The 89th Kinema Junpo Magazine Best Ten Films was announced and Ryosuke Hashiguchi, an openly gay film director won the awards for Best Japanese Director and Best Japanese Screenwriter. His latest film, “Koibitotachi”(The Lovers), ranked 1st among the top ten films and Atsushi Shinohara, who plays the lead in “Koibitotatchi”(The Lovers), won the award for Best New Actor.

Hashiguchi’s latest film,“Koibitotachi”(The Lovers)”, which is his first feature film in 7 years, was released last November. The film portrays lives of three people living with diverse backgrounds. Atsushi, whose wife was killed by a random killer on the street, still remains deep in the shock, Toko, whose relationship with her husband and his mother cooled off, seeks new people to get back romance into her life, and Shinomiya, who is a gay lawyer unsatisfied with his present life, laments over his sexual orientation. This film realistically portraits those three characters’ feelings and their attempts to get over difficulties when they face the harsh reality of their lives. It is not only for gays, but also for anyone who has experienced an unfair reality before. Words of mouth are spreading widely and more and more comments from those who saw this film are dominating the Japanese film industry. It is still available in theaters all over Japan.

“Kinema Junpo Magazine” was first published in 1919 and has a longer history than Academy Award’s. Even though its publication was stopped during wars, it has long selected top tens of Best Actor, Best Screenwriter, Best Actor, Best Actress and so on.

The winners and the award-winning films are carefully and strictly selected by judges with diverse backgrounds. Judges are also widely selected according to their age and what they do (film critics or members of Japan
National Film Club) and the awards of “Kinema Junpo Magazine” has received as very high reputation as very neutral and trustworthy awards which well reflect viewers’ opinions. Wadaemi, who designed the trophies for the awards, said “Kinema Junpo Awards are not something that is given to you like a medal, but something that shows respect to individuals who successfully make great works.”

It is really great that Hashiguchi known for his famous works, “Like Grains of Sand (10th)”,”Hush!(2nd),” and “All Around Us(2nd)” finally won the award for Best Japanese Director and Best Japanese Screenwriter and his latest film “Koibitotachi”(The Lovers) ranked 1st! I am really happy. Congratulations!

2016/01/08