Yojiro Takita Wins Best Foreign Language Film For Japan's "Departures"

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - Receiving a great honour for Japan, director Yojiro Takita won the Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 81st Academy Awards last Sunday (February 22, 2009) for the film "Departures". Yojiro was all smiles as he received his award on stage along with the cast from the movie. The award will assure the movie of a long run in international theatres along with numerous dubbed translations, which for a director is a dream come true.

"Departures" is an excellent film about a classical musician, Daigo Kobayashi (played by Masahiro Motoki), who loses his job in an orchestra that has disbanded and is forced to look for other work as an interim career. Applying for a position that is advertised as "Departures" he soon finds out that it is a job for an undertaker. Kobayashi is determined to make a success of his new position and to bring dignity to those who are leaving this world towards their destiny in the next life. He begins to perfect the art of "Nokanshi", where he acts as the concierge to the doorway for those who are changing status from their prior life to the next.