The Japanese film industry and its film directors are a force to be reckoned with. These directors have received critical acclaim and a place in film history as great directors.

Hideo Nakata (中田秀夫) is responsible for directing Ring (リング) and Dark Water (仄暗い水の底から). His movies have been so popular, they’ve been remade for English speaking audiences. His 2010 film Chatroom is a joint production with the U.K. and was screened at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

Takashi Miike’s (三池崇史,) well known works include Audition (オーディション) and Ichi the Killer (殺し屋１,). His movies contain either gangs, violence, sexual perversions, blood, death, torture, or all of the above. Fans love his movies because they push the boundaries of social propriety.

Takeshi Kitano’s (北野武,) successful movies include Sonatine (ソナチネ) and Hanabi (はなび). Before Kitano became a director, he was a well regarded actor. Sonatine and Hanabi solidified his career as a director and gave him the respect he deserved as a director.

Hayao Miyazaki (宮崎駿,) is famous for directing animated films such as Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ,), Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫,), Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し,), Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (崖の上のポニョ) and other films. His films often feature children as the protagonists and are set in a fantasy world.

Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) is known for directing Seven Samurai (七人の侍), Yōjimbo (用心棒,), Ran (乱) and Ikiru (生きる). Kurosawa has earned the respect of international audiences and film critics. His movies are considered classics and studied by film students all over the world.