[1] It also touches on other end-of-life issues for the terminally ill, and how Japanese society deals with both life and death.

Mikuni was nominated for Best Actor at the 1994 Japanese Academy Awards for his role in both Daibyonin and Tsuribaka nisshi 6.

After he vomits blood when he is with his mistress, Buhei's wife takes him to the hospital, where the doctor diagnoses him with terminal cancer and operates on his stomach.

He tells the doctor how grateful he is that he was honest about his condition and could live his final weeks to the full.

In the last scene, he dies, surrounded by his wife, doctor, nurse and members of the film production crew.