The History of Japanese Cinema

The study of Japanese cinema itself implies a unifying link between films from Japan. There are several concepts often used to describe this link; nihonrashii & nihonteki (typically Japanese) as well as other more specific terms that I will discuss further on. What must be realized in studying the art form is that, as any, it has a history that mirrors Japan's. What follows is a discussion on the path Japanese cinema has taken and on how the typical and the marginal apply throughout its history.