Akira Kurosawa, the most popular Asian film maker with audiences in the United States, has found in William Shakespeare's plays themes and plots that resonate within Japanese culture. While the translations of "Macbeth" into "Throne of Blood" and "King Lear" into "Ran" are quite direct and literal with only minor changes in plot and emphasis, in many places Kurosawa's interpretation of the stories gives them a very Japanese flavor. For example, his use of the traditions of "No" drama transforms the story of "Macbeth" into something uniquely Japanese. At the same time, the director's free use of vivid color and skillful filming of spectacle produce a psychological appeal that transcends geography and culture to reach audiences throughout the world. Kurosawa's films are readily accessible and understandable to Western film audiences. (JK)