Yakusho won the best actor award at Cannes for his performance in the pic.
However, Wenders said there was one milestone he never thought the film would achieve.
The decision marked the first time a non-Japanese filmmaker had been chosen to lead the countrys Oscars push.
Zhang YimouJun Sato/WireImage.
The Tokyo-set pic is likely to have beat out Hayao MiyazakisThe Boy And The Heronfor the spot.
Kishida also highlighted the festivals Spotlight On Italy industry strand.
A string band performed part of Sakamotos score for Bernardo BertoluccisThe Last Emperor.
This is like a new start for me, Zhang said accepting the award.
The festival revived the Kurosawa honor last year for the first time in 14 years.
Ando added that this year the festival is welcoming around 2,000 international guests.
Last year due to various restrictions the number of foreign guests was only 100, he said.
Filmmakers and actors set for Tokyo include Tran Ah Hung, Tony Leung, and Wu Lei.
The Tokyo Film Festival runs until November 1.
The closing film is TohosGodzilla Minus Onefrom director Yamazaki Takashi.
