eiga

Eiga (映画) is the Japanese word for film or cinema. It can refer to a single motion picture, the medium as an art form, or the film industry in Japan as a whole. In ordinary usage, it covers feature-length works shown in cinemas and is used for both live-action and animated films, in contrast to television drama or theater.

Etymology and usage: The kanji 映 means “to reflect” or “projection,” and 画 means “picture” or “drawing.” The compound came to denote moving pictures projected on a screen. The term began to designate cinema in Japan with the arrival of Western film technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and remains the standard word for the medium.

History and industry: The Japanese film industry developed rapidly in the 20th century. Major studios such as Toho and Shochiku produced a wide range of influential works. The 1950s are often regarded as a golden age, with directors like Akira Kurosawa, Yasujiro Ozu, and Kenji Mizoguchi earning international acclaim. Japanese cinema has been notable for diverse genres, including samurai epics and contemporary dramas, and in later decades for animated feature films, produced by studios such as those behind Studio Ghibli, though “anime” is the separate term typically used for animation.

Contemporary landscape: Today, eiga encompasses domestic productions, international co-productions, and distribution through cinemas, television, and streaming platforms. Film festivals, critics, and scholars continue to analyze and promote Japanese cinema, which remains a prominent component of the country’s cultural and creative industries.