A great Japanese film critic and pioneer in the research of Asian films, Sato Tadao has passed away on March 17 at the age of 91.
 
He served as the member of the International Competition jury at the 3rd Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) in 1989 and the Spirit of Asia Award by the Japan Foundation Asia Center jury at the 27th and the 28th TIFF (2014, 2015) , and the president of the Asian Film Award jury at the 11th TIFF in 1998.

 
Sato has published over 100 books since his first, “Nihon no Eiga” (Japanese cinema / 1956) and he has won the Purple Ribbon Medal and many other awards.
 
We would like to express our sincere condolences and would like to convey our deepest sympathy.