By Nicholas  Vroman

Sequels of Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter were No. 1 and 2 this year in movie houses in Japan. But homegrown blockbusters dominated the rest of the top 10. At No. 3 was the newest animated delight from Ghibli Studios, Up from Poppy Hill. Some films that didn’t make the box office top 10, though, were real diamonds in the rough.

Popular comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto’s third feature film, Saya-zamurai, was my No. 1. The story follows Nomi (played by Takaaki Nomi, Matsumoto’s favorite real-life bartender), a sadsack of an ex-samurai who has 30 days to make the shogun’s woebegone son smile or be forced to commit sepukku. The film goes from silly to hilarious to heartbreaking.

© Saya-zamurai film partners

Hirokazu Kore-eda’s I Wish is a smart kids’ film that even adults can enjoy. It stars real-life brothers and irrepressible comedy duo Maeda Maeda as a couple of kids who get an impossible idea of how to get their estranged parents back together. I Wish shows that not all dreams come true, but you gotta try. It was a perfect antidote to the downbeat mood that engulfed Japan after the tragedy of 3.11.

© I Wish film partners

My Back Page couples rising stars Kenichi Matsuyama and Satoshi Tsumabaki in a compelling story about a 70s era student radical an a reporter. Based on a real story, the reflection on coming of age in crazy times makes sense for today.

© My Back Page film partners