- 88 - 研究ノート Buddhist Themes in Japanese Films & Anime Walter Kurt KLINGER This article discusses some Japanese-language films and anime with Buddhist themes; i.e., narrative stories that, in Suh (2015)'s definition, "explore Buddhist doctrines and philosophical concerns" or "offer Buddhist interpretations of reality or uniquely Buddhist solutions to social problems." I list the films chronologically according to their content. 1: Buddha (1961). 2: Osamu Tezuka's Buddha: The Red Desert! It's Beautiful (2011) and Osamu Tezuka's Buddha 2: The Endless Journey (2014). 3: Dedication of the Great Buddha (2010). 4: The Book of the Dead (2005). 5: Kwaidan: Hoichi the Earless (1965). 6: The Story of Nembutsu: Shinran, His Vow and Light (2008). 7: Zen (2009). 8: The Castle of the Fire Deity (2009). 9: Ran (1985). 10: Sanshiro Sugata (1943) and Sanshiro Sugata II (1945). 11: Black Rain (1989). 1. Buddha 釈迦 shaka 1961: 156 minutes. Daiei's spectacular of the life of the historical Buddha 釈迦牟尼仏 shakamuni-butsu. Prince Siddhartha says: "I cannot believe our fate is in the hands of the gods. I've been wondering if we ourselves can't find a way to achieve happiness." After he becomes the Buddha, he says: "Evil cannot be wiped out with more evil. Unless we forget hatred and malice, there can be no peace or happiness." In one scene, while the Buddha is preaching, the villain conjures a great wind which extinguishes all the votive oil lamps 灯 明, darkening the room. One sincere believer's lamp, though, keeps burning. Its light merges with Buddha's own glow, and the room becomes bright again. At the end of the film, the Buddha rises into Maha-parinirvana 大般涅槃 daihatsu-nehan. 2. Osamu Tezuka's Buddha: The Red Desert! It's Beautiful 手塚治虫のブッダ－ 赤い砂 漠よ！美しく tezuka osamu no budda akai-sabakuyo! utsukushiku 2011: 111min. Osamu Tezuka's Buddha 2: The Endless Journey Buddha 2 手塚治虫のブッダ－ 終わ りなき旅 budda tsu tezuka osamu no budda owarinaki-tabi 2014: 85min. Two anime based on the 1972-1984 series by The God of Manga. Part 1 ends as Siddhartha sets out on his path; Part 2, as he becomes the Buddha. Toei apparently cancelled Part 3. Young Siddhartha asks his teacher, "What happens when people die?"