Railroad Man, a comeback film for Japanese screen legend Ken Takakura which cleaned up at the Japanese box office last year, swept all major prizes at the 1999 Japan Academy Awards.

In addition to selecting the film as best picture and veteran Yasuo Furuhata as best director, Academy voters named Takakura best actor for his portrayal of an ageing station master who has an unexpected reunion with his long-dead daughter.

The film also won best actress for Shinobu Otake, who played Takakura's wife, and best supporting actor which went to Nenji Kobayashi for his turn as Takakura's best friend.

Meanwhile, best film score went to Joe Hisaishi and best supporting actress to Kayoko Kishimoto for their work in Kikujiro, Takeshi Kitano's follow-up to his 1997 Venice Golden Lion winner Hana-Bi. The best foreign film award went to The Sixth Sense.