The Japanese Academy Awards is a much-awaited event that is hosted annually by the Japan Academy Film Prize Association to reward brilliance in Japanese filmmaking. Every year, Japanese celebrities are invited from all over the nation and the audience waits with bated breath as the titleholder is announced. And the winner is.....
Award categories are almost similar to the Academy Awards and are 20 in total, which includes Best Animation, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. We will now be focussing on the awards pertaining to actors and actresses. Without further ado, here are the Top 10 Academy Award Winners from Japan.
1. Tori Matsuzaka
This celebrated actor made his debut with Samurai Sentai Shinkenger as Takeru Shiba/Shinken Red. Now a fan favorite, he has worked on films like "We Can't Change the World. But, We Wanna Build a School in Cambodia", Library Wars, April Fools among others. He won two Academy Awards for his roles in The Journalist and Blood of Wolves.
2. Makoto Shinkai
Makoto Shinkai is a reputed filmmaker and manga artist who has given Japan several box office hits. His animations and creative leadership have made many a successful venture in the entertainment industry. He won the Academy Awards for Director of the Year for his film, ‘Weathering with you and Your Name.’
3. Masami Nagasawa
Masami Nagasawa, a model and actress has starred in countless films including Your Name, Hidden Fortress: The Last Princess, Gintama, and The Lies She Loved. This prominent actress also starred in 50 First Kisses, the remake of the classic Hollywood film 50 First Dates. For her roles in the films Kingdom and Mother, she won two Academy Awards.
4. Yu Aoi
Yu Aoi is a Japanese actress known for playing unconventional roles. She debuted as Shiori Tsuda in All About Lily Chou-Chou by Shunji Iwai. She acted in the live-action adaptation of the manga series Honey and Clover. This talented icon won an academy award for her performance in the film Birds without names.
5. Sakura Ando
Sakura Ando is a popular Japanese actress known for her role in A Crowd of Three, Yellow Elephant, 0.5 mm, and Her Granddaughter. This talented star won the CUT ABOVE Award for Outstanding Performance in Film at the New York JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film. She is the proud recipient of two Academy Awards for her performances in 100 Yen Love and Shoplifters.
6. Junichi Okada
Junichi Okada is a former member of the boy band V6. This illustrious actor shot to fame with his part in the Japanese drama Kisarazu Cat's Eye. Junichi caught the eye of the public with his performance in Tokyo Tower. Junichi is the recipient of an Academy Award for his Outstanding Performance in Eternal Zero, a celebrated Patriotic film that was a box office hit.
7. Ryuhei Matsuda
Ryuhei Matsuda is a fan favorite Japanese icon, known for his roles as the people's heartthrob Samurai Sōzaburō Kanō in Taboo and also the rock star Ren Honjo in the film Nana. This actor has played an array of different roles in films like Blue Spring, The Raid, and Nana. He won a Japanese Academy Award for his role in the film Great Passage.
8. Kirin Kiki
Kirin Kiki was a celebrated actress, known for playing several pivotal roles while battling breast cancer and other ailments. This actress reportedly changed her name from Chiho Kiki to Kirin Kiki at a talk show where she auctioned off her first name. This veteran actress won several awards for films like Mom And Me, And Sometimes Dad, and Kamikaze Girls among others. Kiki won an Academy Award for her character in The Chronicle of My Mother.
9. Koji Yakusho
Koji Yakusho is an illustrious Japanese actor who is the recipient of a special award for his work in the entertainment industry by the Japanese Minister of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture. He debuted and shot to fame playing the role of Oda Nobunaga in NHK drama Tokugawa Ieyasu. His performances in 3rd murder and Blood of Wolves won him two Academy Awards.
10. Mamoru Hosoda
Mamoru Hosoda is a popular Japanese animator and film director known for classics like The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Wolf Children, Belle, Summer Wars among others. His film Mirai was nominated for the Best Animated Feature 2019 for the Oscars. He received the Best Director Award for his film Boy and the Beast.
