See, the first thing I noticed about the alleged review on the main page, are the words: "70's version of "Lost In Translation". It's impossible to call something the (blank) version of (blank) when what you're comparing it to was made first. "Domo Arigato" is a 3D Spacevision film made by Arch Oboler; radio thriller pioneer ("Light's Out!") and (most important to this subject) director of the first 3D film widely released in the United States, "Bawana Devil". "Bawana Devil" was made in the 1950's, "The Bubble" (aka "The Zoo" -- aka "The Fantastic Invasion of Planet Earth") in the 60's and this one in the early 70's.
While Arch Oboler is not a great filmmaker by a mile, the fact that he made his features in 3D makes him a very notable director. This film plays more like a travelogue with a romantic plot thrown in to keep the audiences attentions. It's an odd film to begin with, but the fact that it treats it's 3D photography so matter of factually is downright fascinating. What a wonderful world it would be if all films were made in 3D versions, without gimmicky things being hurled at the audience every few minutes. After the mind relaxes and the eyes adjust, it's like looking out a window into a fascinating world in a time long past.
Sure, the actors are not of the highest caliber, they seem to come from summer stock and dinner theater, but they do make the most of the hippy dippy dialog pretty well.
I'm recommending this film, not because it's a US romance set in the Far East, but because it shows, wonderfully, a Japan that seems to be lost now due to Westernization. And you can see it in 3D!!!
