There is something about another country’s Netflix options that always seems better than what we can access here – it’s like a digital version of ‘the grass is always greener’. If you’re a big fan of anime and critically acclaimed movies that might not be available in your country, you’ll want to use a VPN (virtual private network) to access Japanese Netflix and settle down for a weekend of chilling.
The Ivory Game
The Ivory Game is an eye-opening documentary that follows 16 months of the ivory trade and looks at why traders are glad that elephants are predicted to be extinct within the next 15 years, driving up the prices. Thankfully there are some good guys in the mix – those fighting against the poachers – but at times it certainly seems almost impossible.
Paprika
Paprika is an amazing animated SciFi movie, directed by Satoshi Kon, in which a machine is stolen that psychologists were using to enter their patients’ dreams. The only one who can save the day is our hero, Paprika, a young therapist who had been using the machine to help her patients. A really fantastic watch.
Shoplifters
Winner of the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, Shoplifters is a fantastic drama following a family of shoplifters who take in a new girl and teach her their ways, throwing up moral dilemmas and disrupting the status quo along the way. This is one that will stay with you long after the film finishes.
Miracle in Cell No. 7
Miracle in Cell No. 7 is a stunning Korean comedy-drama following a mentally challenged father who is wrongly imprisoned and who has a never ending love for his daughter. This is a real tearjerker, and even more so when you learn that it’s based on a real-life story from 1972, so don’t forget the tissues!
Kingdom
This Korean Netflix original mixes horror with historical drama and is a really unique take on a zombie film. Comparable to Game of Thrones in terms of the political drama side, we follow Prince Lee Chang who is framed for murder as his mother-in-law starts planning a hostile take over, and a rabid plague is killing his subjects.
The Could’ve Gone all the Way Committee
This is a really fun concept for a show, with people sharing their stories of missed connections and The Could’ve Gone all the Way Committee asking questions to determine whether things could have gone differently if they had taken a leap of faith at the time. A super easy watch, with some absurd comedy and genuinely human moments.
Gosick
Gosick is a beautiful anime series following two 15-year-olds – Kujo, a Japanese exchange student and genius girl detective Victoria, set in a fictional European country in 1920. Expect romance and mystery with some dark moments that aren’t suitable for younger viewers.
Whether you want romance, drama, documentary or comedy, there are so many amazing options on Japanese Netflix that you need to check out.
