He also got several Japanese film awards for director, including the Best Director award for The Laughing Frog and Out at the 2003 Yokohama Film Festival.
Ia juga memenangkan beberapa penghargaan film Jepang untuk sutradara, termasuk penghargaan Sutradara Terbaik untuk The Laughing Frog dan Out di Festival Film Yokohama 2003.