A director since 1961, with 77 films to his credit, Yoji Yamada, 71, is a Japanese film industry icon. His "Tora-san" series, about a wandering peddler who is forever falling in love, but never gets the girl, generated 48 hit installments -- and made Yamada the most successful Japanese director of his generation. He has also won his share of prizes, both domestic and international.
His latest film, "Tasogare Seibei (The Twilight Samurai)," has garnered the largest haul at home, including the Kinema Junpo magazine Best One prize -- considered Japan's most prestigious. On March 7, it also won 12 Japan Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director -- the second-highest number ever after Masayuki Suo's 1997 "Shall We Dance?" Ironically, the film is Yamada's first-ever samurai drama -- but he is now planning another.
Why did you decide to do a samurai drama, after more than 40 years of making contemporary dramas and comedies?