5 Recommendations for Japanese-Korean Collaboration Films, Offering Unique Stories

Kapanlagi.com - The Asian film industry continues to grow rapidly. Often, many various film collaboration projects emerge among Asian countries. One of the interesting collaboration film projects is, of course, the collaboration between Japan and South Korea. In recent years, there have been many collaboration films between Japan and South Korea that have successfully attracted attention.

These collaboration films combine cultural elements, stories, and talents from both countries. Therefore, this cooperation not only produces interesting works but also provides new perspectives for the audience. The collaboration films from Japan and Korea also come with a variety of interesting and unique themes, making them a shame to miss out on.

Here are film recommendations for Japanese and Korean collaborations that you should watch. Each film offers a unique story and deep characters, making them a perfect choice for Asian cinema lovers.

1. THE SUN DOES NOT MOVE (2021)

THE SUN DOES NOT MOVE (credit: mydramalist)

One of the Japanese-Korean collaboration films that has caught attention is THE SUN DOES NOT MOVE. This film is adapted from the Kazuhiko Takano Series novel and the novel Mori wa Shitte Iru by Gentosha. The story focuses on two industrial spy agents, Kazuhiko Takano and Ryoichi Taoka, who are caught in fierce competition to obtain information about the development of solar energy technology.

In the process of carrying out their mission, they must face a major conspiracy that could shake Japan's politics and economy. Kazuhiko interacts with the mysterious character Ayako and a Korean spy named David Kim, which adds tension and complexity to the plot.

2. GENOME HAZARD (2014)

GENOME HAZARD (credit: mydramalist)

Released in 2014, GENOME HAZARD is also part of an intriguing collaboration between Japan and South Korea that is worth watching. The film explores themes of identity and betrayal, making it an interesting choice for viewers who enjoy psychological thriller stories.

The story of the film begins when Ishigami discovers his wife has mysteriously died in her apartment. After being pursued by two foreign men, Ishigami escapes and encounters Kang Ji Won, a Korean reporter who is willing to help him. Surprisingly, Ishigami realizes that he can speak Korean fluently, uncovering a new layer in his search for identity.

3. THE ASIAN ANGEL (2021)

THE ASIAN ANGEL (credit: mydramalist)

THE ASIAN ANGEL is also one of the collaborative films between Japan and South Korea that has an interesting story. This film tells the story of Takeshi who goes to Seoul with his son after the death of his wife. His main goal is to find his sister, Taru, who turns out to be living in a very different condition than he imagined.

Taru, who is struggling in Seoul, works as a seller and importer of cosmetics with questionable quality. Although he does not understand Korean, Takeshi tries to help his brother in that difficulty, showing a strong family bond.

4. GHOST (2010)

GHOST (credit: mydramalist)

An interesting film resulting from collaboration between Japan and South Korea is GHOST. This film is quite unique as it combines the romance and supernatural genres, directed by Taro Otani. The story follows Jun Ho, a Korean potter who falls in love with Nanami in Tokyo, and they get married.

However, their lives are shaken when Nanami suddenly dies. After her death, Nanami remains in the world as a spirit, realizing that her death was not an accident and that Jun Ho is in danger.

Nanami tries to warn Jun Ho through a medium, Unten, adding elements of tension and mystery to the film. GHOST invites the audience to delve into the theme of love that transcends the boundaries of life and death.

5. OISHII MAN (2009)

OISHII MAN (credit: mydramalist)

Next, as a recommendation for a collaboration film between Japan and South Korea, there is OISHII MAN. This film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2008, with most of the shooting done in Hokkaido, Japan. The story follows the life of singer Hyun Suk who experiences hearing problems. This forces him to stop recording songs.

After seeing beautiful photos of Hokkaido, he decides to visit the place. In a small village in Hokkaido, Hyun Suk begins to reminisce about past memories and interacts with a cheerful girl named Megumi. Through this interaction, the film depicts how a physical journey can become a profound emotional journey.

These are some interesting and exciting recommendations for Japanese and Korean collaboration films to watch. If you have some free time and need entertainment, you can watch them now, because if not now, when else?

(kpl/psp)