Departures (おくりびと, Okuribito) is a Japanese drama film written by Kundō Koyama and directed by Yōjirō Takita that was released in 2008. Based on the book Coffinman by Aoki Shinmon, it follows a young man, Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki), who loses his job as a cellist and moves back to his hometown. Despite objections from his wife Mika (Ryōko Hirosue), he finds fulfilment in performing traditional encoffinment ceremonies with his boss, Sasaki (Tsutomu Yamazaki), and his coworker, Kamimura (Kimiko Yo).[1]
The film was premiered by Shochiku in Japan on 13 September,[1] with a North American release on 29 May 2009[2] and a British one on 4 December.[3] Owing to traditional Japanese taboos about death, Takita did not expect the film to be a success.[4] However, Departures was the highest-grossing domestic film of 2008 in Japan, earning ¥3.05 billion in box office revenue,[5] and a total of $69,932,387 worldwide.[2] The film was also well received by critics, with an approval rating of 81% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes;[6] reviewer Roger Ebert described it as "excellent at achieving the universal ends of narrative".[7]
International awards for Departures began to accrue before its domestic release, when the film was granted the Grand Prix des Ameriques at the Montreal World Film Festival.[8] Over the next several months it received multiple awards, including four from Kinema Junpo,[9] and in September 2008 it was selected as Japan's submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.[10] In February 2009, Departures dominated the Japan Academy Prizes, receiving thirteen nominations and winning ten. During the 81st Academy Awards held later that week, Departures became the first Japanese submission to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, over the critical favourite Waltz with Bashir (Ari Folman).[a][12] Into 2010 Departures picked up several further awards, including Best Asian Film at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
This international success led to the development of a tourism industry based around the film, with some sites receiving thousands of visitors,[13] and stimulated both a theatrical re-release and a reprint of Coffinman. A hearse based on Kobayashi and Sasaki's vehicle in the film was likewise put into production.[14]
^Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan staff. 出品作品・受賞歴 [Exhibition of Works and Awards] (in Japanese). Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
^Yomiuri Shimbun staff (22 February 2014). "「おくりびと」ロケ地、３月末で公開終了へ" [Okuribito Shooting Locations to be Opened to the Public from Late March]. Yomiuri Shimbun. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
^Kyodo News Staff (24 February 2009). 光岡自動車の霊きゅう車 「おくりぐるま」を発売 [Mitsuoka Motors' Okuribito Hearse to be Put on Sale]. Kyodo News (in Japanese).
^Yan Ping; Bai Ying (13 September 2008). 金鸡国际影展举行颁奖典礼 [Rooster International Film Festival Awards Ceremony Held]. 163.com (in Chinese). NetEase. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
^映画祭について [About the Festival] (in Japanese). Trailer ZEN Film Festival. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
^Kobayashi, Chiho (4 December 2008). 作品賞＆監督賞ー「おくりびと」滝田洋二郎監督記事を印刷する [Best Film and Best Director Award for 'Departures' Director Yōjirō Takita]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
^Sports Nippon staff (15 January 2009). "本木雅弘主演「おくりびと」ブルーリボン賞に決定" [Masahiro Motoki, star of Departures, chosen for Blue Ribbon Award]. Sports Nippon. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
^"Departures". Palm Springs International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 29 May 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
^第63回毎日映画コンクール発表 最高賞に『おくりびと』 [63rd Mainichi Film Awards Announced, Best Film goest to 'Departures']. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
^東スポ映画大賞とは？ [Which Films have Won the Prize?]. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
^Yokohama Film Festival staff. 第３０回ヨコハマ映画祭 [30th Yokohama Film Festival] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
^Élan d'Or Award staff. 2009年エランドール賞 受賞作品・受賞者（敬称略） [2009 Élan d'Or Award Winners (Titles Omitted)] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
^Nippon Academy-shō Association staff. 第32回日本アカデミー賞優秀作品 [32nd Japan Academy Prize] (in Japanese). Nippon Academy-shō Association. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
Asia Pacific Screen Academy (26 November 2009). "2009 Winners Announced". Asia Pacific Screen Academy. Archived from the original on 8 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
^Camerimage staff. "Plus Camerimage 2009". International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography, Camerimage. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
^Hong Kong Film Awards Association staff. 第29屆香港電影金像獎得獎名單 [List of Winners at the 29th Hong Kong Film Awards] (in Chinese). Hong Kong Film Awards Association. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
