Mortician tale "Departures" surprises with Oscar

"I am really proud of it," said 63-year-old self-employed Tokyo resident Kei Noguchi. "There are a lot of bad things happening these days so it really tickles my sense of pride."

"Departures," already a hit in Japan, is scheduled for limited release in the United States in May, with screenings planned in nearly 30 other countries.

Another Japanese film, "Tsumiki no Ie," or "La Maison en Petits Cubes," won the Oscar for the best animated short film.

The 12-minute film, directed by Kunio Kato, portrays the life of an old man who battles floods caused by global warming.