Japanese artist Kazuhiro Tsuji on Tuesday expressed his joy at winning this year's Academy Award for best makeup and hairstyling, saying he was "surprised" by the public reaction during his visit to his home country.

"I was really glad as the Oscar is the biggest one (among awards received)," he told a press conference in Tokyo.

Tsuji, David Malinowski and Lucy Sibbick were recognized at the 90th Academy Awards earlier this year for their work transforming actor Gary Oldman into British wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill for the film "Darkest Hour." Oldman won his first Oscar for best actor.

Born in Kyoto in 1969, Tsuji went to the United States in 1996 to work as a makeup artist. He became a contemporary artist in 2012.

He made a comeback as a makeup artist upon the request of Oldman.

Tsuji, 48, will receive a culture and art award from the city Kyoto on Thursday and a commissioner's award at the Cultural Affairs Agency the following day.