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Haruhiko Arai

Haruhiko Arai

Writer, also director and actor · Born January 26, 1947 (79) · Tokyo, Japan

Writer and director.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 26, 1947 (79)
From
Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Writer, also director and actor
Titles
8 on MovieCove · 70 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Up 16% in 30 days

What are Haruhiko Arai's films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
41%
Bonds
30%
Morality
20%
Society
5%
Power
4%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 6 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 5

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 3 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
6
Contemplative
4
Romantic
3
Tense
2
Warm
2
Other
1

How their films linger

Thought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Haruhiko Arai's films?

As of October 24, 2026, none of Haruhiko Arai's 8 MovieCove titles is streaming on a subscription or free service.

Subscription and free streaming for Haruhiko Arai's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted.

Filmography

70 credits, 8 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Stars and Moon Are Holes in the Sky(2025)

    Director · Screenplay · Actor

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • A Spoiling Rain(2023)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • September 1923 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Screenplay

  • Tenjō no Hana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Screenplay

  • 2 Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Writer

  • It Feels So Good(2019)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Dear Etranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Screenplay

  • This Country's Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Undulant Fever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Writer

  • Kabukicho Love Hotel(2014)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Woman of Shinjuku(2014)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Backwater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Writer

  • The War and a Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Screenplay

  • Apple of Sodom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 4 episodes · Creator · Screenplay

  • Someday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Screenplay

  • Partners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Screenplay

  • Yariman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Thanks

  • It's Only Talk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Screenplay

  • Seicho Matsumoto Special: Fingers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Producer · Screenplay

  • Vibrator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Screenplay

  • KT (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Screenplay

  • Sadistic and Masochistic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Naughty Office Lady: Don't Pull Out Until Morning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Co-Writer

  • Minazuki(1999)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Bonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Screenplay

  • East Side Waltz Garden of Earthly Delights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Writer

  • Body and Soul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · Adaptation

  • Arigatou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Screenplay

  • F. Health Girl's Diary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Screenplay

  • The City That Never Sleeps: Shinjuku Shark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Screenplay

  • Investigation of a Typical Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Screenplay

  • Dioxin from Fish! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Story

  • Revolver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Screenplay

  • Love Bites Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Screenplay

  • Rinbu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Screenplay

  • The Woman Soaked from Waiting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Screenplay

  • Captured Mother and Daughter: She Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Screenplay

  • Bed-In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Screenplay

  • Hitohira no yuki(1985)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • W's Tragedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Screenplay

  • Cursed Village in Yudono Mountains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Writer

  • Double Bed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Screenplay

  • Modori River(1983)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Zoom Up: Graduation Photo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Screenplay

  • Time and Tide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Writer

  • Girl Rope Doll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Guy who hits on Ayako

  • Cabaret Diary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Screenplay

  • Yami ni dakarete (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Screenplay

  • Distant Thunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Screenplay

  • Rolling on the Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Screenplay

  • Blue Lagoon: A Summer Experience (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Screenplay

  • Pleasure Campus: Secret Games (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Screenplay

  • Hard Scandal: Sex Drifter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Screenplay

  • Joshidaisei: Kairaku Ayame-ryô (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Screenplay

  • Rape Ceremony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Screenplay

  • Heaven Sent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Writer

  • Koichiro Uno's Moist and Steamy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Screenplay

  • Masked Crusader, Mr. Jirenman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Screenplay

  • Super Gun Lady: Police Branch 82 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Screenplay

  • Prey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Screenplay

  • The Woman with Red Hair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Screenplay

  • Bathhouse 911: Jellyfish Bliss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Screenplay

  • Hell's Angels: Crimson Roar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Screenplay

  • Semi-document: Shojo chitai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Screenplay

  • Shinjuku Messy District : I’ll Be There (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Writer

  • Case of the Disjointed Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Screenplay

  • Cruel Bondage Picture Legend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Screenplay

  • Wet Dice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Lyricist · Screenplay

  • Gushing Prayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Co-Director

  • Secret Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Screenplay

Career shape

A full career of 70 titles from 1971 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Kabukicho Love Hotel (2014)

$85K worldwide

Highest rated

Kabukicho Love Hotel (2014)

Midcredits 74th

Most popular right now

It Feels So Good (2019)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting2 of 70: 2 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting6 of 70: 1 only directing, 5 with another roleWriting66 of 70: 59 only writing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score52ndProducing1 of 70: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 70: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

70 titles, 7 with more than one role — writing and directing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

1970s15 · crew1980s23 · 1 acting · 22 crew1990s9 · crew2000s7 · 1 acting · 6 crew2010s11 · crew2020s5 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Haruhiko Arai's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 52nd percentile, the median of all 8; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 8 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

4 of their 8 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · writer

Modori River (1983)

63rd percentile spread · 43% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director, writer

The Stars and Moon Are Holes in the Sky (2025)

Midcredits 82nd · 75% liked

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Haruhiko Arai work with?

People who share at least 2 of Haruhiko Arai's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tasuku Emoto shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers