The 1950s is widely considered to be the Golden Age of Japanese cinema.

The Samurai cinema genre emerged in this era with: Katana fighting, Samurai warriors, historical settings, and honour and revenge as the theme of the plot. This was lead by director Akira Kurosawa.

Other works were aimed to look back on the tragic and sentimental war experience, such as Battleship Yamato (1953).

Key directors and films:

Akira Kurosawa- Seven Samurai (1954), Rashomon (1950)

Yasujirō Ozu- Tokyo Story (1953) – focused on character relationships rather than dramatic plot moments

Kenji Mizoguchi- Ugetsu (1953) – often deals with the tragedies inflicted on women by Japanese society

Ishirō Honda- Godzilla (1954)