Japanese version of Forrest Gump?!

Comic 'Always' cited as example of close-knit neighborhood

TOKYO — Popular comic "Sanchome no yuhi," which was made into the blockbuster film "Always — Sunset on Third Street" last year, is cited as an example of a close-knit neighborhood in a government report released Friday. The film, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, won 12 Japan Academy Awards out of 13 nominations.

We saw this movie on DVD. I had a hard time staying awake - partially because the film seemed to lack plot, partially because I was so sleepy! Overall this was not a bad film, however, at the same time we could not understand why it was awarded so many Academy Awards. Some scenes, as Hiro said, were obviously targeting some reaction from the viewer like, 'cry here' or 'feel moved here'