Japan’s Koji Yakusho Wins Best Actor Award for ‘Perfect Days’ at Cannes

Koji Yakusho receives the Best Actor award for his role in the film “Perfect Days” at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on Saturday.
11:32 JST, May 28, 2023
Koji Yakusho won the Best Actor award at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on Saturday for his role in “Perfect Days,” directed by Wim Wenders.
It was the first time for a Japanese actor to scoop the prestigious award since Yuya Yagira claimed the prize in 2004 for his work in “Nobody Knows.”
“Perfect Days” tells the tale of Hirayama, a janitor in a public bathroom in Shibuya, Tokyo.
Upon receiving the trophy, a smiling Yakusho said: “I love awards. However, I’m not particularly fond of giving speeches at such glamorous events as the Cannes Film Festival.”
Yakusho went on to express his gratitude to others involved in the film, saying: “On the set, the director [Wim Wenders] and cinematographer Franz [Lustig] guided me into the character of Hirayama. I’m truly thankful. I’d also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the staff and cast, and the office staff who took great care in looking after me and my wife.”
"Culture" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
AI Becoming More Widely Used in Japan’s Fashion Industry
-
Spray Paint Art Adds Color to Everyday Life; Pair of Artists, Yoka Paint, Spreading Joy through Street Art
-
Actor Eiji Akaso Wants to Keep Challenging Himself
-
Japanese Movies Win Prizes at Berlin Festival
-
Japanese Novelist Asako Yuzuki Says She Wrote Her Novel ‘Butter’ in Reaction to Male-Centered Media; Finds Warm Embrace for Her Novel in U.K.
JN ACCESS RANKING