Tokyo Idols (UK, 2017)

Girl bands and their pop music permeate every moment of Japanese life. Following an aspiring pop singer and her fans, Tokyo Idols explores a cultural phenomenon driven by an obsession with young female sexuality, and the growing disconnect between men and women in hyper-modern societies.

Here's a documentary that shows us the world behind the stage of a pop idol in contemporary Japan, and what happens when the curtain falls. It's a testament to how different Japan is to the rest of the world. Older men are lining up to watch young girls perform and basically want nothing else than to adore the hell out of them, get autographs and have their photo taken together with them. There's also a darker side to it, when men are talking about how they given up on other social relationships just to devote themselves to their idol-worshipping full-time. Very insightful interesting, Tokyo Idols is bound to spark a few culture shocks.

Genre: Documentary

The Red Turtle (Japan/France/Belgium, 2016)

A man is shipwrecked on a deserted island and encounters a red turtle, which changes his life.

The Red Turtle isn't entirely a Japanese production, but you'll thank me big time for giving it a pass. Directed and written by Dutch animator Michael Dudok de Wit, and with help from Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, we are treated to some of the most gorgeous and heartfelt animation I've seen in a long time. Being completely free of dialogue, the film relies on stunning visuals and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack to express its narrative. Watching it feels like taking part of another's life, another's amazing experiences and their sorrow and happiness.

It's one of those films that stays with you for a long time after having seen it.

Genre: Animation/Fantasy