Japan | French film star Catherine Deneuve receives award

French film star Catherine Deneuve has received Japan’s most prestigious art award at a ceremony in Tokyo, where she was greeted by Emperor Akihito.

Deneuve received the Praemium Imperiale yesterday for her achievement in film and theater performances.

The 84-year-old Akihito, who is abdicating at the end of April, shook hands with Deneuve at a reception afterward and congratulated her, according to Japan’s Kyodo News agency.

Deneuve has appeared in more than 100 films during a career spanning over 60 years.

The 75-year-old Deneuve is currently working on a new film by Japanese award- winning director Hirokazu Koreeda in Paris. She said at a news conference Monday that she’s lucky to be able to work with Koreeda and thanked him for giving her a break to pick up her award. AP

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