The Feb. 26 editorial "Kudos to filmmakers" was a pleasure to read. This year's Oscar honor is one of many that Japanese filmmakers have given the country over the years. In 1951, Akira Kurosawa opened up Japanese cinema to worldwide interest with "Rashomon." In 1954, "Gate of Hell" was honored, followed by "Seven Samurai" in 1955.
In 1956, "Harp of Burma" was nominated in the Best Foreign Picture category. A year later Miyoshi Umeki won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Between 1960 and 1981, 10 Japanese movies were nominated. The 1975 nominee was a victim of irony: "Sandakan No. 8" lost out to the Soviet Union's "Dersu Uzala," which was directed by Kurosawa.
The latest Oscar triumphs should provide tremendous encouragement to young filmmakers to realize their dream of entertaining millions here and abroad.