'The Eternal Zero' Sweeps 8 Categories ~The 38th Japan Academy Prize Awards Ceremony~

The 38th Japan Academy Awards ceremony was held on February 27 at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa International Hall Pamir in Tokyo.

The Best Picture award went to director Takashi Yamazaki's blockbuster hit "The Eternal Zero," which recorded box office revenues of 8.76 billion yen. The film also won eight awards: Best Director, Best Leading Actor (Junichi Okada), Best Cinematography, Best Lighting, Best Art Direction, Best Sound Recording, and Best Film Editing.

Junichi Okada, who starred in the film, won Best Leading Actor for "The Eternal Zero" and Best Supporting Actor for "The Cicada's Diary." This double win for an actor marks the first time in the awards' history.

Director Yamazaki expressed his joy, stating, "I absolutely love the Japan Academy Film Awards. I believe the significance of this award lies in shining a light on the entertainment we create. I'm proud that a work everyone poured their hearts and souls into has been honored. It feels like I've been told I can continue directing."

The Best Awards in each category, the winning films, and the Newcomer Awards are as follows. (Titles omitted)
Best Picture: 'The Eternal Zero'
Best Director: Takashi Yamazaki ('The Eternal Zero')
Best Actor: Junichi Okada (The Eternal Zero)
Best Actress: Rie Miyazawa (Paper Moon)
Best Supporting Actor: Junichi Okada ('The Cicada')
Best Supporting Actress: Hana Kuroki (The Little House)
Best Screenplay: Akihiro Tsuchihashi (Sankinkōtai: The Road to Edo)
Best Cinematography: Kozo Shibasaki ("The Eternal Zero")
Best Lighting: Nariyuki Ueda (The Eternal Zero)
Best Art Direction: Asato Kamijo (The Eternal Zero)
Best Sound Recording: Kenichi Fujimoto (The Eternal Zero)
Best Editing: Ryuji Miyajima (The Eternal Zero)
Best Music: Yoshikazu Suo (Maiko is Lady)
Best Foreign Film: Frozen
Best Animated Feature Film: "STAND BY ME Doraemon"
Newcomer Award: Sosuke Ikematsu, Mone Kamishiraishi, Nana Komatsu, Hiroomi Tosaka, Rena Nonen, Sota Fukushi
Most Talked About Award: Film Category - "Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno", "Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends"; Actor Category - Junichi Okada ("The Eternal Zero")