People-to-people exchanges key to relations

The office of Japanese actor Ken Takakura, who died in Tokyo on Nov 10, issued a letter of appreciation to his Chinese fans on Dec 24. The letter, published on the website of Japan's news agency Kyodo News, read that their condolences have warmed the hearts of the staff at the office and reminded them of the bridge of warmth Takakura worked hard to build in his lifetime.

The serious way the larger-than-life Japanese actor did each of his films and lived his life knocked his Japanese and Chinese co-workers and fans out.

For him, films should know no borders and tug at different peoples' heartstrings.