<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV class=RTE>
<P>Hi everyone,</P>
<P>Does anyone have any insight into Japanese opinion on the international reception of Ozu? </P>
<P>Studies of Ozu's films in the '70s tended to suggest that he was thought of as the 'most Japanese' of all directors, and Donald Richie provides anecdotal evidence for the opinion in Japan that Ozu, when exported, cannot be fully apprciated because of a percieved difficulty for the outsider in understanding Japan (see Midnight Eye interview, Public People Private People).</P>
<P>In the last few years we have seen greater numbers of Ozu titles becoming available on DVD in Europe and North Amercia than ever before, and Ozu may currently be finding the largest audience outside of Japan for some time.</P>
<P>With this new availability in mind, Has anyone detected that Japanese attitudes to Ozu's interantional popularity have altered? Does anyone have any anecdotal evidence on this topic?</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Many thanks.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Tom</P></DIV></div></html>