in 1950, the film became the fifth ozu work overall, and the first of the postwar period, to top the kinema junpo poll, making it the japanese critics' "best film" of 1949. in addition, that year the film won four prizes at the distinguished mainichi film awards, sponsored by the newspaper "mainichi shinbun": best film, best director, best screenplay and best actress (setsuko hara, who was also honored for two other films in which she appeared in 1949).