On the 23rd, actor Koji Yakusho (67) attended a commemorative event for the movie "PERFECT DAYS" (now in theaters) in which he stars, along with co-stars Tokio Emoto (34) and Arisa Nakano (18).

Through the story of Hirayama, a cleaner who works in a public restrooms, this film explores the quiet happiness found in everyday life. The director is Wim Wenders, a German who is known as a world-famous master. Selected to represent Japan in the International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards.

Yakusho won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for the film. ``I wasn't really conscious of the camera this time. It was almost like a documentary,'' he said, revealing that he was immersed in the work.

Emoto said that just before he co-starred with Yakusho, his father, actor Akira Emoto (75), sent him off and said, ``Yakusho is good (at acting)...'' and added, ``I hoped to understand even a little bit what that means. And I had a great time," he said, expressing his gratitude.

Yakusho said, ``He's a senior to me. Your father raised you well,'' he said with a smile, ``Tokio-kun used to come to my house with his father when he was a child. I've known him since he was a child. I really think he's become a good actor,'' he said with narrowed eyes.