As one of the most renowned Japanese directors, Hirokazu Koreeda recently shared his impressions of Chinese directors and his filmmaking experiences with Chinese movie fans at an event organized by the China Film Director's Guide Young Director Support Program in Beijing.

Reflecting on his early years in documentary production, Koreeda described it as the starting point of his career. He said, "Since then, I have discovered that the camera is a tool for exploration, as it not only visualizes my thoughts but also helps uncover stories that transcend my imagination from this vast and diversified world."

Koreeda also revealed that one of his most admired Chinese directors is Jia Zhangke, whom he first met during the 1998 Busan International Film Festival.

"Despite Jia being younger than me, he is a great director," said Koreeda, who also shared his admiration for other young directors such as Diao Yinan and Gu Xiaogang.

"I feel that besides being a director, there isn't much else I can do. I truly believe that making movies is a very joyful and fulfilling thing."