The 49th Japan Academy Prize awards ceremony, a celebration of Japanese cinema, was held in Tokyo on March 13th, and Ryo Yoshizawa, director of the film "National Treasure," was selected as the winner of the Best Actor award. He received the bronze trophy from his Ryusei Yokohama Yokohama, who served as a presenter, and the two embraced.
Yoshizawa said, "I am extremely happy," and added, "Together with Ryusei Yokohama, who called my name and handed me the trophy, we overcame a very difficult period of rehearsals. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been able to become Kikuo, and I wouldn't be standing here today. He was truly a great presence for the film and for me personally."
He continued, "Thanks to the support of the director, cast, and staff, we were able to complete the filming without any problems, and now I am able to see so many wonderful sights through this work."
He added, "I joined my current agency when I was 15, and it's been about 17 years now. I still have a long way to go, but until now I've just continued acting because I thought it was fun. This time, I've really come to understand the hardships of being a person who lives the path of art, and the difficulty of that path. I also feel like I've touched a little bit of the true joy that lies beyond it, and it's given me an opportunity to re-examine myself and my life on this path." He concluded by saying, "I will continue to work hard so that I can participate in works that will be enjoyed by everyone who loves movies, so I hope you will continue to support me."
The film 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 Kikuo (Yoshizawa), a young man born into a yakuza family who is taken in by the family of Kabuki actor Hanjiro Hanai (Watanabe), and his encounter with Hanjiro's heir, Shunsuke (Yokohama). The two men, from completely opposite backgrounds, dedicate their lives to their art, risking everything in this epic story.
The award was established to promote the advancement and development of Japanese film art, technology, and science, and the selection is made by votes from members of the Japan Academy Prize Association. This year's selection covered films released between January 1st and December 31st, 2025. Shinichi Hatori and Yuumi Kawai served as the hosts.
◇The winners of the Best Actor Award are as follows (titles omitted):
Satoshi Tsumabuki"Treasure Island" ▽ Kyōzō Nagatsuka "Enemy" ▽ Hokuto Matsumura "5 Centimeters Per Second" ▽ Yuki Yamada"Bomb" ▽ Ryo Yoshizawa"National Treasure"
