Since the beginning of the 20th century, cinema has become a favorite entertainment of people all over the world. Japan was one of the largest producers of films, but for many decades the work of Japanese directors remained virtually unknown in the rest of the world. The breakthrough occurred only in the late forties, and director Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) played a key role in the process of introducing Japanese cinema to the world community. The main theme of Kurosawa's work is the moral, spiritual improvement of the individual, the need to do good. Realism, subtle lyricism and deep humanity are intertwined in the master’s films. One of the leading directors of the 20th century, Akira Kurosawa differs from many other famous directors in that he is not a person of Western culture. However, he understood it very well, combining it with Japanese traditions, both aesthetic and moral, absorbed with his mother’s milk. He managed to show the world the ancient and modern beauty of his homeland, combining in his works the great traditions of Japanese literature with modern technologies and the internationality of the way of presenting material that came from the West. Kurosawa's innovative techniques, subsequently borrowed by directors from other countries, became world treasures. At international festivals, screenings of Kurosawa's films were often accompanied by standing ovations. Many of his films inspired other directors to make remakes. Many leading directors of our time recognized themselves as students of Kurosawa. In the 21st century, the work of the great Japanese continues to remain relevant.