The Twilight Samurai, Yoji Yamada's drama about the home and love life of a poor-but-honest samurai, walked away with 12 of the 13 Japan Academy Awards.

The film, which is still ranked in the Japanese box office top ten in its 18th week on release, took the Best Picture prize, while Yamada was named Best Director and the two leads, Hiroyuki Sanada and Rie Miyazawa, Best Actor and Actress, respectively.

Butoh dancer Min Tanaka won the Best Supporting Actor prize for his screen debut in the film, while Yamada and frequent collaborator Yoshitaka Asama shared the Best Screenplay award.

The Twilight Samurai also received the cinematography, music, lighting, production design, editing and sound recording prizes.

Tamie Kitamura was the sole survivor of the Samurai sweep, taking the Best Supporting Actress award for her work in Amidado Dayori.

This total of twelve awards is second only to Masayuki Suo's Shall We Dance', which waltzed away with thirteen awards in 1997. The prize for Best Foreign Film went to Monster's Ball.