The Japanese Belly Button Poster

The Japanese Belly Button 1977

★ 4.69 votes102 min📅 1977-03-15

Step into the quirky, offbeat world of *The Japanese Belly Button* (1977), a 1970s Japanese musical comedy that blends humor with a touch of the absurd.

Director: Eizō Sugawa

Cast

Mako Midori
Mako Midori
Helen Amatsu / Momoe / Junko
Akihiro Miwa
Business man / Yakuza / Assistant professor
Hajime Hana
Hajime Hana
Dry cleaning shop owner / Lorry driver / Lighting man
Osami Nabe
Osami Nabe
Professor / Funayama
Gajirō Satō
Gajirō Satō
Hattori / Pianist
Daigo Kusano
Daigo Kusano
Judge / Yaneura / Comedian
Noboru Mitani
Noboru Mitani
Railway assistant / Takada / Comedian
Hōsei Komatsu
Hōsei Komatsu
Right wing / Ishii, the strip theatre owner
Terumi Azuma
Terumi Azuma
Ex-singer / Tome / Stripper
Kazuo Kumakura
Kazuo Kumakura
Helen's father

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Japanese Belly Button (1977) about?

This 1970s Japanese musical comedy follows a group staging a confession play to cure a stutter, only for the performance to spiral into hilarious chaos. The film blends music and comedy, turning a simple premise into an eccentric and unpredictable adventure.

Who directed The Japanese Belly Button?

Eizō Sugawa directed *The Japanese Belly Button*, helming this unique blend of music and comedy that defines 1970s Japanese cinema.

Who stars in The Japanese Belly Button?

The film features Mako Midori, Akihiro Miwa, Hajime Hana, Osami Nabe, and Gajirō Satō in its main cast.

Is The Japanese Belly Button (1977) worth watching?

While not a mainstream classic, *The Japanese Belly Button* offers a fun, nostalgic dive into 1970s Japanese musical comedy. Its quirky premise and lighthearted tone make it a charming curiosity for fans of vintage cinema, even if it's not a high-stakes drama.

How long is The Japanese Belly Button?

The film has a runtime of 102 minutes.

🎥 Trailer

About The Japanese Belly Button (1977) — A Musical Comedy of Mistaken Confessions

Step into the quirky, offbeat world of *The Japanese Belly Button* (1977), a 1970s Japanese musical comedy that blends humor with a touch of the absurd. Directed by Eizō Sugawa, this 102-minute oddity stars Mako Midori and Akihiro Miwa in a story where a staged confession play meant to cure a stutter goes delightfully awry. With its musical interludes and comedic tone, the film offers a lighthearted escape into 1970s Japanese cinema, where theatrical mishaps unfold against a backdrop of playful chaos. The atmosphere is one of light escapism, where the boundaries between performance and reality blur in unexpected ways.

Diving into themes of self-discovery and the unpredictability of live performance, *The Japanese Belly Button* shines a spotlight on the eccentricities of its characters and their hilarious misadventures. The film's charm lies in its ability to balance music and comedy, making it a curious relic of its era. Whether you're a fan of vintage Japanese cinema or simply enjoy a good laugh, this 1977 gem delivers a memorable experience that's as unique as its title suggests.