 This fear was misplaced ; Departures debuted in Japan at fifth place , and during the fifth week of its run hit its peak position at third place . It sold 2 @.@ 6 million tickets in Japan and generated 3 @.@ 2 billion yen ( $ 32 million ) in box office revenue in the five months after its debut . The film was still showing in 31 theatres when its success at the Academy Awards in February 2009 renewed interest ; the number of screens on which it was showing was increased to 188 and the film earned another ¥ 2 @.@ 8 billion ( $ 28 million ) , making a total of ¥ 6 billion ( $ 60 million ) . This made Departures the highest @-@ grossing domestic film and 15th top @-@ grossing film overall for 2008 . Executive producer Yasuhiro Mase credited this success to the effects of the Great Recession on Japan : viewers who were seeking employment after recently being downsized empathized with Daigo . 
