Summer in Japan can be a beautiful thing, but it can also be scorching and sweaty. As with all great things, Japanese summers contain multitudes, which is one of many reasons why the season makes such a rich topic for plots of movies and television shows. If you would like to explore all the facets of summer within the air-conditioned comforts of your own house, here are our summer-themed streaming recommendations.
Summer Wars (2009) Available on: Hulu, Prime Video (with additional subscription) With a title like Summer Wars, there was no way that this 2009 anime movie by Mamoru Hosoda wouldn’t make the list. While also being another fascinating insight into the director’s unique style of portraying women , Summer Wars puts less emphasis on female characters and more on the spirit of adventure that dwells in the heart of summer. Kicking off at the height of the hottest season of the year, the movie follows high-school students Kenji and Natsuki as they fight a sentient and malevolent computer virus during Natsuki’s big family celebration.
The cyber-psychedelic aspect of the movie aside, Summer Wars is a kind of love letter from Hosoda to how summer feels when you’re still a kid. It’s a time spent surrounded by family when anything seems possible, and you feel like you can take on the world. Plus, the “fighting artificial intelligence” plot has helped the movie age surprisingly well.
Water Boys (2003, 2004, 2005) Available on: Prime Video (with additional subscri.