3 of the Best Movies Starring the Beautiful Anna Tsuchiya

Anna Tsuchiya is a Japanese-American singer, actress, and model in semi-retirement. She has emerged as one of Japan’s most prominent models of mixed heritage in the new century, alongside Jun Hasegawa and Jessica Michibata.

Anna has been performing and recording music since 2005; since then, she has been renowned largely as a vocalist. She has also voiced multiple anime characters and recorded numerous original soundtracks for films.

Her acting career took off following her breakthrough performance in Shimotsuma Monogatari (also known as Kamikaze Girls in the United States). Do you want a recommendation for a film featuring Anna Tsuchiya? Check out our Anna Tsuchiya top picks below.

Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Find out more about the released films and how to watch them below.

1. Kamikaze Girls (2004)

Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Director: Tetsuya Nakashima
Writer: Tetsuya Nakashima
Cast: Anna Tsuchiya, Kyoko Fukada, Hiroyuki Miyasako, Ryoko Shinohara
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Runtime: 1h 43m
Genre: Comedy, Drama

Contrary to what the English title would lead you to believe, “Kamikaze Girls” has nothing to do with either warfare or flying. Shimotsuma Monogatari, which translates to “Shimotsuma Story,” is a Japanese film set in the sleepy rural town of the same name in the prefecture of Ibaraki.

Kamikaze Girls, adapted from a book, follows the friendship of two young Japanese ladies living in rural Japan. Momoko, played by Kyoko Fukada, is a shy woman who worships the Rococo era and dresses like a Lolita to showcase it. Meanwhile, Ichigo (Anna Tsuchiya) is a motormouth motorcyclist that Momoko calls a Yanki.

Ichigo and Momoko are misfits in their respective groups. Still, they eventually become close when Ichigo regularly visits Momoko’s house. Although depicting a hyperreal setting, Kamikaze Girls has elements reminiscent of slice-of-life movies.

The central idea of Kamikaze Girls, that “two youths from separate cultures connect and come-of-age together,” has been explored extensively in modern Japanese movies. However, it’s a delightfully humorous and weird picture, despite its out-of-the-ordinary nature.

The film’s director, Tetsuya Nakashima, uses various camera techniques and candy-colored colors reminiscent of Tim Burton to make Momoko’s existence in Shimotsuma appear more interesting than she gives it credit for being. He utilizes techniques from pictures like Fight Club and Kill Bill to create inventive animation sequences, storyline rewinds, and MTV-style, fast-cut montages that keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

In Kamikaze Girls, we see two of Japan’s quirkier fashion subcultures—the Lolita and Yankee styles. Although they were formerly commonplace in Japan’s major cities, you’re more likely to come across them in the country or smaller towns. The film isn’t a simple tribute; it constantly draws comparisons and criticisms between the two communities. Momoko and Ichiko start to question their beliefs at the conclusion.

You can click here to buy Kamikaze Girls on Amazon.

2. The Taste of Tea (2004)

Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Director: Katsuhito Ishii
Writer: Katsuhito Ishii
Cast: Anna Tsuchiya, Maya Banno, Tomokazu Miura, Tomoko Nakajima
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Runtime: 2h 23m
Genre: Comedy, Drama

The Haruno family is a typical Japanese three-generation family that we follow through a day in their lives in The Taste of Tea (mom, dad, teenage son, little daughter, and grandpa). There you have it; that’s the film. And no less than that.

Mom is laboring on the homemade animated blockbuster at the kitchen table that will allow her to return to the anime industry after taking time off to raise her children. Dad is a hardworking hypnotherapist who sometimes exercises his talents on the family.

The adolescent son’s raging hormones have turned him into a gushing puddle of emotion. He is eager to pursue his newfound love interest (a gorgeous classmate portrayed by Anna Tsuchiya) and express his feelings for her.

Grandfather is fascinated about creating a band. And little Sachiko, nine years old, is terrorized by a bigger version of herself who stands sixty feet tall. When their uncle comes, he’s simply one more eccentric in the household museum.

The film, however, is more than a simple freakshow. While this motley crew of misfits star as lead characters, seeing their imperfections treated casually here is nice.

We come to know each part of this modern-day tribe in what amounts to a continuous, episodic drama with very little in the way of a storyline that unexpectedly works well for much of the runtime. We also see how they accomplish their ambitions, and we make a few detours to emphasize the doings of some secondary players.

This film is magically realistic and emotionally generous, rivaling any telenovela. The Haruno family is like a vortex for your attention span, sucking you in and concentrating on the seemingly unimportant details as each character’s messy inner world is played out in a succession of captivating setpieces. A Taste of Tea achieves its universality while focusing on the mundane activities of a single household — definitely out of the ordinary.

You can click here to buy The Taste of Tea on Amazon.

3. Sakuran (2007)

Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Director: Mika Ninagawa
Writer: Yuki Tanada
Cast: Anna Tsuchiya, Ayame Koike, Asuka Saitō, Miho Kanno
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Runtime: 1h 51m
Genre: Drama

Sakuran, adapted from the best-selling manga by Moyoco Anno, is, for want of a better description, a localized, amped-up version of Memoirs of a Geisha.

Sakuran shifts the emphasis from famous geishas to working-class prostitutes, two groups that have grown, unfortunately, indistinguishable to most Western viewers. Although Rob Marshall’s gorgeous but widely panned costume drama from 2005 faced backlash for its historical errors and divisive casting picks, Sakuran makes no such pretense of matching any true historical fact.

Deliberately archaic and over-the-top, the picture represents nothing more than a full-blown re-imagining of the Edo era. This is a realm of splendor, ablaze with crimson light.

The brilliant thing about Sakuran is that it keeps your attention throughout the movie. The drama is fairly standard, and the performances are perfect, but these aren’t the film’s strongest suits because they don’t set it apart from other good movies. Sakuran is not to be overlooked if you enjoy films with vibrant colors, which is why audiences will remember it.

Anna Tsuchiya, performing one of the most demanding characters of her journey and at the height of her loveliness, fits wonderfully to the whole aesthetics of the picture, and her vocal timbre and the way she depicts her quick temper are treats for the senses.

Conducted with flair and self-assurance, Sakuran ranks among the most seductive cinematic heroines you’ll ever see on the big screen. Sakuran strikes the perfect mix between the show’s surface and its underlying themes.

Sakuran is a reflection not only on the period in which it was written and the regulations and punishments that women of that time had to undergo if they didn’t fall into line but also on the sensitive subjects that may be related to the current discourse regarding women and the sovereignty over their bodies. It’s meaningful, conveys an important message, and is worth your time.

You can click here to buy Sakuran on Amazon.

Final Words

Anna Tsuchiya is a renowned Japanese singer and actress who has starred in several remarkable movies, including “Kamikaze Girls,” “The Taste of Tea,” and “Sakuran.” Her performances in these films have garnered widespread critical acclaim, establishing her as a highly regarded personality in the Japanese entertainment industry. For those interested in Japanese cinema or fans of Anna Tsuchiya, these movies are highly recommended and worth watching.