Motoko Rich
Posts
How Toilets Got a Starring Role in a Wim Wenders Movie
A behind-the-scenes look at “Perfect Days,” which features Koji Yakusho as a cleaner of public bathrooms in Tokyo.
Keiichi Tanaami Remembers Everything
At 86, the Japanese pop artist has a lifetime of vivid recollections — some more real than others — and a new show in New...
The Japanese Author Behind ‘Bullet Train’ Is OK That the Film Isn’t So Japanese
Kotaro Isaka dreamed that his novel would get the big-screen treatment. Now it’s an action thriller starring Brad Pitt. Does the lack of major Asian...
Chie Hayakawa Imagines a Japan Where the Elderly Volunteer to Die
The premise for Chie Hayakawa’s film, “Plan 75,” is shocking: a government push to euthanize the elderly. In a rapidly aging society, some also wonder:...
‘Drive My Car’ Oscar Is a Slow-Burn Return for Japan’s Cinema
But some of the same qualities that made the film popular overseas have led to a cooler reception domestically.