Yasujiro Ozu Day

December 12th is Yasujiro Ozu Day.

Unofficially, that is.

The Japanese director was born on this day in 1903 – and passed away on his 60th birthday, in 1963. He is buried on the grounds of the Engaku Temple (or Engaku-ji 円覚寺) in Kamakura, an old, historic city some 50 km south of Tokyo. (Read an appropriately spare yet stirring account of visiting Ozu’s grave here.) The character carved on his headstone is mu – wu in Mandarin - which translates into a number of related concepts: nothing, without, lacking.

Famous last words.

Or word.

Happy birthday, Mr. Ozu, and R.I.P.