The Ballad of Narayama
"With my mother on my back, now is the time to say goodbye to this world."
In a remote village where food is scarce, elders who reach the age of 70 are carried by their children to the top of a nearby mountain to die in solitude. Orin, a vibrant 69-year-old grandmother, has accepted her fate — but struggles to prepare the rest of her family for the ritual.
Directed by Keisuke Kinoshita
Written by: ShichirĹŤ Fukazawa, Keisuke Kinoshita
Produced by: Masaharu Kokaji, Ryuzo Otani
Where to watch in 
Japan
Switch country in the top-right to check availability elsewhere.
Stream included with subscription
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch The Ballad of Narayama in Japan?
The Ballad of Narayama is available to stream in Japan with a subscription to Plus Shochiku Amazon Channel.
Is The Ballad of Narayama on Plus Shochiku Amazon Channel in Japan?
Yes. The Ballad of Narayama is included with a Plus Shochiku Amazon Channel subscription in Japan.
Is The Ballad of Narayama available to stream for free in Japan?
Not for free, but The Ballad of Narayama is included with a subscription to Plus Shochiku Amazon Channel in Japan.
Who's in it
Tap any actor to see their other movies and shows.
More like The Ballad of Narayama
Audience picks based on what people who watched this also enjoyed.
The Ballad of Narayama
1983
Blackbird
2019
Black or White
2015
Plan 75
2022
Bastard Out of Carolina
1996
Around the Bend
2004
The Thing with Feathers
2025
Still Walking
2008
A Question of Faith
2017
Goodbye June
2025
Holy Lands
2019
Flashbacks of a Fool
2008
More from Kinuyo Tanaka
Their other work, ranked by what audiences actually watched.
Ugetsu
1953
Sansho the Bailiff
1954
Red Beard
1965
The Life of Oharu
1952
Equinox Flower
1958
A Hen in the Wind
1948
Miss Oyu
1951
The Woman in the Rumor
1954
The Munekata Sisters
1950
Utamaro and His Five Women
1946
Woman of Tokyo
1933
Forever a Woman
1955
More from Teiji Takahashi
Their other work, ranked by what audiences actually watched.
Equinox Flower
1958
Tokyo Twilight
1957
Early Spring
1956
A Japanese Tragedy
1953
Sincere Heart
1953
The Tattered Wings
1955
Thus Another Day
1959
The Eternal Rainbow
1958
Five Men of Edo
1951
New Tokyo March
1953
The Hidden Treasure
1959
Night School
1956
More from Keisuke Kinoshita
Their other work, ranked by what audiences actually watched.
Twenty-Four Eyes
1954
Carmen Comes Home
1951
Immortal Love
1961
A Japanese Tragedy
1953
She Was Like a Wild Chrysanthemum
1955
Army
1944
A Legend or Was It?
1963
Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 1
1949
Carmen's Innocent Love
1952
Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 2
1949
Here's to the Young Lady
1949
The River Fuefuki
1960
Films from Japan, streaming in Japan
Your Name.
2016
Godzilla Minus One
2023
Perfect Blue
1998
Ghost in the Shell
1995
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
1997
Seven Samurai
1954
Akira
1988
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
2020
A Silent Voice: The Movie
2016
In the Realm of the Senses
1976
One Piece Film: Strong World
2009
Perfect Days
2023