For a 1997 issue of the Japanese intellectual journal Yuriika (Eureka) which was devoted to the theme "Japanese Cinema: From Kitano On," I was asked to write an article selecting the 30 best Japanese films made since Kitano debuted as a director in 1989. While complicating the notion of the "best" list, I took the opportunity to select films that complicated the notions of both "Japan" and "film." Without ranking them, I grouped the films under the categories: "The Appearance of Others," "The Encounter with Death," "Wandering Identities," "Alternative Identity," and "New Japanese Entertainment Film."