This comprehensive list of the best 42 Japanese lesbian films of 2023 will help you explore the most fascinating and eagerly awaited motion picture classics. Enter a universe where poignant love stories, identity discoveries, and complex social challenges are artfully woven together. These works of Japanese lesbian film have a wide range of complex characters and varied subjects that have won over viewers all over the world. Every film is a monument to the changing terrain of Japan’s lesbian film industry, ranging from emotional dramas portraying same-sex relationships in Japanese films to sincere romances in modern Japanese lesbian films.
1. Shady かしこい狗は、吠えずに笑う(2012)
The movie “Shady” explores the subject of bullying in schools and realistically shows the psychological issues that the victims deal with. It tells the story of Misa and Koizumi, who become friends out of loneliness, by showing the professors’ complicity and the students’ cruel exclusion. Bullying occurs because Misa is perceived as “unpleasant” looking, and Koizumi is made fun of for being “too cute.” They grow to be unbreakable confidantes, sharing everything and progressively becoming unclear about their feelings for one another. But one day, Misa notices that Koizumi, who has been bullied for a long time, is starting to act strangely. Her angelic exterior belies a demonic mindset and well-kept secrets that the public is unaware of. As a result, their mutual ambiguity and friendship break down…
2. Starting Over (2014)
The movie “Starting Over” shows how Nana and Marlene, the main characters, progress from being friends to falling in love. But things are not going well for them on this excursion. Their separation is caused by a number of issues, including depression, remarriage, discrimination against sex workers, and cultural misconceptions about same-sex relationships. Living in a remote area of Tokyo, 18-year-old Nana has experienced a difficult life and relies solely on her depressed mother and her devoted girlfriend Marlene for support. Nana decides to keep as far away from her hated stepfather as she can after learning about her mother’s second marriage. Marlene ends up being her only source of happiness since they live together and are inseparable. But the harsh outside world constantly tests their connection.
3. You Are The Sea きみは海 (2017)
What occurs when a shy and kind boy finds out through a female what he secretly wants? The narrative of “You Are The Sea” centres around a kind and sensitive boy who develops feelings for a female. Their love grows rapidly, but just when things appear to be going well, the girl falls in love with someone else. The boy decides to dive into the lesbian community in an attempt to win back his fiancée, who has been influenced by this new love interest… The young man, Kairu, and his colleague, Tohko, start a charming romance. When Tohko is out taking pictures by herself one day, she meets Hirohwa, a senior woman. As they get closer, Kairu becomes less important to them. Some individuals are shocked to learn that Hirohwa has entered their relationship as the third person, as they had initially suspected Tohko was having an affair with another man. In the hopes that Tohko would fall in love with him once more, Kairu does everything in his power to win back Tohko’s affection, even appearing like a lady.
4. Girls’ Encounter (2017)
The delicate relationship between female high school students is depicted in “Girls’ Encounter”. The protagonist of the tale is Mayuri, who experiences despair as a result of being bullied constantly and finds comfort in caring for a silkworm by the name of “Tsumugi” as a release from her feelings. She meets “Asumi,” a transfer student, after a wild night and he helps her get out of the bullying shadows. The movie “Girls’ Encounter” tackles the subject of school bullying as well and offers a moving portrayal of the victim’s helplessness and the societal problems brought about by bullying in Japanese schools. The silkworm Tsumugi is used in the novel to symbolically depict Asumi, the main character,’s exterior and inner life. Beyond friendship, a delicate emotional connection grows between the two as they get closer.
5. Ride or Die (2021)
“Ride or Die” tells the story of two women’s emotional journey. Rei learns that her spouse is abusing her loving companion with domestic violence. Rei assists her boyfriend in killing someone to get her out of this suffering, and the two set off to make their getaway. When their feelings reach their peak, Rei starts to experience terror on a psychological level. Rei acts in every way to keep her partner safe.
6. “Until Rainbow Dawn” (虹色の朝が来るまで)(2018)
The film, which is an adaptation of filmmaker Mika Imai’s coming-of-age tale, stars Eri Nagai, Haruka Kobayashi, Hiroshi Tamada, and Yuna Sato. The protagonists of the tale are Hana and Ayumu, two people who first connect at a sign language club and progressively become closer. For the first time, Hana feels attracted to someone of the same gender, but she is confused. She makes the decision to find the guts to tell her family that she is gay, but sadly, they cannot accept her. Ayumu responds by proposing that they go to Tokyo together and take part in a conference for people with hearing impairments. The director’s film is a passionate homage to the LGBTQ+ community, covering topics ranging from the difficulties faced at a deaf school to the oppression of homosexuality in a conservative atmosphere.
7. “White Lily” (ホワイトリリー)(2016)
The protagonist, Haruka, has a close relationship with her pottery teacher, Tokiko, in an attempt to get over her wounds. But the entrance of a man named Satoru upends their lives, sending their intricate romantic relationship spiralling out of control—into their personal lives as well as the pottery studio.
8. “From the Bottom of the Vortex” (私は渦の底から) (2017)
Is it friendship or love? This quandary arises for every lesbian on her path of self-discovery. When Noriko, the main character, finds out that her best friend has fallen love another girl, she finds herself torn between confessing her feelings and keeping up their friendship. The performances of Saya Hashimoto and Izumi Okamura, who are best friends, evoke a deep sense of melancholy as they represent a couple with unspoken love concealed deep within their hearts.
9. “Hana & Alice” (花とアリス) (2004)
Using his own style, director Shunji Iwai tells a story of a teenage love. Hana frequently follows her upperclassman in the club covertly since she has a crush on him. He unintentionally knocks his head one day and has momentary forgetfulness. Hana jumps at the chance to declare herself his lover, even involving her closest friend Alice as his former partner. A convoluted and unanticipated love story starts here.
10. “Albino” (アルビノ) (2016)
Yashima, a water and electricity technician, has never been happy with being viewed as a “woman” and has always felt unsure about their gender identification. One day, while they happen to be repairing pipes in an eerily atmospheric home, they run into Koko, a small child. Their urge to possess one other deepens as their mutual attraction and stare grow stronger.
11. “Chiisai Ouchi” (小さいおうち) (2014)
This film, which stars Hikari Mitsushima and Takako Matsu and features music by Joe Hisaishi, is set in the pre- and post-World War II era. Over the course of 60 years, the intense relationship between the master and servant develops in a modest, war-torn Tokyo home with red tiles. The film uses a retrospective storytelling method to convey the story of an elderly single woman who has recollections of a love that she can never understand.
12. “Natural Woman 2010” (ナチュラル・ウーマン) (2010)
The plot, which stars Ayano, Yukari Shiomi, Erena Hidaka, Ayumi Kinoshita, and Yuho Murata in performances, centres on professional photographer Yoko Murata and her professional meeting with Yuriko Morisawa, a publishing firm employee, through her line of work. Yoko’s aura attracts Yuriko. When they unintentionally run across Yoko’s ex-girlfriend Hanase at a pet store one day while on a trip assignment with Yuriko, it brings back memories of their previous relationship.
13. “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy” (偶然と想像) (2021)
Three short stories make up the film: “Magic,” “The Door Ajar,” and “Once Again.” Every episode has three acts and centres around a female character. These three pieces share unexpected stories of a misunderstanding leading to an accidental encounter, an unsuccessful temptation, and a love triangle. The fact that the movie keeps a natural narrative flow in spite of its fragmentation highlights this feature. The most of the action in the film takes place in a small room with just two characters, but it doesn’t feel like a conventional chamber drama. This is because of its complex time-space concept—the last episode practically passes for science fiction—in addition to the language. The events we see are entwined with universal themes of decisions, regrets, dishonesty, and serendipitous events, which end up serving as the movie’s real characters.
14. “Manji” (卍) (1964)
The wife of a lawyer, Yasuko Kakinouchi, decides to learn painting as a way to break up the monotony of her life. It is at this school that she meets Mitsuko Tada, a wealthy heiress. Yasuko is so enthralled with Mitsuko’s beauty that, in their painting classes, she unintentionally paints Mitsuko’s portrait. As rumours circulate around the school, an embarrassed Yasuko meets Mitsuko by coincidence, who turns out to be incredibly amiable. A lesbian connection gradually blossoms between the two.
As Yasuko is having this same-sex romance, she finds out that Mitsuko is seeing a young gigolo by the name of Ichiro Momeno. Yasuko consents to let Ichiro see Mitsuko, but when the vile Ichiro tells Kotaro, Yasuko’s husband, about their covert relationship, Kotaro becomes suspicious. To deflect Kotaro’s attention, Yasuko and Mitsuko decide to stage deaths, pregnancies, and other events.
But Kotaro too starts to feel inappropriate feelings for Mitsuko, which further complicates the connection between the two spouses. Everything has changed over the years, and the hotel maid’s strange behaviour leads to a shocking revelation that makes them eager pawns in her hands.
15. “Farewell Song” (さよならくちびる) (2019)
In the underground music scene, Haru and Leo are two rather well-known girls who play together as the band “Harureo.” Reo and Haru make the decision to split up in order to follow separate paths. They extend an invitation to an outsider, Shima (played by Ryo Narita), to accompany them on a national tour. But while Shima grows fond of Haru, Reo falls in love with Shima during the trip. They don’t realise it, but Haru feels more than simply friendship for Reo.
16. “Manji” (指) (1979)
Based on a Seicho Matsumoto novel, “Manji” depicts the tale of a lesbian romance involving an elderly woman and a hotel maid. In the 1979 version, two stunning young ladies fall in love with one another after meeting on a wet night at a café. But their relationship takes a serious hit when they find out that the lady they love is receiving financial help from someone else. After several years, everything has changed, and the extraordinary actions of the hotel maid reveal a startling mystery.
17. “Kyoto Monster Map 3” (京都妖怪地図3) (1985)
Two royal maids made their escape together a millennium ago, but no one knew that they were in love. Later on, one of them leaves the other behind because she falls in love with a man. The deserted lady never reincarnates and clings to her attachment. A female history professor who is the reincarnation of one of the maids discovers a tomb that just so happens to be the other maid’s a millennium later.
18. “Love My Life” (2006)
Very cute Rei Yoshii’s character Ichiko is a typical college student who enjoys a wonderful relationship with her father Eriko Ishida. Ichiko must, however, come clean to her father about being a lesbian and present him to Eri, her partner (played by Mao Inoue). In her junior year of law school, Eri is a self-reliant young lady with a tense connection with her own father. She hopes to practise law and deals with the stress of tests and romantic relationships. Can their romance flourish in spite of the obstacles they encounter?
19. Tsuyako (2011)
Tsuyako portrays the predicament of a post-World War II Japanese manufacturing worker who cannot reconcile her obligations to her family with her unresolved affections for her ex-girlfriend.
20. The Enchantment (1989)
In The Enchantment, a multi-personality sufferer develops feelings for her psychologist’s unfaithful spouse while she is receiving treatment.
21. The Cherry Orchard 櫻の園 (1990)
The Cherry Orchard, which won the 1990 Japan Academy Prize for Best Film, is about a university theatrical club’s rehearsal of Anton Chekhov’s play of the same name. The film skillfully conveys the club members’ daily routines in a restricted amount of sequences.
22. 千年の恋 ひかる源氏物語 (2001)
In Thousand-Year Love: The Tale of Genji, which is set in ancient Japan, Murasaki marries a much older man and has a daughter named Kenko. Following her husband’s tragic passing, Murasaki becomes a widow and begins work on “The Tale of Genji.” Later, in an attempt to prepare his daughter Akiko to be a suitable empress, Fujiwara no Michinaga calls her to Kyoto to instruct.
23. West North West (2015)
The central theme of West North West is a group of young people battling life’s difficulties and their uncertain futures. Kei is inspired by Iranian student Naima’s genuine and pious outlook on life to reassess her own life when she first meets her.
24. おやすみ、また向こう岸で (2019)
The distance between live-in partners Haruki and Natsuki is expanding. Reunited with her high school classmate Natsumi, Natsuki shares her genuine feelings for love, which she had never expressed to Haruki. Saying, “I want to be your lover, even without physical intimacy,” Natsumi tells Natsuki how she feels. Haruki objects to Natsuki’s decision to end their relationship, and Natsumi recommends they move in together. Their peculiar three-way cohabitation starts then.
25. Finding the Adolescence 思春期ごっこ (2014)
Girls Renge and Mika relish their final years of youth at a calm middle school away from the bustle of the metropolis. Renge, a drawing enthusiast, hopes to enrol in an art school, while Mika, a graduating alumna herself, reads “Adolescent Game” and stealthily sketches her friend’s face. Mika is thrilled when she accidentally runs across Natsue, who is now employed as a librarian, one day. She actively communicates with her admired author in addition to telling Renge about this revelation. Her perception of reality eventually gets hazy as she grows enamoured with Natsue’s depiction of forbidden love. During the girls’ last, bittersweet years of childhood, a number of questions and concerns surface.
26. Kakera カケラ (2009)
The protagonist of Kakera’s story is Koharu, a female college student who, although being in a relationship with her partner, is dissatisfied. Their relationship appears to be centred around sexual intimacy and little communication, which has caused an increasing emotional gap between them. Koharu meets Riko, a stunning woman who works in an office for prosthetic limbs, by coincidence. Riko’s bold and gregarious demeanour stands in stark contrast to Koharu’s. But they also find common ground in each other’s dissimilar personalities, and they end up becoming friends. Koharu’s feelings begin to shift towards Riko as her relationship with her boyfriend becomes more tense. This marks the start of the two girls’ love tale.
27. 水色の楽園 (2014)
On a joyous day in a school devoid of outsiders, Ayane and Mika engage in unrestricted play and conversation in the classroom, gymnasium, swimming pool, and rooftop. Everything appears to change once they have the chance to comprehend one another’s dreams on this particular day.
28. Maria Watches Over Us マリア様がみてる (2010)
At the exclusive Lillian Girls’ Academy, incoming freshmen are required to designate an older student as their “soeur” (sister). The older student then serves as the younger’s mentor and etiquette instructor. The Yamayuri Council members are well-known in the academy, and the students hold the three members Sachiko Ogasawara, Yumi Fukuzawa, and Sei Satō in high regard. The school refers to them as the “Three Roses.” A simple girl called Yumi Fukuzawa unintentionally becomes Sachiko’s sōur on a typical day and becomes leadership of the Yamayuri Council. As a result, Yumi and the other sœurs had a sweet and carefree time on campus.
29. Daughters (2020)
Living together, Koharu and Ayano are best friends who have a close relationship both personally and professionally. When Ayano tells Koharu that she is pregnant and doesn’t know who the father is, their normally lovely and routine existence takes an unexpected turn, but she chooses to keep the child. From Koharu’s point of view, the narrative illustrates the difficulties and rewards of Ayano’s journey as an expectant single mother navigating her relationships with her family, friends, and job. It chronicles the struggles and beauty of the 10 months that pass as it examines her attachment to the past, the truths she must face, and her hope for the future.
30. Schoolgirl Complex スクールガール・コンプレックス 放送部篇 (2013)
With her honey-like voice, Sweet Manami, the president of the high school broadcasting club, brightens up the campus. Chiaki, a cold-hearted girl who left the basketball team to join the broadcasting club, captivates Manami with her enigmatic and almost childlike personality, appealing to their shared youthful spirit. In anticipation of the high school’s culminating art festival performance, the broadcasting club has decided to study “Schoolgirl,” a novel by rebellious author Osamu Dazai. But Manami chooses to make Chiaki the lead, which sets off intense emotions in all of them and creates a whirlwind of emotions among the girls.
31. Wonderful World End ワンダフルワールドエンド (2015)
A typical couple lives in a busy metropolis. The stunning but unfulfilled model Shiori Hayano attempts to become well-known by blogging and live streaming on the internet. Even though she doesn’t appreciate the many jobs her agency arranges, she grudgingly takes them. Kohei Kawashima, her live-in lover, and his pals manage an unidentified theatre group, and their relationship appears to be at a standstill. At an event, Shiori runs into Ayumi Kinoshita, a 13-year-old fan who looks up to her. Soon later, Ayumi, who had run away, arrives at their doorstep. Kohei takes her in, which makes Shiori unhappy and irritated and forces her to move out. She discovers that she is captivated to the quiet, reserved young girl as she grows apart from Kohei…
32. Yume.no.Kayoiji ゆめのかよいじ (2013)
Mari Mizusawa, a young girl, grows more and more tired physically and psychologically, possibly because she can’t take the harsh city life any more. Her father’s passing only makes matters worse. She moves to the little town where her mother was born, on her mother’s advice, and stays with her Aunt Tomoko and Uncle Takashi. She continues to experience the same stifling atmosphere as in the big city even after the first enthusiasm wanes. Due to her poor social skills, Mari finds it difficult to make friends in her new class and feels uneasy there. But a seemingly happy girl approaches her and they start getting to know each other better over time. One day, Mari walks into the school building and sees Rie Okabe, a girl wearing a different sort of uniform. “I’ve always wanted to meet you,” Rie remarks. You’ve been on my mind.” Mari seems to be transported to a different dimension by this girl’s attractiveness.
33. Utsukushisa to kanashimi to 美しさと哀しみと (1965)
Beautiful female artist Kaoru Yachigusa experiences a rebirth amid the raging flames. In her prime, she falls in love with a married writer while going through a mental breakdown and the anguish of miscarriage. Painting a picture of her unborn child soaring to heaven, she is determined to purify her love. A schoolgirl smitten with her teacher has a hint of vivid red on her lips. Enraged by her previous unfulfilled love, she chooses to woo the writer and his son as retaliation. Beneath the surface of desire, the effects become irreversible. Yasunari Kawabata’s traditional Japanese literature is embodied by Masahiro Shinoda, who displays the aesthetics of Japanese New Wave cinema. He combines the refined nuance of classical form with the fire of abstract painting. The beauty of Kyoto’s Wabi-sabi gradually fades into perpetual grief in its isolation.
34. Blue (2002)
Kayako Kirishima is a quiet, solitary senior at the girls’ high school in her quiet seaside town. Because of her temperament, she is shunned by her peers and retreats into a solitary and peaceful world, uncertain of what lies ahead. Kayako notices her classmate Mayumi Todo, maybe because of their comparable situations. During her sophomore year, Mayumi had taken a year off from school, acting as though she was cut off from the outside world and didn’t give a damn what people thought. Kayako slowly makes her way into Mayumi’s environment out of curiosity. With her love of music, art, and the deep blue sea, Mayumi opens Kayako’s imagination and accepts her lonely buddy totally. These two kind-hearted girls become closer and have a special place in each other’s hearts as their friendship grows. This movie, which won the Silver St. George for Best Actress at the 2002 Moscow International Film Festival (Miki Nakatani), is based on Kiriko Nananan’s manga of the same name.
35. Laika ライカーLaikaー (2018)
On the streets of Moscow, a fortuitous encounter brings together ambitious Russian girl Yulia and lonely Japanese girl Laika, who has lost her family. As they move in together, Yulia grows fond of the naive and passionate Laika. But the presence of a man creates hurdles and misconceptions. The destinies of the love-stricken girls amid Moscow’s gorgeous streets are uncertain.
36. The Silk Cocoon 繭をつくる女 (1994)
In the movie The Silk Cocoon, Yuko Akikawa, a normal office worker, unintentionally saves the life of renowned package designer Chikako Matsumo when they are hiking up a mountain. Yuko looks up to Chikako, the lady who embodies both beauty and talent, and who is currently enjoying the height of her career. Yuko receives extraordinary attention from Chikako, who extends an invitation for her to live with her and serve as her personal assistant, giving her all she could possibly want. However, the appearance of Yuko’s new suitor and the involvement of a missing girl named Rumiko cause their apparently idyllic cohabitation to come to an abrupt end. In this movie, a young girl is abducted by an attractive but possessive older woman. However, isn’t it true that the one who cocoons oneself also harbours a strong desire to escape?
37. The End of Puberty 恋に至る病 (2011)
Tokyo high school students are generally noisy, misbehaving, and not paying any attention to the teacher. Mr. Maruyama, the biology instructor, finds it difficult to keep the classroom in order because he is shy and awkward around others. But Tsubura, a young girl, sees the teacher’s oddities with her naive eyes. Her drawings are vibrant and inventive, capturing his every movement and the emotions that underlie it. Tsubura follows Mr. Maruyama assiduously after school, and to her amazement, her dreams come true.
Following this, the scared instructor runs away with the girl to live with his parents, where they start a peculiar existence.
38. Aka X Pinku 赤×ピンク (2014)
Every night, a prohibited underground fighting event named “Girl’s Blood” is held in an abandoned school in Roppongi. Four girls dive into the iron cage, exposing their bodies and spirits to a primal collision. The director of this movie, Koichi Sakamoto, is well-known for his skill in action films. It is based on a novel by Ichiya Sazanami, the winner of the Naoki Prize.
39. After-School Lost 放課後ロスト (2014)
Every night, a prohibited underground fighting event named “Girl’s Blood” is held in an abandoned school in Roppongi. Four girls dive into the iron cage, exposing their bodies and spirits to a primal collision. The director of this movie, Koichi Sakamoto, is well-known for his skill in action films. It is based on a novel by Ichiya Sazanami, the winner of the Naoki Prize.
40. Lullaby at Dawn 夜明けのララバイ (2012)
Mizuki Yamamura’s character Ye-jeong, who has a sombre and turbulent past, is currently on probation. She works at the lowest level and is on a downward spiral, interacting both financially and physically with guys to whom she has no emotional relationship. She suddenly runs into the ethereal-looking Ruri (played by Misa Reantake) one evening on her walk home. Ruri is making a lasting impression on Ye-jeong by hiding relevant documents in a park map. The two then set out on an engrossing adventure in search of their own hope and salvation.
41. A Bride for Rip Van Winkle リップヴァンウィンクルの花嫁 (2016)
A teacher sent to busy Tokyo by the name of Nanami Kairakawa appears to be aimless in her life. She connects with Tetsuya Tsuruoka, a teacher, online and marries him. She employs fictitious friends and family through her online contacts, who work at various odd jobs, to avoid an uninteresting wedding. Soon after the marriage, Nanami discovers her husband’s adultery and becomes entangled in a plot that ultimately results in her mother-in-law throwing her out. Desperate to gain money at other people’s weddings, she pursues Amuro Yukimushi, whom her internet friends had introduced to her, and poses as a friend. She encounters Mahiru Rinaka, a girl who resembles a fairy, while working on this project. Soon after, Amuro gives Nanami a high-paying job opportunity, which brings her to a suburban mansion where she unexpectedly runs into Mahiru again.
42. Tokyo Boy 東京少年 (2008)
Young Mina Fuzuki corresponds with Knight, a pen friend with whom she relates all of her life’s events. Mina meets Hideyuki Karasawa one day while working at a convenience store and they instantly fall in love. Although Hideyuki has a strong love for photography, his family’s medical career has put pressure on him to enrol in a university’s medical programme. Even though he failed the entrance tests twice, he still has trouble solving his problem. When Mina confides in Knight about her sentiments, he disapproves of her choice. But Hideyuki chooses to listen to his emotions and tells Mina the truth.
Mina discovers during their relationship that she has been experiencing memory loss and that Hideyuki’s phone contacts and pictures have vanished. She maintains this a secret from Hideyuki because of concern that he will reject her. As the episodes of memory loss increase, Hideyuki pushes her to visit his father’s hospital for an evaluation. Following the test findings, Hideyuki suggests breaking up.
Heartbroken, Hideyuki accepts the result but yearns to see Knight in the hopes that his actual presence will provide her peace. But regardless of how long he waits, Knight never shows up. That is, until one night he finds himself in possession of a set of keys. Upon opening the hidden door, he is shocked to learn the true identity of Knight.
As we finish our tour of seven Japanese LGBT cinema classics, we appreciate their complex and diverse narratives. These films, from award-winning LGBTQ+ films to the groundbreaking work of rising Japanese lesbian filmmakers, give a deep and insightful look into lesbian-themed Japanese cinema.
These Japanese lesbian romance films and dramas beautifully depict a range of experiences, emotions, and realities, from Tokyo’s busy streets to rural vistas. Each story is carefully designed to take us through love, conflict, and identity.
Prepare to be moved, motivated, and awakened by these stunning films. These films celebrate the beauty, complexity, and perseverance of the LGBTQ+ community by capturing the real spirit of Japanese lesbian love tales. In watching them, we experience cinematic greatness and emotional and intellectual enrichment.
