Kinema Junpo
During production of Shindo's 1995 film "A Last Note", Nobuko Otowa was diagnosed with liver cancer. She died in December 1994. "A Last Note" won numerous awards, including Best Film awards at the Blue Ribbon Awards, Hochi Film Awards, Japan Academy Prizes, Kinema Junpo Awards and Mainichi Film Awards, as well as awards for Best Director at the Japanese Academy, Nikkan Sports Film Awards, Kinema Junpo Awards and Mainichi Film Award.