In its now 43rd edition the Nippon Academy-shō Association recognized Asian productions with the Japan Academy Film Prize, an award commonly referred to as the Asian equivalent to the Oscars. The award show, which took place at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan presented some of the best productions from the Asian movie industry with productions such as Shinsuke Saito’s “Kingdom” receiving four nominations and Hideki Takeuchi’s “Fly me to Saitama” topping the list with 12 nominations.

Here is the list of the winners of last night’s award ceremony:



Picture of the Year: “The Journalist” by Roh Deok

Director of the Year: Hideki Takeuchi (“Fly me to Saitama”)

Animation of the Year: “Weathering with You” by Makoto Shinkai

Screenplay of the Year: Yuichi Tokunaga (“Fly me to Saitama”)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Tori Matsuzaka (“The Journalist”)

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Shim Eun-kyung (“The Journalist”)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Ryo Yoshizawa (“Kingdom”)

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Masami Nagasawa (“Kingdom”)

Shim Eun-kyung receiving her award for Best Actress. She is the first Korean to win this award.

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction: “Kingdom”

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction:

Iwao Saito (“Kingdom”)

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Recording: Yoshifumi Kureishi (“Listen to the Universe”)

Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing: Shinji Kawamura (“Fly me to Saitama”)

Outstanding Achievement in Music: RADWIMPS (“Weathering with You”)

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Taro Kawazu (“Kingdom”)

Outstanding Foreign Language Film: “Joker” by Todd Phillips

Newcomer of the Year: Oji Suzuka and Win Morisaki (“Listen to the Universe”), Yukino Kishii (“Talking to Pictures”), Riho Yoshioka (“Blind Witness”, “Parallel World Love Story”) and Ryusei Yokohama (“Aiuta: My Promise to Nakuhito”, “Go Away, Ultramarine”, “Cheer Boys!”)