Shunji Iwai

Directing

Shunji Iwai

Born

1963-01-24 (63)

Place of birth

Sendai, Miyagi, Japan

Known for

Directing

Credits

53 titles

Shunji Iwai (岩井 俊二, Iwai Shunji, born 24 January 1963) is a Japanese film director, video artist, writer and documentary maker.

Known for

Love Letter poster
7.8

Hiroko attends the memorial service of her fiancé, Itsuki Fujii, who died in a mountain-climbing incident. Although Itsuki's mother says that their old house is gone, Hiroko records the address listed under his name in his yearbook and sends him a letter. Surprisingly, she receives a reply, and discovers it came from his old classmate, a girl who also happens to be called Itsuki Fujii.

Love Letter

1995

All About Lily Chou-Chou poster
7.5

Charts the troubled teenage years of students Yūichi Hasumi and Shūsuke Hoshino, exploring the shifting and complex power dynamics of their relationship against the backdrop of Yūichi's love for the dreamy and abstract music of pop star Lily Chou-Chou.

All About Lily Chou-Chou

2001

New York, I Love You poster
6.0

New York, I Love You delves into the intimate lives of New Yorkers as they grapple with, delight in and search for love. Journey from the Diamond District in the heart of Manhattan, through Chinatown and the Upper East Side, towards the Village, into Tribeca, and Brooklyn as lovers of all ages try to find romance in the Big Apple.

New York, I Love You

2008

Rainbow Song poster
7.5

Tomoya Kishida is working as a staffer in a television studio when he hears about the death of his close friend, Aoi Sato. This sparks his recollection of the events in life they shared from meeting at a record store, shooting a short film as part of their university film club, to saying their last goodbyes. Though in love with each other, neither had the courage to confess their feelings before it was too late.

Rainbow Song

2006

Swallowtail Butterfly poster
7.5

The struggles of a group of outcasts living in "Yentown", in an alternate-future Japan.

Swallowtail Butterfly

1996

The Case of Hana & Alice poster
7.3

After transferring to Ishinomori Middle School, Tetsuko "Alice" Arisugawa overhears her classmates discussing a strange rumor. The previous occupant of her seat, a nondescript "Judas," is missing and presumed murdered. Amidst dealing with her mother's undesired meddling in her affairs and warding off her classmates' bullying, the troubled Alice starts to investigate the mystery surrounding Judas' disappearance. The trail of clues leads her to the house of her next-door neighbor, the quirky and reclusive Hana Arai.

The Case of Hana & Alice

2015

Film credits

2020s · 3 titles

From the End of the World poster
6.6

Hana, a high school student who lost her parents in an accident, does not fit in at school and cannot find any reason to live. Suddenly one day, a man claiming to be from a special government organization visits her and asks her to tell him about a dream she had. Hana is confused and has no idea what is happening, but that night she has a strange dream.

From the End of the World

2023

Ribbon poster
7.3

The year is 2020, the middle of the corona crisis. Art student Itsuka has her graduation exhibition canceled and must take home the piece which she had been working on for a year. In a whirlpool of emotions she clashes with her worried parents, her little sister overreacts to the virus and even her usually calm friend Hirai starts to build up frustration. In the middle of all that, she re-unites with Tanaka, who gave her the opportunity to absorb herself in painting, clashes with Hirai over their true feelings and tries to face her own future.

Ribbon

2022

Lily, I am crying poster
NR

A documentary about actress and singer-songwriter Lily, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 64. The theatrical version combines live footage of "Lily + Hiroshi" recorded between 2013 and 2015 by Takama Kenji, cinematographer of "Radio Time," with additional interview footage of guests who had connections with Lily. Starring Lily, Saito Hiroshi, Takahashi Kazuya from "Between the White Keys and the Black Keys," Negishi Toki from "At the Bus Stop Until Dawn," Toyokawa Etsushi who co-starred with Lily in the 1997 TV drama "The Blue Bird," and Iwai Shunji, director of "The Bride of Rip Van Winkle," in which Lily starred.

Lily, I am crying

2024

1980s · 1 titles

Series credits

Behind the camera

Love Letter poster
7.8

Hiroko attends the memorial service of her fiancé, Itsuki Fujii, who died in a mountain-climbing incident. Although Itsuki's mother says that their old house is gone, Hiroko records the address listed under his name in his yearbook and sends him a letter. Surprisingly, she receives a reply, and discovers it came from his old classmate, a girl who also happens to be called Itsuki Fujii.

Love Letter

1995

Love Letter poster
7.8

Hiroko attends the memorial service of her fiancé, Itsuki Fujii, who died in a mountain-climbing incident. Although Itsuki's mother says that their old house is gone, Hiroko records the address listed under his name in his yearbook and sends him a letter. Surprisingly, she receives a reply, and discovers it came from his old classmate, a girl who also happens to be called Itsuki Fujii.

Love Letter

1995

All About Lily Chou-Chou poster
7.5

Charts the troubled teenage years of students Yūichi Hasumi and Shūsuke Hoshino, exploring the shifting and complex power dynamics of their relationship against the backdrop of Yūichi's love for the dreamy and abstract music of pop star Lily Chou-Chou.

All About Lily Chou-Chou

2001

All About Lily Chou-Chou poster
7.5

Charts the troubled teenage years of students Yūichi Hasumi and Shūsuke Hoshino, exploring the shifting and complex power dynamics of their relationship against the backdrop of Yūichi's love for the dreamy and abstract music of pop star Lily Chou-Chou.

All About Lily Chou-Chou

2001

New York, I Love You poster
6.0

New York, I Love You delves into the intimate lives of New Yorkers as they grapple with, delight in and search for love. Journey from the Diamond District in the heart of Manhattan, through Chinatown and the Upper East Side, towards the Village, into Tribeca, and Brooklyn as lovers of all ages try to find romance in the Big Apple.

New York, I Love You

2008

New York, I Love You poster
6.0

New York, I Love You delves into the intimate lives of New Yorkers as they grapple with, delight in and search for love. Journey from the Diamond District in the heart of Manhattan, through Chinatown and the Upper East Side, towards the Village, into Tribeca, and Brooklyn as lovers of all ages try to find romance in the Big Apple.

New York, I Love You

2008

Rainbow Song poster
7.5

Tomoya Kishida is working as a staffer in a television studio when he hears about the death of his close friend, Aoi Sato. This sparks his recollection of the events in life they shared from meeting at a record store, shooting a short film as part of their university film club, to saying their last goodbyes. Though in love with each other, neither had the courage to confess their feelings before it was too late.

Rainbow Song

2006

Rainbow Song poster
7.5

Tomoya Kishida is working as a staffer in a television studio when he hears about the death of his close friend, Aoi Sato. This sparks his recollection of the events in life they shared from meeting at a record store, shooting a short film as part of their university film club, to saying their last goodbyes. Though in love with each other, neither had the courage to confess their feelings before it was too late.

Rainbow Song

2006

Swallowtail Butterfly poster
7.5

The struggles of a group of outcasts living in "Yentown", in an alternate-future Japan.

Swallowtail Butterfly

1996

Swallowtail Butterfly poster
7.5

The struggles of a group of outcasts living in "Yentown", in an alternate-future Japan.

Swallowtail Butterfly

1996

The Case of Hana & Alice poster
7.3

After transferring to Ishinomori Middle School, Tetsuko "Alice" Arisugawa overhears her classmates discussing a strange rumor. The previous occupant of her seat, a nondescript "Judas," is missing and presumed murdered. Amidst dealing with her mother's undesired meddling in her affairs and warding off her classmates' bullying, the troubled Alice starts to investigate the mystery surrounding Judas' disappearance. The trail of clues leads her to the house of her next-door neighbor, the quirky and reclusive Hana Arai.

The Case of Hana & Alice

2015

The Case of Hana & Alice poster
7.3

After transferring to Ishinomori Middle School, Tetsuko "Alice" Arisugawa overhears her classmates discussing a strange rumor. The previous occupant of her seat, a nondescript "Judas," is missing and presumed murdered. Amidst dealing with her mother's undesired meddling in her affairs and warding off her classmates' bullying, the troubled Alice starts to investigate the mystery surrounding Judas' disappearance. The trail of clues leads her to the house of her next-door neighbor, the quirky and reclusive Hana Arai.

The Case of Hana & Alice

2015

The Case of Hana & Alice poster
7.3

After transferring to Ishinomori Middle School, Tetsuko "Alice" Arisugawa overhears her classmates discussing a strange rumor. The previous occupant of her seat, a nondescript "Judas," is missing and presumed murdered. Amidst dealing with her mother's undesired meddling in her affairs and warding off her classmates' bullying, the troubled Alice starts to investigate the mystery surrounding Judas' disappearance. The trail of clues leads her to the house of her next-door neighbor, the quirky and reclusive Hana Arai.

The Case of Hana & Alice

2015

Last Letter poster
7.0

It is only at their sister's and mother's funeral when a woman meets her niece after many years. The niece is now a grown girl. The sister takes on the task of informing the deceased's friends of the death while the daughter cannot bring herself to symbolically accept the demise of her mother. In the midst of all this an old flame messages the sister to say he is still in love with her, but is he messaging the living sister or the dead one?

Last Letter

2020

Last Letter poster
7.0

It is only at their sister's and mother's funeral when a woman meets her niece after many years. The niece is now a grown girl. The sister takes on the task of informing the deceased's friends of the death while the daughter cannot bring herself to symbolically accept the demise of her mother. In the midst of all this an old flame messages the sister to say he is still in love with her, but is he messaging the living sister or the dead one?

Last Letter

2020

A Bride for Rip Van Winkle poster
6.9

A woman hires actors and strangers to pretend to be her friends and family at her wedding.

A Bride for Rip Van Winkle

2016

A Bride for Rip Van Winkle poster
6.9

A woman hires actors and strangers to pretend to be her friends and family at her wedding.

A Bride for Rip Van Winkle

2016

A Bride for Rip Van Winkle poster
6.9

A woman hires actors and strangers to pretend to be her friends and family at her wedding.

A Bride for Rip Van Winkle

2016

April Story poster
7.1

In spring, a girl leaves the island of Hokkaido to attend university in Tokyo. Once there, she is asked to reveal why she wanted to go there in the first place.

April Story

1998

April Story poster
7.1

In spring, a girl leaves the island of Hokkaido to attend university in Tokyo. Once there, she is asked to reveal why she wanted to go there in the first place.

April Story

1998

Picnic poster
6.8

Believing that the world will end that very day, three mental patients Coco, Tsumuji, and Satoru set out upon a journey. Walking upon the tops of the walls of the city, they seek to find a picnic spot with the best vantage point to view the final event.

Picnic

1996

Picnic poster
6.8

Believing that the world will end that very day, three mental patients Coco, Tsumuji, and Satoru set out upon a journey. Walking upon the tops of the walls of the city, they seek to find a picnic spot with the best vantage point to view the final event.

Picnic

1996

Hana & Alice poster
7.0

Two teenage best pals attracted to the same boy end up scrambling his life after he walks into a door and is knocked unconscious.

Hana & Alice

2004

Hana & Alice poster
7.0

Two teenage best pals attracted to the same boy end up scrambling his life after he walks into a door and is knocked unconscious.

Hana & Alice

2004

Hana & Alice poster
7.0

Two teenage best pals attracted to the same boy end up scrambling his life after he walks into a door and is knocked unconscious.

Hana & Alice

2004

All About "All About Lily Chou-Chou" poster
4.7

The making of 'All About Lily Chou-Chou' starting from its conception as an interactive story that played out on a BBS

All About "All About Lily Chou-Chou"

2002

Jam Films poster
7.9

Jam Films is a 2002 suite of 7 shorts produced by Sega/Amuse.

Jam Films

2002

Jam Films poster
7.9

Jam Films is a 2002 suite of 7 shorts produced by Sega/Amuse.

Jam Films

2002

Undo poster
6.0

Moemi is not overly pleased when Yukio brings home a couple of turtles to keep her company. Although Yukio works at home as a writer, Moemi feels neglected and desired a dog or a cat, but neither is allowed in their apartment.

Undo

1994

Undo poster
6.0

Moemi is not overly pleased when Yukio brings home a couple of turtles to keep her company. Although Yukio works at home as a writer, Moemi feels neglected and desired a dog or a cat, but neither is allowed in their apartment.

Undo

1994

Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom? poster
7.1

One summer day, a group of sixth-grade boys have an argument about whether fireworks are round or flat when viewed from different angles and embark on a journey for the answer during the annual firework festival. Meanwhile, one of their classmates, Nazuna, is troubled by her parents' separation and decides to choose one of the boys to run away with.

Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom?

1993

Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom? poster
7.1

One summer day, a group of sixth-grade boys have an argument about whether fireworks are round or flat when viewed from different angles and embark on a journey for the answer during the annual firework festival. Meanwhile, one of their classmates, Nazuna, is troubled by her parents' separation and decides to choose one of the boys to run away with.

Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom?

1993

Kyrie poster
7.6

Luca lost her family in the Great East Japan Earthquake causing her not to be able to speak. However, her singing voice shakes the hearts of those who listen to her. It is a hymn of compassion played by Luca and the people.

Kyrie

2023

Kyrie poster
7.6

Luca lost her family in the Great East Japan Earthquake causing her not to be able to speak. However, her singing voice shakes the hearts of those who listen to her. It is a hymn of compassion played by Luca and the people.

Kyrie

2023

Last Letter poster
6.3

All Yuan Zhinan has left behind when she passed away is a letter and an invitation to a school reunion. Attending the reunion in lieu of her late elder sister, Zhihua accidentally runs into Yin Chuan, on whom she had a crush in her youth. As old memories are evoked, and correspondences travel through different contexts and times, Zhihua slowly uncovers the intricate story of the trio.

Last Letter

2018

Last Letter poster
6.3

All Yuan Zhinan has left behind when she passed away is a letter and an invitation to a school reunion. Attending the reunion in lieu of her late elder sister, Zhihua accidentally runs into Yin Chuan, on whom she had a crush in her youth. As old memories are evoked, and correspondences travel through different contexts and times, Zhihua slowly uncovers the intricate story of the trio.

Last Letter

2018

Last Letter poster
6.3

All Yuan Zhinan has left behind when she passed away is a letter and an invitation to a school reunion. Attending the reunion in lieu of her late elder sister, Zhihua accidentally runs into Yin Chuan, on whom she had a crush in her youth. As old memories are evoked, and correspondences travel through different contexts and times, Zhihua slowly uncovers the intricate story of the trio.

Last Letter

2018

Bandage poster
6.1

Set in the 1990s during Japan's "band boom" era, the film tells the tale of a girl in high school, Asako, who goes to a concert and meets Natsu, vocalist of the new band LANDS. Asako ends up being the band manager, but as the band's popularity starts to soar, the band's friendship begins to suffer.

Bandage

2010

Bandage poster
6.1

Set in the 1990s during Japan's "band boom" era, the film tells the tale of a girl in high school, Asako, who goes to a concert and meets Natsu, vocalist of the new band LANDS. Asako ends up being the band manager, but as the band's popularity starts to soar, the band's friendship begins to suffer.

Bandage

2010

Halfway poster
6.0

A high school couple experiences young love and heartache as they're faced with the prospect of long-distance dating after graduation.

Halfway

2009