japan travel documentary netflix

7 Netflix Shows That Will Help You Understand Japan

An unmissable list of shows, films and documentaries about japan.

From Japanese idol culture to historic propaganda to informative trivia, this list has something for every binge-watching Netflix viewer looking to open their eyes to another side of Japan.

It’s that time of year again in Tokyo: the parasols are out, the air is sticky, the crowded trains are sweatier and more humid than usual, and that spot on the couch beneath the air-conditioner next to a box of popsicles is looking more and more appealing. Why not stay inside this weekend and deepen your understanding of Japan, its culture and its people? Here is a list of seven historic, informative and interesting shows that will help you do just that! We’ve included a wide range of Netflix favorites (with English subtitles) focusing on Japan and the Japanese people, all for your viewing pleasure. 

The Birth of Sake

This award-winning documentary explores the lives of sake artisans working in Yoshida Brewery. Here, a small group of employees aged between 20 and 70 brave unusual working conditions and the intense winters of northern Japan to preserve the 2000-year-old tradition of sake. However, in this industry of intense competition, where sake drinkers are overwhelmed by choice, Yoshida is under immense pressure to keep-up their world class quality and reputation. The documentary focuses on the lives of Yoshida’s workers—particularly Yamamoto (65), a veteran sake maker, and Yasuyuki Yoshida (27), the sixth-generation heir to the brewery—and gives a unique insight into the sacrifices of the workers who dedicate their lives to this time-old tradition.   

Tokyo Idols

AKB48, Nogizaka46, Momoiro Clover Z … idol music is a genre and culture largely unique to Japan: spend five minutes in Akihabara , and you will be inundated with posters and advertisements of pretty, young women and girls in matching costumes dancing and singing to pop music. Tokyo Idols is a documentary that explores this cultural phenomenon, and the superfans who devote their lives and personal finances to it. Filmmaker, Kyoko Miyake looks at the obsession with young female sexuality in Japan’s hypermodern society, and offers a critique of this changing industry where the internet is becoming increasingly influential but female idols are growing younger and younger.

Know Your Enemy: Japan

Now considered a culturally-insensitive piece of military propaganda, Know Your Enemy: Japan offers a look into the history of Japan from the 16 th century up until the 1930s, and gives insight into the Pacific region during the time of World War II. Commissioned by the U.S. War Department, and directed by Frank Capra, the film was initially created to prepare US soldiers before their deployment in the Pacific. However, as the war ended shortly after the film’s completion, this did not come to be. If you’re a history buff, be sure to check this one out.

Terrace House: Opening New Doors

Terrace House: Opening New Doors is an addictive reality TV show about six young people who, despite being total strangers, all move into a beautiful house in Karuizawa. There is no script. Just a camera crew, six strangers and the stories and interactions that unfold. Released in 2017, Opening New Doors is currently the most recent Terrace House season. While the immensely popular original Terrace House : Boys and Girls Next Door is also on Netflix, it does not have English subtitles. But, if your Nihongo is A+, feel free to check that out as well!

Chef’s Table Season 1: Niki Nakayama

This episode of Chef’s Table explores the life and career of Niki Nakayama. Born in the US to Japanese parents, Niki is a highly successful chef and restaurateur who runs the award-winning Los Angeles restaurant N/Naka. N/Naka serves modern kaiseki: a multi-course dinner that is artfully constructed, and carefully brings out the ultimate flavors in every ingredient with different cooking techniques. The episode follows Niki’s career, the day-to-day duties of running a Kaiseki restaurant and the adversity she has had to overcome as a woman working in the food industries of both Japan and the US.     

Japanese Style Originator

Want to learn more about a wide and miscellaneous variety of Japanese traditions? Japanese Style Originator is the perfect show for you. From the correct etiquette to use at a tempura restaurant, to the proper way to wear yukata , to tips for making the best miso soup: this show has a little bit of everything. Those who like trivia, history and bringing up interesting factoids at dinner parties should definitely check this out!  

This is a romantic, reality TV show with a premise like no other: 18 men and women looking for love are placed in beautiful Okinawa with the hope of finding a significant other. Sound uncomplicated? It’s not. Each contestant is burdened by a dark past and a harrowing secret. From criminal history to addiction, to previous affairs, these contestants must reveal their secrets and accept the flaws of others in order to find love. Hosted by comedian Atsushi Tamura, REA(L)OVE is an unconventional dating show with moments both heartbreaking and hilarious.  

Happy TV binging!

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10 Japanese Documentaries That Shed Light On The Hidden Sides Of Japan

Japanese documentaries to watch

Despite what true-to-life locations would have us believe, anime series rarely portray the entirety of Japan. So for those who are looking to open their eyes to a side of Japan that’s not often seen in anime, it’s time to binge through these Japanese documentaries and deepen your understanding of the Land of the Rising Sun.

1. Hafu (2013)

Derived from the word “half”, the term hafu (ハーフ) refers to people who are ethnically half-Japanese or mixed race. Documentary film Hafu follows the lives of 5 ethnic minorities and their multiracial experiences in contemporary Japan.

From a half-Mexican child who is bullied in school for being different to a Ghana-born Japanese, the film spotlights on their struggles and personal experiences with discrimination. As they seek to navigate their identity in a society that claims to be monoethnic, it implores the important question of what it means to be Japanese and deeper issues of nationality.

Video credit: Hafu Film  

Length: 1 hour 25 minutes Available on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, DvD

2. Jiro Dreams Of Sushi (2011)

Featuring the formerly Michelin-starred sushi restaurant that got a seal of approval from Barack Obama, Jiro Dreams Of Sushi follows the then 85-year-old chef Jiro Ono and his pursuit of sushi-making craft. A fascinating look into the behind-the-scenes of sushi-making and what it takes to perfect one’s craft, the documentary is a homage to the fastidious focus of the master artisan, shedding light on Japanese work ethics and discipline.

Aside from mouth-watering close-up shots of sushi, the film also explores Jiro’s relationship with his son Yoshikazu, the eventual inheritor of the restaurant. As Yoshikazu tries to catch up with his father’s legacy, issues of family dynamics and how Jiro’s mastery casts a long shadow over his son are brought to surface.

Video credit: Netflix  

Length: 1 hour 23 minutes Available on: Netflix

3. Tokyo Idols (2017)

Exploring idol culture in Japan, Tokyo Idols digs beyond the glitz and glamour of being a pop star in Japan’s entertainment industry. It focuses on underground idols, specifically Rio Hiiragi, an aspiring 19-year-old idol who is working hard to make it big in the industry.

Hiiragi is affectionately dubbed “RioRio” by her fans – a small but fervent group of men aged 20 to 40 years old. From fans spending a hefty sum of money annually on concert tickets to attending every handshake event, the documentary is a fascinating glimpse into the world of such obsessive idol fan behaviour.

Tokyo Idols delves into issues such as young female sexuality, gender roles, and consumerism inherent in the pop cultural phenomenon.

Video credit: BELDOCS – International Documentary Film Festival Belgrade

Length: 1 hour 30 minutes Available on: Amazon Prime

4. Queer Japan (2019)

Peering into the lives of artists, activists, and more from the LGBTQ+ community in Japan, Queer Japan is a film that celebrates queer and trans culture in modern Japan. The 3-hour-long documentary features prominent figures such as Vivienne Sato, an actress and drag queen based in Tokyo, and Aya Kamikawa, Japan’s first openly transgender councilwoman.

Be it through flashy pride parades or covert parties, the film provides a glimpse of the unconventional lives of the interviewed members of the LGBTQ+ community and how they live unapologetically as themselves.

Video credit: hollywoodstreams

Length: 2 hour 47 minutes Available on: DVD

5. Minamata: The Victims And Their World (1971)

In 1956, the first case of Minamata Disease was reported in Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture. After investigation, it was revealed that the unknown disease was caused by mercury poisoning stemming from improper disposal of factory waste.

Minamata: The Victims And Their World is centred on the victims who filed lawsuits against Chisso, the factory responsible for one of the worst industrial pollution in modern Japan.

Patients affected by the disease, from those born with disease-induced abnormalities to those suffering from life-threatening effects such as brain damage, are shown in the documentary. Even villagers who were spared from physical side effects are shown to be suffering from discrimination by virtue of being associated with the disease.

Though heart-wrenching, the documentary is worth a watch as it reveals some deep-seated issues, such as corporate negligence and slow government responses, that are still pertinent in Japanese society today.

Video credit: zakkafilms

Length: 2 hour 14 minutes Available on: Amazon Prime

6. The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches On (1987)

Released in 1987, the widely acclaimed The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches On follows Kenzo Okuzaki, a war veteran who’s investigating the unexplained execution of his comrades after the end of WW2.

Hell-bent on finding out who was responsible for their deaths, Kenzo goes around and visits former surviving soldiers in his unit to uncover the truth. Beware – the documentary can get pretty gruesome as Kenzo often resorts to violence to get former soldiers to talk.

Video credit: Open City Documentary Festival 

Length: 1 hour 41 minutes Available on: Amazon Prime

7. The Kingdom Of Dreams And Madness (2013)

Documented during the period when Studio Ghibli was producing The Wind Rises and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya , The Kingdom Of Dreams And Madness gives us an insight into the creative process of animated film production.

The film primarily focuses on the revered Hayao Miyazaki, but also features other equally important co-founders of Studio Ghibli , such as long-time friend and producer Toshio Suzuki, as well as fellow filmmaker Isao Takahata.

Unlike the fantasy-like and ethereal visual that’s distinctive of Studio Ghibli films, the documentary is anything but. While Miyazaki’s devotion to his craft is widely commended, the documentary shows how his fastidious focus can sometimes cause conflicts with his colleagues.

Video credit: Madman Anime

Length: 2 hours Available on: Amazon Prime

8. The Tsunami And The Cherry Blossom (2011)

On 11th March 2011, the devastating Great East Japan earthquake struck, followed by the consecutive disasters of a tsunami and a nuclear meltdown. The Tsunami And The Cherry Blossom shares stories from survivors from affected areas and focuses on the sakura season that arrived shortly after the disaster.

Symbolising a time of renewal and new beginnings, the cultural significance of Japan’s national flower cannot be overlooked. Though the documentary is filled with grief and sorrow for the most part, the cherry blossoms that bloom amidst the ruins bring hope to the people in Tohoku and inspire them to move forward.

Video credit: Asian Documentaries

Length: 41 minutes Available on: iTunes, Vimeo

9. The Great Happiness Space: Tale Of An Osaka Love Thief (2006)

They say money can’t buy love, but at Cafe Rakkyo, spending a copious amount of money on champagne can pretty much guarantee you the attention and affection of good-looking hosts. The Great Happiness Space: Tale of an Osaka Love Thief offers a look into what goes on in one of the most popular host clubs in Osaka.

Within that space, the concept of love between charming hosts and the female clientele is built on monetary transactions. Through sweet talk and flattery, the male escorts sell manufactured dreams and compete for customers, while women who patronise the club invest money to win their love. Watch the documentary to get a look into the intricacies and facets of Japan’s entertainment district.

Length: 1 hour 15 minutes Available on: DVD

10. The Birth Of Sake (2015)

Established in 1870, Yoshida Saké Brewery has been producing quality sake by hand for more than 150 years, despite the rise of automation in the industry. Every year, a group of brewers will spend 6 months living and working at the brewery to go through the arduous process of sake making.

Starting from polishing rice to supervising the fermentation process, The Birth Of Sake walks us through the ancient craft of sake production. Determined to continue the legacy and pass on the 2000-year-old art, the master brewers devote all they can to make sake the old-fashioned way. Even if you’re not a big drinker, you’ll never look at the national drink of Japan the same way ever again after watching this film.

Video credit: Movieclips Indie

Length: 1 hour 34 minutes Available on: Amazon Prime, iTunes

Japanese documentaries you should watch

From a war veteran’s frenzied chase to hunt down the culprits responsible for his comrades’ death to the age-old tradition of saké brewing, the multifaceted documentaries on our list will shed light on aspects of life in Japan you don’t usually think about. So grab some popcorn, snuggle up, and enjoy our curation of Japanese documentaries.

For more series to watch, check out:

• New anime series in Spring 2021
• New Japanese movies in 2021
• Best fantasy anime series
• Workplace Japanese dramas
• New Japanese dramas to binge on

Cover image adapted from: Amazon Prime , Amazon Prime , and IMDb

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