March 28, 2022
TOKYO — “Drive My Car” won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday night in Los Angeles, laying down a new milestone in Japanese cinematic history.
The last Japanese film to win the award was “Okuribito” (Departures) in 2009.
Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, the movie was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Film, Best
Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Though it failed to become the first Japanese films to win four awards, 43-year-old Hamaguchi’s remarkable feat is likely to inspire other Japanese directors of his generation.
Hamaguchi pumped his arms when he took to the podium to collect the award. Though urged to leave the stage halfway through his speech, Hamaguchi continued on, thanking cast members in the audience, as well as those who were unable to attend.
“To all the actors … congratulations!,” he said. “We did it! Thank you very much!”