1. Sayonara (1957)
Post World War 2 Japan was certainly a turbulent time. Social and racial boundaries were in heavy enforcement, regardless of peacetime. Ace Gruver (Marlon Brando) is in many ways a metaphor for America as a whole. He's initially intolerant, and refers to his friend Joe Kelly's wife as a 'slanty-eyed runt'. But as he travels to Kobe and becomes enveloped in Japanese culture, he finds himself a different man. The racial intolerance in Sayonara is at first subtle, before it begins to ooze from the film as the military staff, and citizens of Japan as they both rebel against the idea of interracial marriage. The film won 4 academy awards, and is renowned for being one of many films first depicting interracial marriage, which spurred some significant changes in society. Sayonara is an incredibly deep film. At many points it feels crass, or kind of shallow until it slowly unfolds into quite a tragic tale. While Sayonara may or may not be the 'best' Hollywood film made in Japan, it explores the culture and it's historical differences with Western and American culture to a tee. Ace represents America, being a stern and proud Air Force major, while Hana-Ogi (Miiko Taka) is an epitome of traditional Japanese culture as an elegant kabuki star. At first they think of each other as enemies, Ace holding onto his propaganda and racial slurs, and Hana with her hate of the American people due to the war which took many of her family members. But slowly this dissolves, as all grudges come to an end. Sayonara is a slow and winding romance thriller, with some real cultural exploration and inspiring performances, and could well be considered the best Hollywood film set in Japan. Sayonara.