TEHRAN An exhibition in Tokyo displaying artistic photos of the renowned Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami has been highly acclaimed. The exhibition opened last week.

In addition to 30 photos of Kiarostami, the exhibition also displays 20 paintings by the famous Japanese artist Masa Aki.

The head of the Public Relations Office of the exhibition said that Kiarostami and the Japanese painter are close friends and that they held another joint exhibition last year in Tokyo.

Masa Aki is a lover of Iranian art who has painted several paintings in Iran.

The Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami became known in Japanese artistic circles after his film ****Where Is the Friend's House**** was screened in Tokyo for the first time.

Winning at the Cannes International Film Festival for the film ****Taste of Cherry**** made Kiarostami a famous cinematic figure in Japan.