Monday, November 25, 2024

The 121st Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2024) - Best Leading Actress


Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Ito Sairi - Tora ni tsubasa
2) Matsumoto Wakana - Saionji-san wa kaji wo shinai
3) Koike Eiko - Shinjuku Yasen Byouin

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Matsumoto Wakana - Saionji-san wa kaji wo shinai
2) Ito Sairi - Tora ni tsubasa
3) Nakamura An - Aoshima-kun wa ijiwaru
4) Koshiba Fuuka - GO HOME ~ Keishicho mimoto fumeinin soudanshitsu ~
5) Koike Eiko - Shinjuku Yasen Byouin

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Ito Sairi - Tora ni tsubasa
2) Matsumoto Wakana - Saionji-san wa kaji wo shinai
3) Matsumoto Marika - Otto no katei wo kowasu made
4) Kawai Yumi - Kazoku dakara aishitan janakute, aishita no ga kazoku datta
5) Matsushita Nao - Sky Castle

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Koike Eiko - Shinjuku Yasen Byouin
2) Ito Sairi - Tora ni tsubasa
3) Kawai Yumi - Kazoku dakara aishitan janakute, aishita no ga kazoku datta
4) Matsumoto Wakana - Saionji-san wa kaji wo shinai
5) Sakurada Hiyori - Ano ko no kodomo

Sunday, November 24, 2024

The 121st Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2024) - Best Supporting Actor


Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Matsumura Hokuto - Saionji-san wa kaji wo shinai
2) Sakurai Sho - Warau Matoryoushika
3) Ikematsu Sousuke - Umi no hajimari

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Matsumura Hokuto - Saionji-san wa kaji wo shinai
2) Ikematsu Sousuke - Umi no hajimari
3) Abe Ryouhei - GO HOME ~ Keishicho mimoto fumeinin soudanshitsu ~
4) Takeuchi Ryoma - Black Pean Season 2
5) Mukai Koji - Mountain Doctor

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Matsumura Hokuto - Saionji-san wa kaji wo shinai
2) Sakurai Sho - Warau Matoryoushika
3) Nomura Kouta - Otto no katei wo kowasu made
4) Ikematsu Sousuke - Umi no hajimari
5) Tozuka Junki - Tora ni tsubasa

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Hosoda Kanata - Ano ko no kodomo
2) Sakurai Sho - Warau Matoryoushika
3) Matsuyama Kenichi - Tora ni tsubasa
Yoshida Aoi - Kazoku dakara aishitan janakute, aishita no ga kazoku datta
5) Ikematsu Sousuke - Umi no hajimari

Saturday, November 23, 2024

The 121st Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2024) - Best Supporting Actress


Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Doi Shiori - Tora ni tsubasa
2) Arimura Kasumi - Umi no hajimari
3) Ishida Yuriko - Tora ni tsubasa

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Kurata Ema - Saionji-san wa kaji wo shinai
2) Izutani Rana - Umi no hajimari
3) Arimura Kasumi - Umi no hajimari
4) Kinami Haruka - Billion x School
5) Ooshima Yuuko - GO HOME ~ Keishicho mimoto fumeinin soudanshitsu ~

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Arimura Kasumi - Umi no hajimari
2) Doi Shiori - Tora ni tsubasa
3) Kurata Ema - Saionji-san wa kaji wo shinai
4) Koyuki - Sky Castle
Ootake Shinobu - Umi no hajimari

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Ishida Yuriko - Tora ni tsubasa
2) Doi Shiori - Tora ni tsubasa
3) Kayashima Mizuki - Ano ko no kodomo
Izutani Rana - Umi no hajimari
Hashimoto Ai - Shinjuku Yasen Byouin

Friday, November 22, 2024

The 121st Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2024) - Best Theme Song

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Sayounara mata itsuka - Yonezu Kenshi (Tora ni tsubasa)
2) Atarashii koibitotachi ni - back number (Umi no hajimari)
3) Zarame - Aimyon (Furitsumore kodoku na shi yo)

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) strawberry - BUMP OF CHICKEN (Saionji-san wa kaji wo shinai)
2) Atarashii koibitotachi ni - back number (Umi no hajimari)
3) Kimi wa boku no mono - Snow Man (Aoshima-kun wa ijiwaru)
4) Sayounara mata itsuka - Yonezu Kenshi (Tora ni tsubasa)
5) Sono saki ni aru mono - Oda Kazumasa (Black Pean Season 2)

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Sayounara mata itsuka - Yonezu Kenshi (Tora ni tsubasa)
2) Atarashii koibitotachi ni - back number (Umi no hajimari)
3) Zarame - Aimyon (Furitsumore kodoku na shi yo)
4) Koukyuu French yori anata to tsukuru shinya no French toast ga suki - SARM (Otto no katei wo kowasu made)
5) Koi no bugiugi night - Southern All Stars (Shinjuku Yasen Byouin)

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Sayounara mata itsuka - Yonezu Kenshi (Tora ni tsubasa)
2) Atarashii koibitotachi ni - back number (Umi no hajimari)
Wasurete kudasai - Yorushika (GO HOME ~ Keishicho mimoto fumeinin soudanshitsu ~)
Charade - Superfly (Maruhi no Mitsuko-san)
5) Ruru - Ado (Billion x School)

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Quick Review #80: Kokuhaku (movie)


Title: Kokuhaku / 告白

Rating: 6 / 10

Recommended for
Those who want to watch a short suspense thriller in an extreme condition and are fans of Yang Ik-june

Liked:
- Thanks to the fact that the movie was just 73 minutes long, the story moved on pretty speedily after the 30-minute mark and culminated in a rather unexpected ending. The thriller parts i.e. the psychological and physical aspects really kept me on the edge of my seat despite the story being set in one place and featured only the two male leads with a long dead female lead who appeared in flashbacks.

- Yang was definitely the scene stealer in this film with his portrayal of Ji-yong who was alternating between the "normal" and "extreme" states for most of the film. The fury, craziness and sorrow blended into his character was really brilliant.

Disliked: 
- You have to be a bit patient in the beginning because the first 30 minutes or so was comparatively bland and slow-moving compared to the rest of the movie. It can be really easy to give up on this movie if you can't bear with this part.

- While the twist in Ikuta's character Asai was interesting to see, it did feel as if the change was too little and too late. As such, there was not really much Ikuta could do for most of the film to stand out other than be pushed to the brink both physically and psychologically by his co-star.

- Likewise for Nao, she hardly got the chance to say anything as the dead female lead Sayuri which I felt was a pity and I would have wanted to see more of her acting.

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Nominees of the 49th Hochi Movie Awards (2024)


Here are the nominees of the 49th Hochi Movie Awards (2024) as announced on 12 November 2024. The numbers in brackets refer to the number of nominees in that category and the list is in the Japanese alphabetical order. Winners will be revealed in late November:

Best Japanese Movie (15)
PERFECT DAYS
Karaoke iko!
Yoake no subete
52 hertz no kujiratachi
Missing
An no koto
Kakushigoto
Hebi no michi
Samurai Time Slipper
Last Mile
Boku ga ikiteru, futatsu no sekai
Goman to zenryou
11 nin no zokugun
Aimitagai
Shoutai

Best Director (14)
Irie Yu - An no koto
Wim Wenders - PERFECT DAYS
Okuyama Hiroshi - Boku no ohisama
Katayama Shinzo - Ame no naka no yokujou
Kusano Shogo - Aimitagai
Shiraishi Kazuya - 11 nin no zokugun / Gobangiri
Sekine Kousai - Kakushigoto
Tsukahara Ayuko - Last Mile
Narushima Izuru - 52 hertz no kujiratachi
Hagiwara Kentaro - Goman to zenryou / Blue Period
Fujii Michihito - Shoutai / Seishun 18 x 2 Kimi e to tsuzuku michi
Mitani Koki - Suomi no hanashi wo shiyou
Miyake Sho - Yoake no subete
Yoshida Keisuke - Missing

Best Leading Actor (13)
Ayano Go - Karaoke iko!
Ikematsu Sousuke - Honshin
Nakano Taiga - 11 nin no zokugun
Narita Ryo - Ame no naka no yokujou
Hiraizumi Sei - Ashita wo tsuzuru shashinkan
Fujigaya Taisuke - Goman to zenryou
Matsumura Hokuto - Yoake no subete
Yakusho Koji - PERFECT DAYS / Hakkenden
Yamaguchi Makiya - Samurai Time Slipper
Yamazaki Kento - Golden Kamuy / Kingdom Daishogun no kikan
Yamada Takayuki - 11 nin no zokugun
Yokohama Ryuusei - Shoutai
Yoshizaqa Ryo - Boku ga ikiteru, futatsu no sekai

Best Leading Actress (13)
An - Kakushigoto
Ishihara Satomi - Missing
Eguchi Noriko - Amarokku / Okaasan ga issho / Ai ni ranbou
Kamishiraishi Mone - Yoake no subete
Kawai Yumi - An no koto / Namibia no sabaku
Kiyohara Kaya - Seishun 18 x 2 Kimi e to tsuzuku michi
Kusabue Mitsuko - 90-sai. Nani ga medetai
Kuroki Haru - Aimitagai
Shibasaki Kou - Hebi no michi
Sugisaki Hana - 52 hertz no kujiratachi / Ichiko / Kuchinai sakura
Nao - Goman to zenryou / Sensei no shiroi uso
Nagasawa Masami - Suomi no hanashi wo shiyou
Mitsushima Hikari - Last Mile

Best Supporting Actor (13)
Aoki Munetaka - Missing / Hebi no michi
Ikematsu Sousuke - Boku no ohisama / Baby Walkure Nice Days
Okada Masaki - Last Mile / Angry Squad Koumuin to 7 nin no sagishi
Okuda Eiji - Kakushigoto
Shison Jun - 52 hertz no kujiratachi
Nakamura Tomoya - Missing / Last Mile
Fuji Tatsuya - Ooinaru fuzai
Matsumura Hokuto - Dear Family
Mitsuishi Ken - Yoake no subete / Dear Family
Yasuda Ken - Kuchinai sakura
Yamada Takayuki - Shoutai
Yoshizawa Ryo - Kingdom Daishogun no kikan
Wakaba Ryuuya - Ichiko / Boku no ohisama

Best Supporting Actress (14)
Kawai Aoba - Kakushigoto / An no koto / Route 29
Kawaei Rina - Hen na ie / Dear Family / Angry Squad Koumuin to 7 nin no sagishi
Kuroki Haru - Gold Boy / Seishun 18 x 2 Kimi e to tsuzuku michi / Hakkenden
Sakura Yuno - Samurai Time Slipper
Takaishi Akari - Shinmai kisha Torokko Watashi ga yaraneba dare ga yaru!
Nakamura Yuri - Ichiko / Amarokku / Onihei Hankacho Kettou
Nishida Naomi - Ienai himitsu / Goman to zenryou / Aimitagai
Fujima Sawako - Yoake no subete / 90-sai. Nani ga medetai / Chacha / Aimitagai
Furukawa Kotone - Ienai himitsu / Cloud
Maeda Bibari - Goman to zenryou
Miyoshi Ayaka - Honshin / Sensei no shiroi uso
Yamada Anna - Golden Kamuy / Shoutai
Yoshioka Riho - Shoutai
Yoshine Kyoko - Karaoke iko!

Best Newcomer (8)
Kubozuka Airu - Happiness / Koi wo shiranai bokutachi wa
Koshiyama Keitatsu - Boku no ohisama
Saito Jun - Karaoke iko! / Karakai jouzu no Takagi-san / Muroi Shinji Yaburezarumono / Muroi Shinji Ikitsuzukerumono
Shiramoto Ayana - Hako Otoko
Nakasu Touma - Kakushigoto
Nakanishi Kiara - Boku no ohisama
Hamura Jinsei - Gold Boy
Hayase Ikoi - Ikoku Nikki / Ano ko wa daare?