Indeed, Rakugo, Bunraku, Kabuki, and Noh - which were the main influences on the narrative approach of most early filmmakers in Japan - are 'alien' to many foreigners more used to the Hollywood style, and Japan had its own prolific film industry before the wars (the first ninja movie was made around 1912) when very few movies from outside Japan were generally available there...
I wrote an article about the beginnings of motion pictures - https://medium.com/signifier/its-still-moving-f7caf17ed885 - may be of interest?