Winners of the 26th Japan Movie Critics Award

Best Movie: Yu wo wakasu hodo atsui ai

Best Director: Nakano Ryota (Yu wo wakasu hodo atsui ai)

Best Leading Actor: Kobayashi Kaoru (Zoku Shinya Shokudou)

Best Leading Actress: Miyazawa Rie (Yu wo wakasu hodo atsui ai)

Best Supporting Actor: Higashide Masahiro (Satoshi no Seishun)

Best Supporting Actress: Sugisaki Hana (Yu wo wakasu hodo atsui ai)

Best Newcomer (Komori Kazuko Award): Takahata Mitsuki (Shokubutsu Zukan Unmei no Koi, Hiroimashita)

Best Newcomer (Minami Toshiko Award): Iwata Takanori (Shokubutsu Zukan Unmei no Koi, Hiroimashita)

Best New Director: Shoji Hiroshi (Ken to Kazu)

Golden Glory Award (Mizuno Haruo Award): Komatsu Masao & Naraoka Tomoko

Diamond Award (Yodogawa Nagaharu Award): Kiki Kirin

Best Editing: Hogaki Junnosuke (Chihayafuru)

Best Script: Nishikawa Miwa (Nagai Iiwake)

Best Movie Music: Kako Takashi (Everest Kamigami no Itadaki)

Best Cinematography: Kita Nobuyasu (Everest Kamigami no Itadaki)

Best Documentary: Hibi Yuichi (Ken-san)

Special Award: Sato Tadao - movie critic

Best Anime Movie: Koe no Katachi

Best Anime Film Director: Shinkai Makoto (Kimi no na wa)

Best Voice Actor: Nozawa Masako (Kaze no you ni)

Diamond Award for Anime Category: Matsumoto Reiji

Source: Japan Movie Critics Award

Completion screening event and press conference of new movie "Everest Kamigami no Itadaki"

The completion screening event and press conference of new movie "Everest Kamigami no Itadaki" was held on 4 February which was attended by cast members Okada Junichi, Abe Hiroshi, Ono Machiko, Sasaki Kuranosuke, Pierre Taki, Komoto Masahiro, Kazama Shunsuke and the director Hirayama Hideyuki. The movie which will be shown in cinemas from 12 March, is based on the bestselling novel by Yumemakura Baku which features a group of men who aspires to conquer Everest at 8,848 metres above sea level in freezing conditions of minus 50 degrees Celsius. This movie is the first Japanese film to be shot at 5,200 metres above sea level on location at Everest over 10 days.

When asked about the filming at Everest, Okada revealed that as he had to climb at the front of the pack with Abe and Ono following behind him, he had to put up a front and not show his weakness in front of them. As the staff and cast had to measure the oxygen level in their blood twice each day, Okada decided to cheat a little by breathing in a lot of oxygen before taking the measurement test so as to pretend that he was not suffering from the thin oxygen level at the high altitude. This was to avoid being told to descend from the mountain if he developed altitude sickness especially since there was no double for him thus he didn't want to disrupt the filming. Upon hearing this, Abe said that he didn't realise that Okada did it and revealed with a smile that he did the same which made the audience laugh. In response, Ono said that she didn't resort to such tricks and was surprised to know that the two actors had resorted to this.

Due to the tough conditions, Okada and Abe said that they lost about 3 to 4kg after the trip but Ono turned out to be the only one who put on 3kg. When asked about this, she commented that she didn't really know what happened but as she ate full meals every time and drank a lot of milk tea to replenish the water lost, Ono gathered that this was how she put on the weight. This led Okada to praise her as the toughest actress in Japan now to be able to survive such tough conditions.

Source: Sponichi / Oricon

Completion press conference of new movie "Everest Kamigami no Itadaki"

The completion press conference of new movie "Everest Kamigami no Itadaki" was held at Meiji Kinenkan on 14 December which was attended by the main cast members Okada Junichi, Abe Hiroshi and Ono Macihiko and the director Hirayama Hideyuki. The movie which is based on the bestseller novel by Yumemakura Baku which had won the 11th Shibata Renzaburo Award, is the first Japanese movie to be shot on Mount Everest.

Recalling the filming, Okada commented that the experience has changed his values as an actor as he aims for overcoming his limits more so than before and tries to think about what kind of acting would make the audience feel touched. Having to film at the height of 5,200m above sea level was very difficult as Abe revealed that there was no way to bathe and there were no toilets at that height. At night, it was difficult and scary to sleep because of the low oxygen levels so that place was a somewhat abnormal world to him but they managed to persevere and overcome the odds. As for Ono, she recounted that she was told that a person would lose about 3kg in weight at that height due to the atmospheric pressure but she found herself to have gained 3kg instead. Okada then complimented Ono for being tougher than any of the cast and crew which made her very pleased with herself. The director Hirayama commented that there was no way for them to resort to camera tricks so whatever viewers see in the movie is like a documentary of the three actors presented in the most realistic way as possible.

When asked about what they would like to do in the new year so as to cross their limits, Okada said that he wishes to go back to Everest again to see the beautiful sights there. As for Ono, she wants to go back to Everest but it doesn't have to be necessarily done next year. Abe then revealed that he actually finished his part first and wanted to wait for Okada to finish before they descended the mountain. However, he was so tired that he took the helicopter down first. In view of this experience, he hoped that he won't have to go through something as tough as this again next year which led to the media laughing at his joke.

The movie will be shown in cinemas from 12 March 2016.

Source: Eiga.com

Okada Junichi, Abe Hiroshi, Ono Machiko to star in new movie "Everest Kamigami no Itadaki"

Okada Junichi, Abe Hiroshi and Ono Machiko will be starring in the new movie "Everest Kamigami no Itadaki" due to be shown in cinemas next year. The movie which is based on the novel by Yumemakura Baku and preparation work had been going on for the past five years, features Okada as a mountain cameraman who happens to meet a lonely climber (Abe) who had been missing for some time and sets out to conquer Everest with him. Ono plays a woman who loves the climber and tries to find him.

The cast and 40-strong crew will be climbing Everest from the Nepal side in March and are expected to use 10 days to climb to the base camp at 6,000m before spending another 10 days for the filming. Total production costs are estimated at JPY 1.5 billion and special insurance has been purchased for all cast and staff members.

Source: Sponichi