 Initial reviews in Japan were positive . In Kinema Junpo , Tokitoshi Shioda called Departures a turning point in Takita 's career , a human drama capturing both laughter and tears , while in the same publication Masaaki Nomura described the film as a work of supple depth that perhaps indicated a move into Takita 's mature period , praising the director for capturing a human feeling from Motoki 's earnest encoffining performance . Writing in the Yomiuri Shimbun , Seichi Fukunaga complimented Takita for using a moving , emotive story laden with humour to reverse prejudice against a taboo subject . He commended the performances of Motoki and Yamazaki , particularly their playing the serious Daigo against the befuddled Sasaki . 
