because of perceived similarities, in subject matter and in his contemplative approach, to the japanese master, taiwanese director hou hsiao-hsien has been called "an artistic heir to ozu." in 2003, to celebrate ozu's centennial, shochiku, the studio where ozu worked throughout his career, commissioned hou to make a film in tribute. the resulting work, "café lumière" ("kōhī jikō", 2003), has been called, "in its way, a version of the "late spring" story, updated to the early 21st century." however, unlike the virginal noriko, the heroine of the hou film, yoko, "lives on her own, is independent of her family, and has no intention of marrying just because she's pregnant."