I often bounce between Kubrick and Kurosawa as my favorite. Depends on my mood and shifts from day to day. There are other directors who also come into play but those two are often on top.
I've been doing a James Bond marathon lately, but I'm getting tired of Roger Moore's dumb face... maybe I'll check out a Kurosawa film to change things up.
I've seen most of his big films, but never Ikiru, it really is about time I see it.