The award ceremony for the 80th Mainichi Film Awards (sponsored by the Mainichi Shimbun and Sports Nippon Shimbun) was held on February 10th at Meguro Persimmon Hall (Meguro-ku, Tokyo), and Yoshizawa Ryo, who won the Best Actor award for "National Treasure" (directed by Lee Sang-il), took the stage.
Yoshizawa shared an episode from when he attended a film festival a few years ago, saying, "I was invited to receive the Best Supporting Actor award, but the Best Actor award went to Nakai Kiichi. I remember the speech he gave at the time being memorable. He said that the Best Supporting Actor award is something you go out and get yourself, but the Best Actor award is something you receive from everyone. Those words have been running through my mind ever since."
"The reason I am able to stand here today is because Director Lee introduced me to the role of Kikuo, because I was supported by so many wonderful staff and cast members, and because so many people loved the film 'National Treasure.' I am able to stand here today thanks to everyone who was involved in this production. Thank you for today," he said, expressing his gratitude.
"National Treasure" won the Best Director award for director Lee, as well as Satoko Okudera for Best Screenplay, Sofiane El Fani for Best Cinematography, Yohei Taneda and Nao Shimoyama for Best Art Direction, Marihiko Hara for Best Music, and Mitsugu Shiratori for Best Sound Mixing, sweeping all the awards in the staff categories.
Director Lee said of Yoshizawa, "Of course, he put in incredible effort himself, but I think that by interacting with many people, such as Yokohama Ryusei, Watanabe Ken, and (Terajima) Shinobu, who continued to support him, he was able to shine and burn out."
"National Treasure" is based on the novel of the same name by Shuichi Yoshida, known for works such as "Parade" and "Park Life." Set in post-war Japan during the period of rapid economic growth, the story follows the protagonist Kikuo (Yoshizawa), who was born into a family of yakuza gangsters but was adopted into the home of kabuki actor Hanjiro Hanai (Watanabe), who meets Hanjiro's heir, Shunsuke (Yokohama). The epic story follows two men of completely opposite bloodlines who risk their lives to devote their lives to the arts.
Released on June 6, 2025, the film has attracted 13.97 million viewers and grossed over 19.7 billion yen by February 1 of this year. It broke the 22-year-old record of Bayside Shakedown 2: Close the Rainbow Bridge! (2003, 17.35 billion yen), and became the highest-grossing live-action Japanese film of all time (according to Kogyo Tsushinsha).
The Mainichi Film Awards are a prestigious film awards program established in Japan in 1946. Each award is selected by approximately 70 leading film critics, journalists, and experts. This year's winners were selected from films released in Japan for a fee in theaters for 14 days or more between January 1 and December 31, 2025 (for animation and documentary categories, films completed or screened during the same period).
◇ Winners of the 80th Mainichi Film Awards (titles omitted)
Japanese Film Award: "Enemy" (directed by Daihachi Yoshida) Best Foreign Film Award: "One Battle After Another" (directed by Paul Thomas Anderson)
Best Actor: Ryo Yoshizawa ("National Treasure") Best Supporting Actor: Jiro Sato ("Bomb") Best Supporting Actor: Masataka Kubota ("Treasure Island") Sponichi Grand Prix Newcomer Award: Yuta Hayashi ("The Fool's Status")
Best Director: Lee Sang-il "National Treasure" ▽ Best Screenplay: Okudera Satoko "National Treasure" ▽ Best Cinematography: Sofiane El Fani "National Treasure" ▽ Best Art Direction: Taneda Yohei, Shimoyama Nao "National Treasure" ▽ Best Music: Hara Marihiko "National Treasure" ▽ Best Sound: Shiratori Mitsugu "National Treasure"
Ofuji Noburo Award: "Ordinary Life" (directed by Mizushiri Yoshiko) ▽ Documentary Film Award: "Resurrected Voice" (directed by Park Soo Nam and Park Mai) ▽ TSUTAYA DISCAS Movie Fan Award - Japanese Film Category: "When It Tastes So Good It Makes You Cry" (directed by Yokoo Hatsuki) ▽ Foreign Film Category: "F1" (directed by Joseph Kosinski)
