The Tokyo International Film Festival ‘s TIFF Lounge series of talks and masterclasses featured a conversation between Yamada Yoji , director of the festival Centerpiece “Tokyo Taxi”, and Lee Sang-il , recipient of this year’s Kurosawa Akira Award for his film “ Kokuho .”

The 94-year-old Yamada, whose, lengthy filmography includes the iconic 48-episode “Tora-san” series that ran from 1969 to 1995, and the 51-year-old Lee, whose “Kokuho” has become a record-setting hit since its release in June of this year, earning more than $100 million, expressed admiration for each other’s work. Lee called Yamada a “national treasure” (the English translation of “Kokuho”) while Yamada said that putting his modestly budgeted “Tokyo Taxi” next to Lee’s lavishly staged Kabuki drama “makes me feel

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