27th Japan Academy Awards

[mark schilling]

Looking at the results of the Japan Academy Awards, it seems to be the usual
portioning out by major distributor, with Shochiku cleaning up for
"Mibugishiden" (Best Film, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor) and Toho for
"Asura no Gotoku" (Best Director, Best Supporting Actress). Meanwhile, Toei,
which had a less-than-stellar year, got consolation prizes in the form of
Best Newcomer nods for Ueto Aya and Odagiri Jo and a Topical Award for Ueto
Aya -- all for their work in "Azumi."

The absence of big awards for "Bayside Shakedown 2" shows that box office is
not all -- but the Topical Prize indicates it's something. The Topical Prize
for Ms. Ueto is more puzzling, since "Azumi" was a box office
disappointment.But she is an industry "hope" who could use a publicity
boost.I wonder how that particular deal went down?

Interesting how "Zatoichi," which was a big hit at home and a prize winner
abroad, got shut out. An indication that Kitano is still regarded as
industry outsider? Or that "Zatoichi" was simply considered too off-beat and
light weight?

Also interesting how Terajima Shinobu was honored for her second best
performance of the year -- the best being her portrayal of the bulimic,
alcoholic writer in "Vibrator." She got a boost by being Fuji Junko's
daughter -- but it was a well-deserved triumph nonetheless.

Overall, the prizes reflect not only industry priorities, but today's more
nationalistic, culturally conservative mood. "Mibugishiden" benefited from
the surge of interest in the Shinsengumi, "Asura no Gotoku" from the
nostalgia for the Showa Era -- or rather the postwar past of it that Academy
voters preferred to remember.

The awards also reflect the wide disconnect between the films and filmmakers
many members of this list consider important and the preferences of the
Japanese industry mainstream. Well, "Azumi" has its fans abroad, if the
heavy-breathing comments I've seen on the Ain't It Cool Site are any
indication. Maybe Aya-chan deserves that Topical Prize after all.

Mark Schilling
schill at gol.com



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Brown" <the8thsamurai at hotmail.com>
To: <kinejapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2004 12:29 PM
Subject: 27th Japan Academy Awards


> Results:
>
> Best Film: "Mibugishiden" (When The Last Sword Is Drawn), dir: Takita
> Yojiro
> Best Director: Morita Yoshimitsu "Asura no Gotoku"
> Best Actor: Nakai Kiichi, "Mibugishiden"
> Best Actress: Terajima Shinobu, "Akame Shijuhachiryu Shinju Misui"
> Best Supporting Actor: Sato Koichi, "Mibugishiden"
> Best Supporting Actress: Fukatsu Eri, "Asura no Gotoku"
> Best Newcomers:
> Ichihara Hayato, "Guzennimo Saiakuna Shonen"
> Odagiri Jo, "Azumi"
> Fujiki Naoto, "G at me"
> Ishihara Satomi, "Watashi no Guranpa"
> Ueto Aya, "Azumi"
> Nagasawa Masami, "Robokon"
> Best Foreign Film: "The Pianist"
> Topical Award (Film): "Bayside Shakedown 2"
> Topical Award (Actor): Ueto Aya, "Azumi"
>
> Note: Despite 11 nominations and a record-breaking run at the box office,
> "Bayside Shakedown 2" left with only a Topical Award (Wadai-sho).
>
> Don Brown
>
> _________________________________________________________________