US-Japan diplomacy

His post-war films like 'Rashomon' and 'Seven Samurai' emerged during US occupation and reflect Japan's cultural reconstruction and dialogue with Western influence.

'Empire of the Sun' directly explores US-Japan relations during WWII and its aftermath through a deeply humanistic lens.

His films like 'Max Mon Amour' and earlier work critique post-war Japanese-American relations and the complexities of cultural occupation and identity.