Photo by Myke Simon on Unsplash

5 Famous Movies filmed in Tokyo


 

A photo or a motion picture with luminous, neon-lights and futuristic architecture will most probably 9/10 be Tokyo.

This great Japanese capital has been the backdrop for several blockbusters such as the fast and the furious.

Its modern metropolis representation has caught the eye of many film producers and directors. The vast city with its ever-busy streets like Shibuya crossing has been featured in Hollywood blockbusters.

Japanese traditions and culture have merged seamlessly with progressive technology. This has also provided a setting for surreal movies and other international projects.

The historic sites, fishing villages and temples in the city have been some of the best locations depicting the culture of this modern city.

Let’s look at the 5 famous movies filmed in Tokyo.

1. Lost in translation (2003)

Director: Sofia Coppola

First on the list is lost in translation that was filmed in 2003. The movie told of a story about an encounter of a former movie celebrity who is on his sunset years and meets an ignored married woman in the streets of Tokyo.

The two find comfort in each other’s company amidst the busy and fast-moving city life around them.

The entire movie was filmed in Tokyo city. This romantic comedy has some dark humour to it the leaves the audience with a cliff-hanger type of feeling.

Some famous landmarks like Shibuya, Shinjuku and Park Hyatt in Kyoto are featured in the film.

The unending scenes of the beautiful city and the beautiful soundtrack makes this movie one of the best in the industry.

This award-winning movie that was directed by Sophia Coppola showcases the Japanese culture and the Fastlane life in Tokyo and its precincts.

2. Adrift in Tokyo (2007)

Director: Satoshi Miki

Satoshi Miki adopted the movie Adrift in Tokyo from a novel with the same title authored by Yoshinaga Fujita and added some cinematic visual to the storyline.

The two main characters of the movie take the audience with them through the streets of Tokyo, relieving their experiences and create a bond due to the similarity of their lives yet they are completely two worlds apart.

The movie has Japanese humour and several cultural references throughout the movie.

By watching and walking the streets of Tokyo through the character’s eyes and experiences, the audience gets a feel of modern Japan.

One of the characters starring in this film is Japan’s loved actor, Jo Odagiri. He acts as a broke college student who owes a large sum of money accrued through gambling. He is faced with a challenge, just graduated after 6 years in university and no job but has to pay his loan.

The loan shark, needing his money back gives him an ultimatum, to surrender himself to the police.

As the two walk to the police station, they go through some lesser-known streets in Tokyo, they form a bond and the story develops further with every street they take.

Their walk through the streets unearths some of their deep kept secrets.

3. Tokyo Sonata (2008)

Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Tokyo Sonata directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa tells of a powerful story by a family struggling in the suburbs of the city after the man of the family lost his job. His company outsourced its services to China.

He plans to keep this news a secret from his family and does his best to keep a normal face despite the emotional turmoil storming inside him.

The movie shows the ups and downs the city dwellers go through since the emergence of an economic crunch in the 80s. it is a solemn movie but a must-watch.

The movie shows sections of the city that the audience would never get to see on a normal day; a post-industrial wasteland, with buildings in the background waiting for demolition and bits of the cityscape complex.

The youngest son in the family notices something is a miss and uses his little savings for piano lessons with the hope of becoming a pianist. This movie made it to the Cannes Film Festival 2008 and won the Jury Prize.

4. The Wolverine (2013)

Director: James Mangold

Wolverine is one of the most famous movies shot in Tokyo city. This is a sequel of X-Men Origins: Wolverine and the sixth instalment in the X-Men franchise.

The main character, Logan acted by Jack Hughman, travels to Tokyo Japan after receiving an invitation from an old ally.

The Japanese cast includes Tao Okamoto, Hiroyuki Sanada, Brian Tee and Rila Fukushima who are super talented and beautifully complement his character.

While in Tokyo, he finds himself fighting his demons and his immortality.

Many locations in the city were featured in the movie such as; Zojo-Ji temple in Minato, Tokyo tower, Ueno station and the Nakkagin Capsule tower in Ginza.

The temple provided an idealistic scene with Tokyo Tower peeking in the background. The peaceful coexistence of modernity and culture.

5. Inception (2010)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Inception by Christopher Nolan is one of the best motion pictures of all time. This movie was filmed in Tokyo and had the best actors in the field; Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Michael Caine and Marion Cotillard.

It tells the story of a con who steals ideas and secrets from people’s dreams using a special dream technology. He uses the stolen ideas against corporates and individuals.

The movie has been shot in several locations including Paris, Morocco (as Kenya), Alberta, London, California and Tokyo. Tokyo’s famous bullet-train prominently features in the movie.

The movie won four academy awards including best visual effects.

Fans of psychological sci-fi action film will enjoy watching this one.

 

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