The Most Controversial Japanese Films That Sparked National Outrage

Some films don’t just entertain—they confront society’s deepest taboos, challenge authority, and provoke outrage. Japan, a nation that often values harmony over confrontation, has produced a small but powerful group of films that shook the public and sparked national debates. From anti-war documentaries to political dramas, here are the Japanese films that caused the biggest stir. 🎥🔥

1. Yukiyukite Shingun (ゆきゆきて、神軍, 1987)

Director: Kazuo Hara
Genre: Documentary

Synopsis:
This documentary follows WWII veteran Kenzo Okuzaki as he confronts his former comrades to expose the execution of Japanese soldiers in New Guinea. His intense, sometimes violent confrontations culminate in a powerful critique of Japan’s postwar denial.

Why It Caused Outrage:

Direct criticism of Emperor Hirohito was considered taboo in Japan.
Okuzaki’s aggressive tactics (including slapping interviewees) were seen as extreme.
It sparked intense public debate over wartime accountability.
Legacy:
Banned from many TV networks but celebrated internationally, especially at the Berlin Film Festival.

2. Yasukuni (靖国, 2007)

Director: Li Ying
Genre: Documentary

Synopsis:
This documentary examines the Yasukuni Shrine, a contentious site that enshrines Japan’s war dead, including war criminals. Using a fly-on-the-wall approach, the film lets viewers observe, rather than judge.

Why It Caused Outrage:

Directed by a Chinese-born filmmaker, raising nationalist suspicions.
Right-wing activists accused it of being anti-Japanese and staged protests.
Some theaters canceled screenings due to safety concerns.
Legacy:
Despite controversy, the film was eventually shown in over 60 theaters and watched by over 130,000 people.

3. Caterpillar (キャタピラー, 2010)

Director: Koji Wakamatsu
Genre: War Drama

Synopsis:
A Japanese soldier returns from war as a decorated hero—but without limbs or speech. The story focuses on his psychological deterioration and abusive relationship with his wife, highlighting the absurdity of military glorification.

Why It Caused Outrage:

Graphic depictions of sex, trauma, and wartime suffering.
Sharp critique of blind patriotism and military culture.
Legacy:
Lauded abroad (Berlin Film Festival), but met with discomfort among conservative audiences in Japan.

4. Patriotism (憂国, 1966)

Director: Yukio Mishima & Masaki Domoto
Genre: Short Film

Synopsis:
Based on Mishima’s own story, this stylized short depicts a loyal soldier and his wife committing ritual suicide after a failed coup attempt. It reflects Mishima’s nationalist ideology and obsession with honor.

Why It Caused Outrage:

Romanticized militarism and death for the emperor.
Mishima’s real-life suicide in 1970 gave the film a chilling prophetic tone.
Legacy:
Withdrawn from circulation for decades, it was later reevaluated as an artistic yet disturbing reflection of political extremism.

5. A.K.A. Serial Killer (略称・連続射殺魔, 1975)

Director: Masao Adachi
Genre: Experimental Documentary

Synopsis:
Instead of focusing on a teen mass murderer’s crimes, this film investigates the environments he lived in—abandoned housing blocks, factory towns, and slums—drawing a Marxist connection between place and violence.

Why It Caused Outrage:

Radical left-wing message during a time of social unrest.
Lack of moral condemnation shocked viewers expecting a crime documentary.
Legacy:
Now seen as a landmark in political cinema; it influenced both Japanese and European filmmakers.

6. United Red Army (実録・連合赤軍あさま山荘への道程, 2007)

Director: Koji Wakamatsu
Genre: Political Drama

Synopsis:
This harrowing film reconstructs the rise and fall of the United Red Army, a far-left terrorist group responsible for a notorious 1972 hostage crisis and brutal internal purges.

Why It Caused Outrage:

Graphic depictions of torture and ideological fanaticism.
Showed that extremism wasn’t only a problem on the right, but also on the left.
Legacy:
Critically acclaimed for its raw realism, it remains a cautionary tale about radical politics.