His efforts were wildly successful, with "Narayamabushiko" and his 1997 "Unagi" both winning the Grand Prix (today's Palme d' Or) at the Cannes Film Festival, the first time a Japanese director had ever won twice (only five directors, including Francis Ford Coppola, have ever won the top prize twice).
本作と『うなぎ(映画)』（1997年）で、日本人では初めてカンヌ国際映画祭で2度グランプリ（現・パルム・ドール）を受賞するという快挙を成し遂げた（他にフランシス・フォード・コッポラ監督など5名がいる）。