mdblist.com logo The Best Kaoru Kobayashi Movies. Go to The Best Shows


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poster
HBO Max Amazon Channel
87
8.3
/473735/
84
/15292/
83
/8635/
4.4
/1409438/
93
/123/
94
/12007/
78
/31/
8.6
/871132/
cc age 12+

Princess Mononoke (1997)
Ashitaka, a prince of the disappearing Emishi people, is cursed by a demonized boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. Along the way, he encounters San, a young human woman fighting to protect the forest, and Lady Eboshi, who is trying to destroy it. Ashitaka must find a way to bring balance to this conflict.
poster
HBO Max Amazon Channel
83
7.4
/104984/
74
/5628/
74
/2405/
3.9
/1112539/
96
/275/
88
/474/
91
/55/
7.6
/87528/
cc age 10+

The Boy and the Heron (2023)
While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy's mother. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one."
poster
Criterion Channel
75
7.4
/717/
74
/12/
71
/21/
3.8
/944/
83

Ballad of Orin (1977)
A blind traveling musician is abused and oppressed wherever she goes, even as the modern world imposes change around her.
poster
77
70
7.5
/4722/
80
/226/
77
/102/
3.9
/19750/

We Made a Beautiful Bouquet (2021)
Two people meet each other after missing the last train home, leading to a beautiful relationship over five years.
poster
Criterion Channel
78
61
7.2
/2220/
68
/59/
71
/47/
3.8
/7850/
100
/5/
85
/27/

The Funeral (1984)
When Wabisuke's father-in-law unexpectedly dies, the family goes through a series of random events and occurrences as the funeral unfolds over three days in their home.
poster
Amazon Prime Video
71
52
7.1
/1830/
72
/47/
68
/37/
3.5
/790/
80
/20/
81
/110/
60
/8/
cc age 10+

Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog (2004)
A Labrador retriever named Quill begins specialized training as a guide dog from an early age, then the canine is paired with a blind man who is initially reluctant to rely on his new partner.
poster
HBO Max Amazon Channel
57
52
6.3
/47559/
65
/2147/
65
/1415/
3.0
/99091/
36
/1/
47
/11/
6.8
/94975/
cc age 12+

Tales from Earthsea (2006)
Something bizarre has come over the land. The kingdom is deteriorating. People are beginning to act strange... What's even more strange is that people are beginning to see dragons, which shouldn't enter the world of humans. Due to all these bizarre events, Ged, a wandering wizard, is investigating the cause. During his journey, he meets Prince Arren, a young distraught teenage boy. While Arren may look like a shy young teen, he has a severe dark side, which grants him strength, hatred, ruthlessness and has no mercy, especially when it comes to protecting Teru. For the witch Kumo this is a perfect opportunity. She can use the boy's "fears" against the very one who would help him, Ged.
poster
66
51
6.4
/1479/
54
/50/
69
/34/
3.4
/3730/
75
/12/
67
/7/

Kubi (2023)
Lord Oda Nobunaga plans to control Japan where rival warlords battle by waging war against several clans. His vassal Araki Murashige stages a rebellion and promptly disappears.
poster
76
50
7.5
/2712/
76
/145/
75
/60/
3.9
/3627/
80
/4/

Midnight Diner (2014)
A restaurant opens at midnight. Both the menu offerings and personality of the owner draw a series of flawed patrons including Tamako, whose boyfriend has passed away, live-in worker Michiru, and ruckus-raising Kenzo.
poster
75
48
7.3
/2963/
74
/61/
72
/60/
3.7
/1794/
86
/11/

The Great Passage (2013)
Majime, an eccentric man in publishing company, who has unique ability of words, joins the team that will compile a new dictionary, The Great Passage. In the eclectic team, he becomes immersed in the world of dictionaries. But the team is overwhelmed with problems.
poster
71
38
6.7
/1703/
71
/78/
70
/46/
3.3
/1539/
81
/7/

The Miracles of the Namiya General Store (2017)
In 2012, Atsuya and his 2 childhood friends do something bad and run into an old general store. They decide to stay there until the morning. Late into the night, Atsuya sees a letter in the mailbox. The letter is addressed to the Namiya General Store and the letter was written by someone to consult about worries. Incredibly, the letter was written 32 years ago. The mailbox is somehow connected to the year 1980. Atsuya and his friends decide to write a reply and place their letter in the mailbox.
poster
75
34
7.3
/1117/
79
/14/
69
/16/
3.6
/582/
84
/175/

Tokyo Towers: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad (2007)
Adapted from the bestselling Japanese autobiography of the same title, this gentle coming-of-age drama concerns an adolescent boy, Boku - Masaya, torn between the inherited recklessness of his father Oton and the inherited responsibility, wisdom and emotional strength of his mother Okan. Following a period of intensely rebellious behavior, Boku learns that his mom has contracted cancer; suddenly, his mother comes to live with him in Tokyo the entire emotional landscape of his life is altered.
poster
77
34
7.4
/1196/
78
/67/
74
/33/
3.9
/1372/
82
/2/

Midnight Diner 2 (2016)
The Master’s late-night diner welcomes a woman troubled by funeral fans, an elderly scam victim, and a noodle delivery man struggling with love.
poster
74
29
7.1
/86/
60
/1/
90
/3/
3.4
/595/
81
/16/

Sham (2025)
When a young student shows signs of trauma, his parents act swiftly against his middle school teacher. But all may not be as it seems, leading the scales of justice to tip in fascinating, heartbreaking ways.
poster
53
26
5.6
/1145/
55
/46/
60
/48/
3.1
/330/
34
/43/

Kamui (2009)
A rebellious ninja in 17th century Japan takes refuge with a fisherman and his family.
poster
68
24
6.8
/834/
70
/25/
68
/31/
3.4
/398/

Secret (1999)
A man is shocked to find out that after a deadly car accident involving his wife and daughter, his wife died, but her mind somehow got transfered into their daughter's body.
poster
63
20
6.5
/331/
54
/20/
58
/11/
3.3
/697/
79
/4/
5.7
/780/

Twilight of the Cockroaches (1987)
The cockroaches of Saito's apartment live in peace with their human host, who gives them lots of space to breed and plenty of leftovers to munch on. In the midst of these high living times, Naomi and Ichiro plan to get married and start a family. But when a hard-bitten stranger roach named Hans appears with news of war with the humans across the lawn, it foretells disruption-not only of Naomi and Ichiro's relationship, but of the hive's entire way of life.
poster
63
17
6.2
/596/
64
/17/
60
/13/
3.4
/766/

The Black House (1999)
A timid insurance agent investigates a possible insurance fraud case that involves a death. As the facts are slowly revealed, he becomes progressively more frightened.
poster
71
16
7.2
/436/
45
/5/
70
/20/
3.6
/590/
100
/1/

And Then (1985)
Daisuke is supposed to be out looking for a respectable job and equally respectable wife. He is 30 years old and devotes his attention to music and literature; his family is wealthy and can support his interests. When his friend Hiraoka returns with his wife Michiyo, problems arise.
poster
69
15
7.0
/317/
69
/26/
70
/13/
3.5
/509/

Ghiblies: Episode 2 (2002)
Ghiblies (pronounced with a hard "g" as in "gallop") is a short film aired during a TV special about Ghibli. It's about a fictional animation studio named "Ghibli" and the people who work there. This rare Ghibli Comedy is a look into who the people making the films are. Plotlines run from office jokes to Nonaka's first love, bringing together a short feature of random events.
poster
72
13
6.5
/363/
78
/15/
79
/8/
3.4
/558/

Kiseki: Sobito of That Day (2017)
Based on the true story of 4 member Japanese pop group "GreeeeN.” Jin is the producer of “GreeeeN” and his younger brother Hide is the lead member for the group. Their song "Kiseki" is released as their 7th single and becomes a huge hit. Hide and the other 3 members have others jobs including working as a dentist.
poster
70
13
7.0
/352/
76
/6/
65
/15/
3.5
/388/

Like Asura (2003)
The four Takezawa sisters discover that their father has an illegitimate child so they hire a private detective to investigate.
poster
68
12
6.7
/380/
71
/8/
50
/14/
3.4
/324/
85
/7/

Boys on the Run (2010)
A socially awkward salesman for a toy-capsule company tries to change his nerdy ways when a slick rival moves in on the beautiful co-worker he loves.
poster
73
10
7.1
/274/
74
/9/
65
/11/
3.7
/356/
83
/2/

Haru's Journey (2010)
Stuck in a fishing village in Hokkaido, Tadao's grand-daughter Haru is desperate to visit Tokyo, a trip Tadao is reluctant to make.
poster
?
70
/1/

Kyokuhoku Rhapsody (2013)
Set in Kyokuhoku Citizen Hospital in Hokkaido, Japan. "Kyokuhoku Rhapsody" follows the life of a young doctor for a one year period. Yoshio Imanaka works at the Kyokuhoku Hospital that is losing staff members and facing bankruptcy. During this difficult time, Yoshio Imanaka meets hairdresser Kozue Namiki and falls in love.
poster
?
6.2
/14/
20
/1/

The Washing Machine (1999)
Kizaki, who moved to Tokyo from the Kansai region to become a manga artist, is assigned to work at a used electrical appliance store where he works part-time as a store keeper and repairman. One day, a woman comes to the store drenched from the rain. She is Setsuko, the only daughter of the store's president and a returnee. Since then, Setsuko often comes to the store. Kizaki becomes concerned about Setsuko, but Setsuko has something to do with Oshi, a senior who used to work at the store...
poster
?
80
/1/

Oboe no Nai Satsujin (2025)
An ex-cop suffering from dementia is marked by detectives pursuing a murder case. It is a case that he does not remember at all, but he has a strong motive for committing the crime... Is he really the murderer?
poster
68
?
7.4
/24/
60
/1/
3.5
/641/

The Last Blossom (2025)
An elderly inmate serving a life sentence awaits a lonely death in his solitary cell—until a voice calls out to him. It belongs to a balsam flower, Housenka, that speaks like a human. Through their "conversation", the old man begins to reflect on the life he's led.
poster
84
?
60
/1/
97
/131/
95
/103/

Promised Land (2024)
Matagi is a group of hunters who lives in the mountains and targets wild animals including bears, but now more and more bear hunting is forbidden by the government. This is a story of two young matagi who struggle in their dying culture.
poster
?
20
/1/
60
/1/

The Way of Osaka Financing 1 (1996)
A special drama starring Masahiro Nakai of SMAP, which was aired on Fuji TV six times from 1996 to 2005. The original is a comic of the same name by Yuji Aoki. The script was written by Ryoichi Kimizuka of "Bayside Shakedown", and it is a comical and fast-paced work. Tatsuyuki Haibara (Masahiro Nakai), a young man who joined Naniwa's financial company, Imperial Finance, is "the best financial company in Osaka" while witnessing the sadness, thickness, and warmth of human beings who are at the mercy of money. It is impressive to follow the figure of aiming for. By arranging attractive female guests, themes that tend to be raw, such as debt and debt collection, can be made to look friendly and gorgeous. His senior who leads Haibara, Kuwata (Kaoru Kobayashi), and other astringent men are also a must-see.
poster
Amazon Prime Video
59
?
5.7
/333/
62
/21/
54
/8/
3.2
/435/

The Yin Yang Master Zero (2024)
During the Heian period, Abe no Seimei trains in magic but lacks interest, until a collaboration with Minamoto no Hiromasa arises to solve a strange phenomenon.
poster
?
7.1
/75/
50
/2/
60
/3/

Tsugaru Lacquer Girl (2023)
Keiko Tsuruoka’s film is at once traditional and contemporary: it gently mixes present-day gender and sexuality politics with the old-fashioned Japanese domestic drama. Traditional lacquerwork kitchenware is the Aoki family’s legacy, handed down to patriarch Seishiro (Kaoru Kobayashi) by his now-ailing father (Masayuki Suzuki). Seishiro expects to pass it in turn to his son Yu (Ryota Bando), but Yu has no interest in the craft—quite unlike daughter Miyako (Mayu Hotta), who loves it dearly. The stage is set for conflict, as established cultural traditions collide with modern mores…
poster
?
7.1
/28/
10
/1/
50
/1/

Hong Kong Paradise (1990)
Set in decadent, chaotic Hong Kong and Tokyo, the film tells the story of a young woman caught up in a mysterious turn of events. A young tour guide, 23-year-old Mamiko who's had her heart set on Paris, finds herself swept off to booming Hong Kong where she is thrown into the midst of a high-profile burglary case.
poster
?
7.1
/15/
82
/5/

Baian the Assassin, M.D.: Part 2 (2023)
The main character, Baian Fujieda, is a dark hero who has two faces: one as a skilled acupuncturist who saves lives, and the other as a criminal who buries evil that cannot be kept alive for the sake of others. Popular writer Shotaro Ikenami's historical novel series of the same title, on which the film "BAIAN The Assassin, M.D." is based, is a blockbuster bestseller with a total of over 6 million copies in print and has been made into a timeless entertainment film many times in Japan. Many famous actors have played the role of Baian, including Ken Watanabe. The year 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of Shotaro Ikenami's birth. In the anniversary year of 2023, a new "BAIAN The Assassin, M.D." is born.
poster
?
6.8
/44/
50
/3/
53
/3/

Paradise View (1985)
Go Takamine's first theatrical feature is a pioneering work of Okinawan cinema, filmed almost entirely in Okinawan dialect. Taking place shortly before the resumption of Japanese sovereignty over Okinawa, Takamine’s film tacitly addresses the island prefecture's complicated history of occupation and feelings of dislocation through the story of a small community and its preparations for a wedding between a local girl and a Japanese teacher. On the periphery of these events is Reishu (Kaoru Kobayashi), who quits his job on a US military base and uses the extra time to catch snakes and play with ants – and get the bride-to-be pregnant. Takamine’s leisurely-paced film is full of uniquely Okinawan touches that mix in aspects of the island's folklore, accompanied by Haruomi Hosono’s spare and evocative score.
poster
59
?
6.2
/138/
41
/7/
76
/5/

Dr. Coto's Clinic (2022)
In this drama set on Shikina Island, a far-flung island of the Japanese archipelago located more than six hours from the Japanese main islands, the young physician Kensuke Goto arrives at the island and has to deal with the island's inhabitants, not eager to accept him, at a clinic lacking sufficient medical equipment. Here's a human drama showing how Dr. Coto values the dignity of human life while unflinchingly facing disease with a serious attitude.
poster
?
6.9
/20/
16
/3/

Trapped Balloon (2023)
A woman who has not seen her father for several years and does not have a good relationship with him. An unsociable man who lives near her father's house. Slowly the relationship between the woman, her father, and the man changes.
poster
?
6.0
/26/
50
/2/

Winter Rose (2022)
Jun Wataguchi lives a lazy, half-hearted life, not going to school, hanging out with half-witted delinquents, and begging money from his friends. His parents, who run a shipping business transporting earth and sand for reclamation by boat, manage to get by, despite the dwindling number of jobs and lack of successors over time. Jun showed no interest in his parents' business, and the father and son hardly ever spoke to each other. One day, one of Jun's friends is attacked by someone and an unexpected person emerges as the culprit.
poster
?
10
/1/

The Tomb & the Divorce (1993)
Yoshinori sells plots of land in a cemetery, and is involved in a stale ten-year-old marriage with bored housewife Atsuko. When Atsuko makes a male friend at her leather-working class, Yoshinori has a fit. This is on top of the myriad of odd clients that he must appease.
poster
?
5.8
/93/
66
/3/
62
/6/

Natsumi's Firefly (2016)
Natsumi wants to become a photographer. She takes a bike which her late father left behind and goes to a forest to find a firefly she saw with her father. In the forest, Natsumi meets old mother Yasu and old son Jizo. They run a general store. Natsumi learns how to live in nature from them. She has happy summer days there. One day, Jizo tells her that he became estranged from his son in the past.
poster
?
5.9
/41/
10
/1/
70
/1/

Bakayaro! I'm Plenty Mad (1988)
Anthology film. "What's Wrong with Eating?" Numayama Kazuki is always complaining about his wife's, Atsugi Shizuka, body shape. Because of that Shizuka tries her best to restrict her diet and please Kazuki. "It's So Far Away!" Karuma Sae is an office lady who works in the city center but lives with her family in a house far away from her work. Because she is always rushing to catch the last train, she can never enjoy a decent date with her boyfriend, Oishi Mamoru. Her father is also always interfering in her life, so she can't appreciate the city life and isn't happy. "Get Ready to Drive!" Masuko is a new taxi driver in Tokyo who is very stressed from dealing with the behavior of some passengers. One night he drives a very beautiful drunk hostess home. "What Is English?" Kosaka Shigeru, a businessman, was transferred to a Chicago branch factory. He tried hard to learn English, practicing day and night, but couldn't improve as much as he expected.
poster
57
?
5.7
/123/
52
/8/
63
/6/

Yes, I Can't Swim (2022)
Yuji Takanashi is a university philosophy professor who can't swim. Making awkward justifications to himself about the relationship between water and people, still he decides on the spur of the moment to enroll in a swimming class. There he encounters the teacher Shizuka Usuhara, who ignores his last-minute hesitation and enrolls him.
poster
?
6.9
/30/
10
/1/
60
/3/

Shimanto River (1991)
A young boy, Atsu, grows up along the banks of the Shimanto River in rural southern Shikoku. He comes to grips with the unfairness of life and the emotional pain involved in the loss of innocence. The film is based on an autobiographical novel written by Kyuzo Sasayama.
poster
?
5.7
/23/

Independence of Japan (2020)
A group image drama set at the end of the war depicting the unknown struggle of Japanese people who faced the difficult issues.
poster
?
6.3
/27/
80
/1/

Double Trouble (2008)
Chief Iizuka, who works at the Cultural Center, misunderstands two chorus groups with similar names and double-books the concert hall on New Year's Eve. Although they talk to each other, neither of them gives up a step and develops into a big problem. Iizuka, who has lived his life with a "no-nonsense" attitude, finds himself in the middle of two groups and at a loss for words.
poster
72
?
6.2
/330/
77
/7/
78
/4/

Fueled: The Man They Called "Pirate" (2016)
In a time when the main source of energy was still coal, there was a man who saw the future in oil. Young Tetsuzo Kunioka who hails from Moji, Kitakyushu, rides out into the oil business, but is faced with numerous challenges and competitors who stand in his way, including domestic suppliers and major western oil companies, or the "oil majors". But Tetsuzo never gave up, however despairing the situation was. He always found a way and paved a new road with his unconventional ideas, eccentric actions, and most of all, his caring heart toward his own men. That style of Tetsuzo's was not something that would ever change, even when the tides were against him in a war-lost Japan.
poster
?
4.2
/47/
15
/2/

For Business (1986)
Two TV salarymen uphold their duty by taking on a rival talent agency during the late-'80s bubble economy.
poster
?
6.7
/34/
55
/2/
50
/4/

The Sea of Genkai (1976)
Two yakuza, one of whom frequently reflects on an uncomfortable past taking advantage of Korean women, meet a stowaway on Japanese soil from across the Genkai Sea.


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