philosophical, visually appealing ...
Plot: war, sergeant, jungle, soldier, world war two, infantry, anti war, pacific war, pacific island, existentialism, survival, world war ...
Time: 20th century, 1940s, 90s, year 1998
Place: asia, america, japan, pacific ocean
Is relevant ?
 8.0
 24
Kokoda (2010)
Genre: War
Country: Australia
Duration: 55 min.
TV show
Story: The true story of the brutal World War II military campaign fought between Australia and Japan in the green hell of the mountains of Papua New Guinea. Told from both the Japanese and Australian perspectives the documentary also explores the impact ...
Style: serious, captivating, suspenseful, tense
Plot: japanese army, australian history, world war two, japanese man, wartime life, japanese history, japanese military, japanese soldier, war, soldier, world war, military
Place: papua new guinea, australia
Is relevant ?
 8.3
 128K
The Pacific (2010)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: USA, Australia
Duration: 530 min.
TV show
Story: A 10-part mini-series from the creators of "Band of Brothers" telling the intertwined stories of three Marines during America's battle with the Japanese in the Pacific during World War II.
Style: serious, disturbing, emotional, suspenseful, epic ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: world war two, military, battlefield, war, battles, marines, soldier, combat, squad, american soldier, pacific war, imperial japan ...
Time: 1940s, year 1945, 2010s, 20th century
Place: pacific ocean, japan, alabama, okinawa, asia ...
Is relevant ?
Related movie lists
Farewell to the King (1989)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min.
Story: An American soldier who escapes the execution of his comrades by Japanese soldiers in Borneo during WWII becomes the leader of a personal empire among the headhunters in this war story told in the style of Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling. The ...
Style: epic, serious, exciting, rough, independent film ...
Plot: world war two, jungle, island, vengeance, survival, betrayal, soldier, military, u.s. navy, revenge, british, conquistador ...
Time: 1940s, year 1989, 20th century
Place: japan, asia, southeast asia, usa, manila philippines ...
Is relevant ?
Japan's Longest Day (1967)
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 157 min.
Story: Following the detonation of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese military and the government clash over the demand from the Allies for unconditional surrender. Minister of the Army Anami leads the military officers who propose to ...
Style: political
Plot: world war two, world war, japanese soldier, japanese army, japanese history, military, japanese military, soldier, atomic bomb, emperor, imperial japan, pacific war ...
Time: 1940s
Place: japan, tokyo, china, usa
Is relevant ?
 6.7
 94K
Midway (2019)
Genre: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong
Duration: 138 min.
Story: The story of the soldiers and aviators who helped turn the tide of the Second World War during the iconic Battle of Midway in June 1942.
Style: historical drama, bleak, exciting, scary, suspense ...
Audience: adult
Plot: world war two, sea battle, aerial combat, naval battle, air battle, warship, fighter plane, navy, aircraft carrier, fighter pilot, u.s. navy, war ...
Time: 1940s, year 2019, year 1942, 1930s, 20th century ...
Place: pearl harbor, pacific ocean, tokyo, washington d.c., honolulu hawaii ...
Is relevant ?
The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai (2020)
Genre: Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 114 min.
Story: The last year of Ryotaro Shiba's life, as he tried to achieve peace and independence without joining the armies of East and West.
Style: thrilling, captivating, period drama
Plot: samurai era, empire, army, historical figure, warrior, japanese army, ninja warrior, emperor, battles, fight, samurai sword, samurai
Time: 1860s
Place: japan
Is relevant ?
Oba: The Last Samurai (2011)
Genre: Drama, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 128 min.
Story: In 1944, the American military lands on the shores of Saipan. Refusing to commit suicide with his superiors or be forced into camps for prisoners of war, Captain Oba Sakae leads a group of his men and other similarly minded local residents into the ...
Style: tense, captivating, exciting, suspense, disturbing
Plot: world war two, military, honor, world war, soldier, battles, japanese army, commander, fight, heroic mission, wartime, war ...
Time: 1940s, year 1945, year 1944
Place: japan, pacific ocean, oceania
Is relevant ?
Related movie lists
Designation Forever (2011)
Genre: War
Country: China
Duration: 47 min.
TV show
Story: Li Chishui is a Militia Captain. In an unexpected delaying action, he goes to the front line and becomes the captain of the battalion in his county. In order to be a good captain, Li Chishui tries everything from enhancing trainings to recruiting ...
Style: captivating, disturbing, suspense, tense
Plot: showdown, battles, combat, japanese army, fight for supremacy, soldier, warrior, army, fight, japanese soldier, one against many
Is relevant ?
Different Dreams (2019)
Genre: Drama
Country: South Korea
TV show
Story: During the Japanese colonial rule of Korea, a Korean surgeon who was raised by a Japanese family becomes a spy for the Korean government.
Style: disturbing, suspense, captivating, sincere
Plot: agent, spy, couple relations, male female relationship, social problems, relationships, korean army, korean history, japanese army, relationship problems, korean war, japanese history ...
Is relevant ?
 7.5
 4K
GATE (2015)
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min.
TV show
Story: In August of 20XX, a portal to a parallel world, known as the "Gate," suddenly appeared in Ginza, Tokyo. Monsters and troops poured out of the portal, turning the shopping district into a bloody inferno. The Japan Ground-Self Defence Force ...
Style: anime, exciting, futuristic, suspenseful, disturbing ...
Plot: isekai, military, parallel world, war, alien creature, parallel universe, danger, death threat, fantasy world, alternate dimension, battles, another dimension ...
Time: near future
Place: japan
Is relevant ?
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961)
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 190 min.
Story: His ideals challenged by life as a conscript in war-time Japan's military, a pacifist faces ever greater tests in his fight for survival.
Style: existential, art house, poetic, realistic, serious ...
Plot: world war two, soldier, military, samurai, captivity, japanese army, sadness, road trip, revolution, time travel, existentialism, prison ...
Time: 1940s, 20th century, year 1961
Place: china, japan, asia
Is relevant ?
Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (1990)
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 119 min.
Story: A collection of magical tales based upon the actual dreams of director Akira Kurosawa.
Style: surreal, atmospheric, anthology, philosophical, cerebral ...
Plot: surrealism, dream, artist, tunnel, art, magic realism, nuclear disaster, environmentalism, beautiful scenery, philosophy, fantasy world, painting ...
Time: year 1990, 80s, 20th century
Place: japan, mount fuji, asia, pacific ocean
Is relevant ?
Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 135 min.
Story: There were five Marines and one Navy Corpsman photographed raising the U.S. flag on Mt. Suribachi by Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945. This is the story of three of the six surviving servicemen – John 'Doc' Bradley, Pvt. Rene Gagnon ...
Style: realistic, emotional, sincere, epic, factual ...
Plot: war, military, world war two, propaganda, wartime, battles, guilt, survival, world war, fame, american history, political intrigue ...
Time: year 2006, 1940s, 20th century
Place: japan, asia, pacific ocean, america, usa ...
Is relevant ?
 6.2
 2K
Beach Red (1967)
Genre: Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story: American troops storm ashore on a Japanese-held island and push inland while their enemies plan a counterattack in this look at warfare. Soldiers on both sides are haunted by memories of home and the horrifying, sickening images they find in combat.
Style: spectacular, independent film, serious, realistic, bleak ...
Plot: world war two, war, military, island, world war, combat, wartime, colonialism, foreign legion, legion, battles, soldier ...
Time: year 1967
Place: asia, japan
Is relevant ?
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