"Famous cities around the world each have their own identities, and those clichés show up in movies all the time. Need a busy, bustling city? New York. Romantic mystique? Paris or Rome. Exploring fame, fortune, and dreams? Los Angeles is always there. But with Tokyo, it's a bit different. No matter what kind of movie or genre, it's hard to separate the setting from its ethnic backdrop. Japanese culture is distinct, inexplicable, and intricate. Setting a story in Tokyo requires passion, experience, and nuance from the filmmaker. Otherwise, the issue of Japanese stereotypes can rear its head and bring down the film in one or more ways. Here are my picks for the best movies set in Tokyo that actually stand out by doing something different." - whatnerd.com
