From critic favourites to commercial hits, Japanese cinema wins fans at Cannes

Japanese cinematographer Akiko Ashizawa on the shoot of the film "To the Ends of the Earth" (2019), directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. © Uzbekkino

With no fewer than 12 films in the official selection, Japan is at the heart of this year's Cannes Festival. Its cinema industry continues to do well with moviegoers as well as critics, making it a notable success story amid the rise of streaming.

It's hard to miss the number of people wearing kimonos in the streets of Cannes.