"I have developed a longing for Paris the cultural center. (Receiving this decoration) is like a dream," said a joyous Kitano on being named a Commander of the Order of the Arts and Letters. "I feel uneasy about whether I merit this honor but I will make my best efforts at being worthy of it."

Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand, who bestowed the award at the Fondation Cartier museum, also said the 63-year-old director's works have extraordinary creativity and that they made him aware of human diversity.

The museum will be showing Kitano's art works to the public from March 11 through Sept. 12. Ahead of the award ceremony, Kitano gave Mitterrand a tour of his works at the foundation.

His films will also be screened at the Centre Pompidou museum in Paris for three months from Thursday.

Kitano, also a comedian under the name Beat Takeshi, debuted as a film director in 1989 with "Violent Cop." He won the Golden Lion for best movie at the Venice Film Festival with "HANA-BI" in 1997.

In 1999, "Kikujiro" was selected to compete at the Cannes Film Festival and the French government decorated him with the honorary title of Chevalier the same year.