Anime Director Miyazaki Receives Honorary Academy Award

Los Angeles, Nov. 8 (Jiji Press)--Renowned Japanese animated film director Hayao Miyazaki received an Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at a Hollywood ceremony on Saturday for years of contributions to the motion picture industry. Miyazaki, 73, is the second Japanese to win the recognition, after Akira Kurosawa in 1990. It is the second Oscar for Miyazaki, who earned an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film for "Spirited Away" in 2003. Miyazaki attended an Oscar award ceremony for the first time. At Saturday's event, he was greeted by a standing ovation. U.S. animation film director John Lasseter, who admires Miyazaki, appeared on the stage and introduced Miyazaki's achievements with a video. After receiving the honorary Oscar, Miyazaki said with a shy smile, "My wife told me I am a very lucky man." The audience included a number of Hollywood stars such as Kevin Costner and Reese Witherspoon. Miyazaki announced retirement from animated feature film production in September last year. END