What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAnd Then
夏目漱石 · Book · 1988
If you loved And Then, start with Ikiru (1952) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to And Then across media.
What hooked you in And Then was the way the weight of societal expectation forces an intimate collision with your own existential purpose.
Films on the same thread
Ikiru
Film · 1952
Shares a thread with And Then: Existentialism.
Like the protagonist of And Then, Watanabe faces the crushing realization that his life lacks authentic meaning, prompting a desperate, solitary search for purpose against a backdrop of rigid bureaucracy.
Your Name.
Makoto Shinkai · Film · 2016
Explores: Fate, Interconnectedness, Rural vs. Urban Life.
Just as And Then explores the tension between traditional roots and modern identity, this story examines the shifting boundaries of self when personal history meets the demands of a changing world.
An Autumn Afternoon
Yasujirō Ozu · Film · 1962
Shares a thread with And Then: Tradition vs. Modernity.
This film mirrors the quiet, contemplative domesticity found in And Then, focusing on the inevitable friction between honoring ancient family traditions and the necessity of individual personal freedom.
Yi Yi
Edward Yang · Film · 2000
Shares a thread with And Then: existentialism.
Much like the characters in And Then, this family navigates the moral uncertainty of an evolving society, where the struggle to maintain one's identity becomes a delicate, everyday existential burden.
Series on the same thread
NANA
Ai Yazawa · Series · 2006
Explores: Female Friendship, Dreams and Aspirations, Urban Life.
You will recognize the same struggle for autonomy present in And Then as these characters move to Tokyo, attempting to reconcile their personal dreams with the pressures of urban life.
Serial Experiments Lain
Series · 1998
Shares 2 threads with And Then: Existentialism, Identity Crisis.
This series elevates the identity crisis found in And Then to a psychological extreme, questioning how much of the self remains when technology and social isolation dismantle one's reality.
Shōgun
Rachel Kondo · Series · 2024
Explores: Power Struggle, Cultural Clash, Survival.
If the cultural crossroads depicted in And Then resonated with you, this historical drama offers a grander, more violent look at how individuals survive when two vastly different worlds collide.
Death Note
Series · 2006
Shares 2 threads with And Then: Moral Ambiguity, Existentialism.
The intellectual boredom and search for significance that drives the narrative of And Then is taken to a darker extreme here, as a brilliant mind tests the limits of morality.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with And Then: Existentialism.
This podcast provides the same rigorous philosophical inquiry into individual responsibility that defines the struggles of the characters in And Then, bridging the gap between theory and actual life.
Philosophize This!
Stephen West · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Existential inquiry, Critical thinking, Evolution of ideas.
This series offers the essential intellectual context for the existential dilemmas faced in And Then, explaining the evolution of the very ideas that shape the protagonist's internal conflict.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is And Then set during a specific historical period?
Yes, And Then is set during the Meiji-era in Japan. The novel captures the transition as the country enters the 20th century, focusing on the tension between ancient customs and emerging western ideals.
What is the central conflict in And Then?
The central conflict in And Then involves the protagonist Daisuke, who struggles with his personal purpose and identity. His internal journey reflects the broader social changes occurring as Japan shifts toward western ideals during the Meiji-era.
When was And Then first published?
The novel And Then, written by Soseki Natsume, was first published in 1988. It remains one of his most insightful and stirring works regarding the cultural transformation of Japan at the turn of the century.
Does And Then explore the impact of western ideals on Japan?
Yes, And Then explores how western ideals began to replace ancient customs in Japan. The novel depicts this transition as a perfect storm of change that affects both the social landscape and the personal identity of the protagonist, Daisuke.