JAPAN TODAY
While most of the attention was on Hollywood last week for the Academy Awards, Japan had its own version a few days earlier, with
Ken Watanabe the big winner at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony. Watanabe was named Best Actor for his performance as a JAL employee in
Shizumanu Taiyo (“The Sun that Never Sets”), which was also honored as Best Picture. The drama is based on a notorious 1985 JAL plane crash that resulted in 520 deaths. Prime Minister
Yukio Hatoyama, who attended the awards ceremony, praised Watanabe, saying, “Considering Mr. Watanabe’s career, I’d have to say he is certainly someone for whom ‘the sun never sets.’” Best Director went to
Daisaku Kimura for
Tsurugi-dake Tennogi, while Best Actress was awarded to
Takako Matsu in
Villon’s Wife.
